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#1 Posted : 30 November 2005 11:01:00(UTC)
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Posted By Malcolm Hogarth
I have had a couple of queries recently about the provision of plasters in first aid boxes. As far as I am aware from the First Aid Regulations the basic provision is for 20 assorted sterile dressings (Blue/detectable for catering - food manufacturing)

I have been asked if I know anything about plasters being banned because of allergies as "I read somewhere that plasters are not allowed" It is interesting to note that the parties cannot now recall where they read this!

My stance on allergies is that it is highly unlikely that somebody would suffer an extreme allergic reaction without first having had a previous minor reaction. In addition we require staff to inform us if they know of any allergies so that we can implement appropriate controls.

Any thoughts, comments?

Malcolm
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#2 Posted : 30 November 2005 11:48:00(UTC)
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Posted By John Beadle
As a firstaider I was trained to always ask the patient if they are allergic to plasters (as they do when you donate blood, which I hope all H&S professional do). Suggest you check this one out with either St John Ambulance or Red Cross.

Regards

John
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#3 Posted : 30 November 2005 11:59:00(UTC)
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Posted By Doug OShea
Malcolm

I have heard this before from staff when checking first aid boxes - but nobody seems to recall where or who they heard it from. So I checked it out with a HSE approved first aid trainer who told me that it is advisable to stock both plasters and a roll micropore. When carrying out any first aid involving a plaster to ask if they are allergic to plasters. If they are you use the micropore if not the plaster.

Hope this helps
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#4 Posted : 30 November 2005 12:10:00(UTC)
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Posted By Malcolm Hogarth
Roll Micropore? Help
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#5 Posted : 30 November 2005 12:14:00(UTC)
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Posted By Richard Mathews
I used to be allergic to the old style plasters, the reaction was just a mild inflammation and itching which went off soon after removing the plaster. The modern type of plasters don’t cause me any problems though and we include them in our first aid boxes. As others have said first aiders should ask people if they have any allergies before giving any treatment. Having said al that I do know that one of our local colleges has banned them from their first aid boxes for that reason.

Richard
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#6 Posted : 30 November 2005 12:50:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mark Talbot
Ok, deep breath, here comes the "What does the ...say?" bit. A simple couple of questions will help you decide I hope:

1. Do you need plasters? (usually universal "yes")

2. How many do you need to keep the stock sensible based on how many times you physically check the box? (usually more than 20)

3. Why not buy hypoalergenic plasters? (easily available - see any first aid supplier website)

4. Have you asked your first aider what else they need in the kit, based on the type of injuries your staff are exposed to?

If you don't have a trained person there, consider one. Sorry if you already know this, but ... you are obliged to do a risk assessment to identify your needs. If you need help with that, drop me a line by email.

You can get bad reactions in alergy terms without previous indicators, but it is rare, and does not come into the conversation if you are using hypoalergenic version ... too rare.

Ignore the people who like to raise "I read somewhere..." objections until they (or others) can convince you there is a problem. This applies to all things in life.
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#7 Posted : 30 November 2005 13:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By Malcolm Hogarth
Thanks for the replies so far. I still havn't got the answer though - are plasters banned or do the First Aid Regs still apply and the box should have 20 plasters?

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#8 Posted : 30 November 2005 14:58:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mark Talbot
No, plasters are not banned.

The box should have as many plasters as your risk assessment points to being needed. The old 20 plasters rule was always a MINIMUM.

For further advice check the HSE website under 'first aid'
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#9 Posted : 30 November 2005 17:37:00(UTC)
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Posted By John Beadle
Further to my previous response I can quote a reply I have received from the Red Cross "Plasters or adhesive dressings should be stocked in a workplace first aid kit. The British Red Cross includes plasters in all its kits and are actually identified as part of the minimum contents of a workplace first aid kit by the Health & Safety Executive."

Hope this helps


John
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#10 Posted : 30 November 2005 18:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Red Ones
When I started in my first job I was told Plasters were banned, as were scissors. The trick was how to cut your way into some of the sterile dressing packs! (or even cut the bottom off the comapnaies first aid report form!!)

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#11 Posted : 01 December 2005 08:46:00(UTC)
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Posted By Nina
you can have scissors in your first aid box providing they are round ended, the rule with plasters is that yes you can have them, but you must ask the person if they are allergic to them, you can keep the hypo ones which of course wont course any problems, but this is difficult where blue plasters are required.
Hope that helps
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#12 Posted : 01 December 2005 09:57:00(UTC)
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Posted By AlB
As with everything that is remotely health and safety related nowadays there are always huge brick walls built to prevent the sensible. Why on earth would plasters be banned? I have heard this many a time before. And I have grazed myself a number of times in the gym whilst lifting heavy weights that has resulted in in sores that start to bleed. I have asked at the reception for a plaster and they have refused, saying it is against their company policy to giv plasters out!!

I means, for Goodness sake, I have grazed myself, I have started to bleed. I am an adult. I choose to want a plaster. But I'm refused. What the hell kind of sense is there in that??????
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#13 Posted : 01 December 2005 10:09:00(UTC)
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Posted By J Knight
AIB has a good point, as do other posters on this forum.

Plasters are absoultely not banned; not many things are nowadays. This is because we are supposed to work on a goal-stting risk based approach (yes, I know you know that). But my point is, many people hate that. They hate ambiguity, and see somthing called 'grey areas' everywhere (there's a term I would ban); what the lay person calls a 'grey area' is our latitude for decision making. So we say 'risk assess for first aid and ask people if they are sensitive to plasters (or even better, stock hypoallergenic plasters) before sticking anything on them' and the lay-manager says 'oh, it's a grey area, we could get sued, better ban it'.

Don't know what the answer is, and this forum has heard this rant many tinmes before, from many people.

But back to specifics, just did my St J refresher, and we weren't told we shouldn't use plasters; HSE guidance says there should be adhesive dressings (plasters). Scissors are required in minibus first aid kits (DETR guidance applies not HSE), and the world is full of grey areas, but I think that's on account of the South Yorkshire drizzle I can see from my windos,

John
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#14 Posted : 01 December 2005 10:20:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mark Talbot
Nina, it might be better if scissors are rounded, but it is not a requirement.

Whilst on scissors, as a seasoned first aider, my heart always drops when I see those stupid little paper scissors in kits. Go for the type that can at least cut jeans ;-)
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#15 Posted : 01 December 2005 10:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By J Knight
Quite agree Mark, though with minibuses its seatbelts not jeans (you can carry a seatbelt cutter if you're absolutely averse to scissors)

John
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