Plasters & Bandages

That random box of plasters you’ve got hiding in your cupboard somewhere probably isn’t going to cut it when you’ve got a nasty wound to deal with!

Plasters are, of course, a vital part of the first aid kit, but you need to make sure you’ve got a range of different shapes and sizes.

You’ll also need small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings, a triangular bandage, crêpe rolled bandages and sterile eye dressings.

Blue plasters are designed to be used by people who work in the foodservice industry.

When you’re preparing food it’s pretty common to get little nicks and cuts every so often and a blue plaster can help to protect the wound.

On top of this, blue plasters are much more noticeable than white or skin-coloured plasters, reducing the chance of them falling into any food without being noticed and therefore reducing the chance of contamination.

Joint supports and compression bandages are typically used to prevent swelling in sprains and strains.

The most effective time to use a support bandage is in the first 24 to 48 hours after your injury.

You should also try to rest as much as you can during this time and keep your injury elevated.

Sterile gauze dressings are individually packaged to make sure they’re free from any dirt or bacteria, making them the ideal choice for preventing infection in open wounds.

To use a sterile gauze dressing, wash your hands and put on a pair of disposable non-latex gloves before touching the dressing or the wound itself.

Hold the pad by the edges and lay it directly on top of the wound, making sure the pad covers beyond the edge of the wound.

Secure the pad with adhesive tape, but never wrap the tape all the way around the injured body part as this could reduce blood flow.