A Comprehensive Paediatric First Aid Kit Contents List
It’s important to have a good idea of what paediatric first aid kit contents you should keep within reach in case of a child-related emergency. Parents, teachers, and childminders should never underestimate the importance of having a paediatric first aid kit specially designed for treating children.
Where are Paediatric First Aid Kits required?
A childcare first aid kit that contains a complete and in-date paediatric first aid kit contents list is suited to any environment where small children spend time. This includes childcare settings such as childminders, nurseries, after-school clubs, primary schools, and businesses where small children are supervised, such as a soft-play centre or public swimming pool. It is also a good idea to keep a childcare first aid kit at home where children are present in the event of an accident or injury.
Standard first aid kits will contain similar products to treat injuries, but choosing a product with a first aid kit list for childcare intended for treating small children can significantly impact the ease and effectiveness of first aid treatment. Access to the right first aid kit contents for nursery and childcare environments and at home or school could save a life.
British childcare first aid kit requirements are stipulated by the UK Board of Education. Under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EFYS) Statutory Framework that covers children from birth to five years old, the paediatric first aid requirements for all organisations, businesses, or individuals who take care of young children advise that:
‘Providers must ensure there is a first aid box accessible at all times with appropriate content for use with children. Providers must keep a written record of accidents or injuries and first aid treatment.’
The first aid kit contents for childminders, nurseries and primary schools need to be suitable for minors, so choosing a specially designed paediatric first aid kit containing products appropriate to treat children is essential.
The EFYS guidelines also state that all early year childcare providers must:
- Make suitable first aid arrangements for off-site activities as well as the main premises.
- Ensure that at least one person with a current paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate is available at all times when children are present, including on outings.
- Childminders or any assistant in sole charge of children for any period should hold at current PFA.
- In the event of an injured child, a trained paediatric first aider and the necessary paediatric first aid kit contents must be accessible within 60 seconds.
- Where schools or childcare environments have more than one floor, you must have multiple kits—at least one on each floor.
Paediatric First Aid Kit Contents
Make sure you have a good understanding of childcare first aid kit requirements. In line with British Standards, all paediatric first aid kit contents should include the following items.
Alcohol-Free Cleansing Wipes
It’s essential to remove dirt and grit from a cut or wound before covering it with a plaster or dressing. Choose alcohol-free cleansing wipes that are sterile and safe to use on children.
CPR Guidance Leaflet
A pocket-sized emergency guide providing essential life-saving resuscitation techniques where a casualty is struggling to breathe. The leaflet should contain instructions on how to treat a choking baby and CPR guidance for babies, children, and adults.
Resusciade Face Sheild
Protect yourself and the casualty from viral transmission or infection while providing CPR.
Gloves
An essential piece of equipment to protect the child and yourself, reducing the risk of cross-contamination that can lead to infection and slow healing.
Sterile Dressing (medium and large)
Choose the size most suitable for small or large areas such as the torso or upper thigh where the skin has been broken. Hypoallergenic, absorbent and padded to provide extra protection over broken skin. Secure in place comfortably with tape or a bandage.
Microporous Tape
Safe to use on children with sensitive skin. Hypoallergenic adherent secures easily onto skin and can be removed without discomfort. Use to secure dressings or bandages in place.
Blunt-ended Scissors
Cut through clothing, dressings, and tape quickly and safely with medical-grade blunt-ended scissors designed to avoid puncturing the child’s skin while providing treatment.
Tubular Gauze Bandage (infant size)
Stretchy elastic bandages to easily dress wounds. The bandage’s natural stretch provides gentle pressure while conforming to body contours and stays in place, even on child patients who have greater mobility than adults. The simplistic design is versatile and can fit over many different joint types.
Tubular Bandage Applicator
Use a plastic applicator to make the application of tubular gauze bandages simple and pain-free. Simply slide the bandage over the outside of the applicator and place it over the injured limb, applying the bandage carefully.
Sterile Eye Dressing
Use an oval-shaped eye pad dressing to dress damage to the eye and prevent infection. It secures in place easily with microporous tape to protect the wound and will absorb fluids to aid healing.
