Running your business comes with a long list of responsibilities, and one key aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of your employees and customers. First aid kits play an important role in promptly addressing injuries or medical emergencies in your workplace. However, as a busy business owner or manager juggling multiple tasks, managing your own first aid kits and ensuring compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements can be time consuming and challenging. This is where using a first aid supply provider can be beneficial. Let’s explore the advantages of outsourcing first aid kits and supplies management.
For more information, please visit our website.
On top of your lengthy to-do list, do you have time to continuously check your first aid cabinets to see if you have enough bandages or burn treatment? Can you find time to make sure the items in your cabinet are organized and easily accessible on a regular basis? As a professional first aid rental supplier, this service is part of weekly visits from Vestis. If you’re running low on antiseptic, we’ll replenish accordingly. This consistent level of inventory maintenance means your employees have access to the products available when they need them.
Maintaining compliance with OSHA regulations is critical. OSHA requirements for first aid kits state that every business must have first aid supplies readily available, specifically:
Also, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits and Supplies (ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-) establishes minimum performance standards and requirements for first aid kits and their supplies. We offer two types of Class A kits, one with over-the-counter medications and one without. Both options meet OSHA requirements and ANSI recommendations.
By outsourcing your first aid kits and supplies management, a trained professional will inspect and monitor your cabinets. This helps you create a safer work environment for your employees.
Not only are there OSHA requirements, but your employees also rely on those first aid supplies. Having items readily available can allow employees to continue shifts if accidents occur. In fact, 58% of employees we surveyed say using supplies from the first aid kit has allowed them to finish their work shift1. If your kits aren’t continuously monitored, your employees may find missing or expired products, which could affect their productivity. And did you know that employees appreciate when their employer has invested in workplace safety? According to a recent study, 85% of employees we surveyed say they feel valued when their employer provides a first aid kit2.
Outsourcing your first aid supply management may result in cost savings. By partnering with a reputable first aid rental supplier, you don’t need to purchase and maintain your own first aid cabinets or supplies for your business. For example, our flat, weekly rate service includes:
This can help you streamline your expenses, allowing you to focus on core operations and growth. And you won’t have to make unexpected trips to the big-box store to buy supplies to refill a self-managed cabinet. In fact, in a recent survey, people who manage their own first aid supplies said they could use that time focusing on other business activities (see chart below).
Outsourcing first aid kits for your business can offer numerous benefits: from cost savings and compliance to inventory monitoring and employee productivity.
Contact us today to learn how our first aid service and supplies can help you streamline operations and provide a safer workplace for your team.
Every business location is unique and our customers’ needs will differ based on the specific work environment and hazards. The information provided on this website should not be used as a substitute for reviewing OSHA, ANSI or other applicable regulations/standards, performing official safety training, or conducting on-site safety analysis. It is the customer’s responsibility to determine what first aid supplies are adequate and where they should be located. ANSI Class A First Aid Kits contain products that are designed to cover most common workplace injuries.
Today we’ll discuss whether you should buy bulk first aid supplies. First aid gear doesn’t do any good if you run out; however, you also don’t want to haphazardly hoard medical supplies.
Buying bulk first aid supplies can save you money, keep you more prepared, and allow you to help others in need. Professional organizations and people who regularly carry first aid items can benefit from a well-stocked supply. If you’re planning on buying first aid supplies, it’s wise to have an area to store everything. It doesn’t matter how much medical gear you have if you can’t find it when you need it.
The last thing you want is to run out of needed first aid gear. However, it’s also a problem if your first aid gear is disorganized or lost. Below, we’ll talk about the when, where, and how of buying bulk medical supplies.
Let’s get started.
First, let’s talk about some of the pros and cons of buying bulk first aid supplies. Good first aid supplies are extremely valuable in many ways, but it’s vital to have a plan in place to properly manage medical gear.
Steady Supply
Many don’t expire
Help others
Reduced prices
Let’s look at these in more depth.
Some people rely heavily on first aid items and running out could be dangerous. When you have a steady supply of first aid items, you don’t need to be as worried that you’ll run out.
Some people or professional organizations will keep bulk items in supply in the case of a mass casualty incident – where many patients may need medical supplies. Medical supplies are no good to someone if they aren’t readily available.
Many types of medical supplies don’t technically expire, so it can make sense to buy what you need upfront instead of constantly reordering items.
If you’re curious, read this article on if tourniquets expire. Many items can last a long time. However, for items that do expire, if the volume of use is there then it can make sense to buy bulk.
