First Aid Bag

[Loh]

An useful article from "Peak Performance"

How often have you needed first aid attention when playing sport? No doubt quite often if you’re a keen sports person!

It has become increasingly more important to be aware of the seriousness of injuries that can occur during sports activities. Every sports club at professional and amateur level, especially with youths and disabled people, has a duty of care for all the participants.

So what should you have in you First Aid Kit?

Remember the day of the bucket and once-legendary magic sponge….with the potential transfer of infectious diseases from player to player by a blood-stained sponge! Well those days are long gone and the ‘Trainers Bag’ is now far more substantial and appropriate.

There are lots of variants to a First Aid Bag and they come in various shapes and sizes. The main considerations should be that the bag is lightweight, portable, waterproof, compartmentalised, and durable.

Contents of a ‘Routine’ Medical Bag

*Crepe Bandages
*Elastic Adhesive Bandage (Eab) (Various Sizes)
*Elastic / Self-Adhesive / Tearable Bandages (Various Sizes)
*Zinc Oxide Tape (Inelastic) (Various Sizes)
*Disposable Nitrile Gloves
*Gauze Swabs
*Plasters (Non-Allergenic / Waterproof)
*Sterile Non-Adherent Wound Dressings (Various Sizes)
*Triangular Bandages
*Eye Pads
*Spray Bottle (For Iced Water)

Two important things to remember; Don’t let anyone tamper with your medical kit and always replace the items in your bag. It is vital that the items you require are at hand when they are most needed!

All kit contents comply with the recommended guidelines of the Football Association and the Rugby Football Union

[Sgbad]

Any pictures of the first aid bag? With so many things inside, i doubt it will be small enough, badminton players has so many things to carry.:p

[Loh]

Any pictures of the first aid bag? With so many things inside, i doubt it will be small enough, badminton players has so many things to carry.:p

Yes I agree with you. But I suppose one can be selective and improvise. Eg put some of the most handy items in small quantities in a transparent plastic box (some with compartments), small enough to be put into your side badminton bag instead of having another first-aid bag.

Or you can have a few smaller plastic containers to separate the items especially those liquid ones from the dry linen and creams in tubes.

The following pic is taken from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_aid_kit

Another sources:

http://www.twenga.co.uk/dir-Health-Beauty,First-aid,First-aid-kit
http://www.cpr-savers.com/Industrials/first-aid-bag.html

[chrishin]

things to add to that list:
ice pack
alcohol patches
safety pins
scissors

etc

personally i've added a pocket mask but it's not necessary.

[Danstevens]

I should really take a medical kit with me when I play. I never do though, I know I should do, I can just never be bothered to pack and take another bag with me. Perhaps I'll use this thread as a guideline for what to pack.

[stumblingfeet]

No ice pack? The ones that get cold after you pop the mixture on the inside are really useful, ankle sprains do occur every so often. Athletic tape can be useful as well. You need to be aware of common injuries for your sport, and pack extra supplies for those.

[Loh]

Ice pack - I suppose this important item was not included in the list is that ice is normally easily available whilst the other items may not be. Additionally, an ice pack being slightly bulkier takes up more space.

What I normally do is to put a few transparent plastic wrappers (those long ones provided free for umbrellas on rainy days) inside my bag and insert ice cubes into them when the need arises, eg. when someone gets a sprain, etc. The ice cube should be readily available in the club, gym or the neighbourhood coffee shop.

[chrishin]

i'll get the list of minimum first aid kit required by lifeaving society (or royal lifesaving society for common wealth countries) in Canada.