Non-adhesive Absorbent Dressing (5cm x 5cm)
Non-adhesive, double-sided wound dressing pads are highly absorbent and secure with tape to promote wound healing.
Sterile Gauze Swab (5cm x 5cm)
Sterile gauze swab helps to cushion, protect, and prevent dryness in an open wound.
They can be used when managing minor wounds—for cleaning, drying and dressing the wound. The high quality and absorption capacity of the swab help to absorb bodily fluids from the surrounding area.
Triangular Bandage (Non-Woven)
Use to create a sling to support an injured limb, or to secure a splint in place.
Washproof Assorted Plasters
Safe to use on children, ignore the myths! Assorted sizes suited to all body parts of a child. Washproof and hypoallergenic to protect the child’s skin and protect the wound, promoting healing.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Adding to your childcare first aid kit list with additional first aid products such as burn dressings, bruise gel, or a thermometer is permitted. However, it is essential that you DON’T keep tablets or medicines in any first aid kit. Store them separately and seek parental/carer consent before providing children in your care with any type of tablet or medicine, including painkillers.
Check out our blog article about first aid must-haves in childcare settings and schools for an idea of additional supplies that could be helpful when a child feels unwell.
Visit our
Personal First Aid Online Guide
Find everything you need, from first aid kits, plasters & bandages to hot & cold therapy.
Preschool First Aid Kit Checklist
Make sure you stay on top of your childcare first aid kit contents and ensure you have everything on our first aid kit list for childcare that you might need in an emergency. Always remember that if you are a teacher, nursery staff member, or childminder, first aid kit contents can be used up and run out after even minor accidents and injuries.
Use the childcare first aid kit checklist below to regularly look through your first aid kit and the remaining levels of first aid equipment. Take care to inspect each item for use before dates and undamaged packaging.
Download and print out our childcare and nursery first aid kit checklist here:
How to Choose a Paediatric First Aid Kit
Choosing the right paediatric first aid kit for your nursery, school, home, or workplace can make a significant impact on the safety and wellbeing of the children in your care. Steroplast’s Childcare First Aid Kit has been developed based on advice from HSE and the Pre-School Learning Alliance.
Each piece of our childcare first aid kit contents has been put together under the watchful eye of a course tutor who specialises in childcare first aid courses in the UK. The kit’s special selection of contents has been chosen for its small child-appropriate size range. It is suitable to treat common injuries among young children as quickly, comfortably, and effectively as possible.
Choose between a larger, comprehensive selection provided in a complete premier box case or a smaller poly-bag pouch ideal for travelling with children on outings.
This childcare first aid kit is ideal for treating small children and minors, but your workplace or home could require additional first aid provisions. For more information on the legal first aid requirements in the UK and what first aid kits could be best for you, check out our blog:
- Workplace First Aid Kits: What are The UK Legal Requirements?
- What Should be in a Workplace First Aid Kit?
- Workplace First Aid Kits: Where to Install Them and How Many you Need
- The Essential Small First Aid Kit Contents List
- Keeping a First Aid Kit at Home: Everything You Need to Know
- What Should be in a Burns First Aid Kit?
- How to Use a Burns First Aid Kit
- What Goes in a Kitchen First Aid Kit?
Steroplast specialises in first aid supplies. Check out some of our other first aid kits that could be suited to your needs:
- Off-Site Lone Worker First Aid Kit
- Vehicle First Aid Kit
- Sterowash Eye-care Kit
- Workplace First Aid Kit
- PAcT First Aid Kit
- 40 Piece First Aid Kit
- 70 Piece First Aid Kit
- Steropaws Animal First Aid Kit
- Sports Medical Kit
- Steroburn Burncare Kit
- Sterochef Catering Kit
- HSE Lone Worker First Aid Kit
- Eco-Friendly First Aid Kit
- HSE First Aid Kits
Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure
Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure
Choose the format that works for you: check out our Workplace First Aid Interactive Online Guide or download our Workplace First Aid Brochure as an easy-to-save PDF. Both include a self-assessment, product details, pricing, and comprehensive training and support.
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