Let’s be honest, some people don’t understand the benefits or have the resources to obtain a good first aid kit (however, anyone can make a budget first aid kit that still covers lifesaving gear). Those that have the means or training to buy bulk first aid supplies should consider educating and sharing the supplies with others.
Many people don’t understand the present dangers of daily life and are unprepared when an emergency strikes. However, those that have extra first aid supplies can share with those who don’t and help spread the word about the importance of primary first aid like bleeding control and airway management.
Often there are cost savings when buying bulk medical supplies. For those who will regularly be buying large amounts of medical supplies, it makes sense to buy in bulk when possible.
Link to Runde
Just be sure that you’re buying quality bulk items. In some cases, “bulk” items are sold as cheap knockoffs. Unfortunately, this is often the case with lifesaving equipment such as tourniquets. You should never buy a counterfeit tourniquet or BVM – but you have to do a little research to avoid getting scammed.
Here’s an article on counterfeits tourniquets – also, here’s a good video on recognizing fake CAT tourniquets.
Alright, now that we’ve talked about the benefits of buying bulk first aid items, let’s chat about how to store bulk first aid items.
We’ve all watched a game on TV, be it football or baseball or bull riding, where the athlete nearly won only to fumble the opportunity in the final minutes.
Well, the same thing can happen with first aid gear. People will buy a lot of first aid supplies with the intention of being prepared, only to lose most of it or store it away in their garage - this is a fumbled opportunity.
To be properly prepared, you need the first aid gear to be stored and ready for use. In the next sections, we’ll talk about a few tips to store your first aid gear efficiently.
Keep what you need close
Organize a home area
Keep track of expiration dates
Order of importance
Let's look at these in more depth.
It’s good to have a clean organized cabinet full of your medical gear, but you should also keep needed first aid supplies close.
For example, it’s smart to carry a tourniquet, gauze, and pressure dressing with you at all times. This could be in an EDC first aid kit or a vehicle first aid kit. There’s nothing wrong with buying bulk, but don’t make the mistake of storing it all in the garage – keep what you need ready to go.
First aid supplies should be stored in a cool and dry place. The first aid supplies should not be mixed with other non-medical items, and things should not be thrown together. If everything is out of place, it’s more likely that you will lose your supplies or that you won’t know what you have and what you need.
In the next section, we’ll talk about another reason it’s important to keep things organized.
While there are many medical items that don’t expire, there are some medical supplies that will expire. You can often repurpose expired medical gear for training, so it doesn’t need to be thrown away; however, you shouldn’t use expired medical gear for your real-life kit.
What types of medical gear expire? Any gear that has a liquid or adhesive substance usually has an expiration date, such as chest seals, burn gels, or sticky patches.
Also, medications will have an expiration date, so these need to be watched very carefully. Some items that are made with a sterile seal will only guarantee sterility for a certain timeframe, so it’s important to keep an eye on the labels.
This brings us back to our last section: you need to keep bulk medical supplies organized. If the supplies are not organized, then it becomes very difficult to keep track of expiration dates and quantity.
It’s wise to keep the most important medical supplies out in the open for easy access. This also makes it easy to know when your most important supplies have run out. Again, organization is the key.
Bonus tip: If you have multiple people accessing the medical supplies, such as professional medical providers, it’s important to have some kind of checkout sheet available. This ensures that the managers and whoever is buying the supplies know what medical supplies are being used, and how much.
Before we go, let’s answer a few common questions.
First aid kit refills are a type of bulk first aid kit that provide several advantages. Why are refills smart and who should buy them?
Refill first aid kits make it easy to buy the specific supplies needed. For example, trauma kit refills are a common item. These kits will have everything needed to treat a traumatic wound – including a tourniquet, a pressure bandage, gauze, and a chest seal. When these kits are used, they can be easily replaced with a refill kit.
Refill kits also keep everything organized and prevent losing items before they are used. Finally, refill first-aid kits can be less expensive than buying each item individually.
Many people wonder if they should just toss expired first aid gear. In some cases, you should dispose of expired equipment, particularly in the case of medications. However, many types of expired supplies can be repurposed for training. For example, sterile gauze that has expired can be used to practice wound packing.
If you can, think about ways you can use expired items before tossing them. Also, think about ways to recycle the items if possible. Finally, be careful about hazardous substances, and ensure that you dispose of medical items per local laws and guidelines. Now, let’s go over our final take.
Buying bulk first aid supplies is a great way to save a little money, avoid frequent orders, and stay prepared for an emergency. However, it’s important that you keep things organized, which will help prevent a discombobulated hoard. Also, think about others – perhaps there is someone who could use extra first aid supplies.
Want more information on First Aid Products Supplier? Feel free to contact us.