The Definitive Trauma Kit Supplies List
If you work in the medical, emergency services or first aid sectors, you will already have a good idea of what a trauma kit is and what it’s used for. But do you know what should be on your trauma equipment list? And trauma kits aren’t just for the use of medically trained professionals; in the event of a critical injury, a trauma kit can be used by anyone to prevent loss of life. So, it’s essential that everyone understands what should be in a trauma kit and why, ensuring that we all have the right trauma gear and advanced life support equipment on hand to be prepared for an emergency; it could save a life.
In this article, we’ll discuss what the term ‘trauma kit’ refers to in comparison with a standard first aid kit, take you through the different kinds of trauma kits available, and cover everything you should have on your essential trauma kit supplies list.
What is a trauma kit?
The dictionary definition of a trauma kit is:
"a medical kit containing supplies useful for controlling
bleeding and injuries in emergencies"
In the medical, first aid, and emergency services fields, the term ‘trauma kit’ covers several different types of medical kits that contain supplies used to treat multiple casualties with traumatic injuries before they can be cared for in a hospital or trauma unit. In the UK, the term trauma kit most commonly refers to either a Public Access Trauma (PAcT) Kit or bleed control kit such as the Critical Injury First Aid Kit or the Sterostop Bleed Control Kit.
PAcT kits were introduced and have been endorsed by the UK government in response to the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017 that injured more than 800 people. Large numbers of the public, including children, suffered critical, life-threatening injuries caused by the bombing. Since then, Public Access Trauma First Aid Kits have been developed to have on hand in public areas that are accessible and easy to use, enabling anyone on the scene of a crisis to use the kit’s contents to treat casualties and prevent threats to life where multiple members of the public suffer critical injuries as a result of a major incident.
Bleed control kits are a type of first aid kit that include contents tailored to controlling and preventing severe blood loss in the event of a critical injury. Bleed control kits and critical injury kits are required in some workplaces where the risk of serious injury is high, providing medical equipment for treating major injuries resulting in heavy blood loss such as stab wounds, loss of limbs or situations where major haemorrhaging has occurred, and a casualty is in critical danger.
The term ‘tactical trauma kit’ is commonly used in the USA, referring to the medical equipment used by emergency first responders attending a tactical situation such as a mass shooting incident. Tactical trauma kits include contents specifically for treating gunshot victims with the right equipment to stabilise a critically injured patient in a dangerous tactical environment.
What’s the difference between a trauma kit and a first aid kit?
You’ll often hear the terms ‘first aid kit’ and ‘trauma kit’ used by medical professionals, and it’s important to know the difference between them.
First aid kits come in many shapes and sizes. Most non-specialised first aid kits contain items geared towards providing first aid treatment for a range of minor injuries such as small cuts, burns, blisters and sprains.
Trauma kits are more specialised with contents that include some first aid supplies, but, more importantly, equipment specifically designed to treat life-threatening injuries. Trauma kits contain supplies for stopping heavy bleeding, treating major wounds, and keeping a casualty stable while awaiting professional medical attention.
Where are trauma kits used?
While first aid kits are commonplace in most homes, workplaces, and public environments such as schools or restaurants, trauma kits are intended for areas where life-threatening injuries could occur.
PAcT trauma kits are specially developed to be used by anyone in a public setting that’s become a scene of mass casualties, such as a site of a terrorist attack or mass shooting. Examples of public places ideal for a PAcT kit include:
- Cinemas
- Sports stadiums
- Entertainment arenas
- Railway and bus stations
- Shops and department stores
The National Counter Terrorism Security Office recommends that public places and businesses where large numbers of people gather should ensure a PAcT kit is available, accessible by all, and clearly signposted for visibility at all times.
Learn more about PAcT Kits in this article, The Public Access Trauma (PAcT) First Aid Kit: What Business Owners Need to Know, and find out the latest government guidance on PAcT Kits and counter-terrorism first aid awareness on the Protect UK website.
Bleed control trauma kits that are designed for the treatment of critical injuries can often be found in workplaces, including:
- Factories
- Warehouses
- Energy plants
- Mining locations
- Construction sites
- Waste management plants
- Farms and agricultural facilities
- Sites where heavy machinery is operated
- Forestry and tree surgery sites - We offer a specialised Forestry First Aid Kit
Bleed control kits are also often found in the equipment carried by night-time security teams, ensuring that staff on the scene of a stabbing or other violent assault are equipped with the right gear to prevent severe blood loss.
Premium Trauma Kits Available From Steroplast
Steroplast is a leading medical provider, trusted by the NHS and emergency services for over twenty years. With decades of experience developing and supplying life-saving hospital equipment, premium pharmaceuticals, HSE-compliant first aid supplies, and much more, you can rely on Steroplast’s professional-quality trauma kits and advanced life support products.
We’ve worked with industry experts to ensure you have everything you could need on your essential trauma equipment list. Industry experts have put together the trauma kits below to provide you with a choice of life-saving trauma supplies for when you need them most.
Critical Injury First Aid Kit
As the name suggests, Steroplast’s Critical Injury First Aid Kit is a premium first aid kit designed to treat a casualty suffering from critical injuries. Its contents include essential equipment designed to control and stop severe blood loss in the event of a severe injury such as an amputation or stabbing.
A trauma kit like this, often called a bleed control kit, is essential in many workplaces and public settings. The Critical Injury First Aid Kit fully complies with British Standards (BS8599-1:2019) and meets the criteria to provide first aid support for a severe traumatic injury threatening life.
Contents of Steroplast’s Critical Injury First Aid Kit
This kit has all the essentials you need on your trauma kit supplies list:
| Contents | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Chito-Sam 100 Haemostatic Dressings | 2 |
| First Aid Guidance Leaflet | 1 |
| Foil Blanket | 1 |
| Gloves (pair) | 2 |
| S.T.A.T Tourniquet | 1 |
| Trauma Dressings | 2 |
| Tuff Cut Scissors (7”) | 1 |
Everything on the trauma kit supplies list above is included to protect a casualty from severe blood loss, with premium quality haemostatic dressings to promote blood clotting, trauma dressings to protect a wound, a S.T.A.T tourniquet to cut off blood supply above a wound area, a foil blanket to help retain the casualty’s body heat, and PPE and tools to support the application of potentially life-saving treatment.
The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) mandates that all business owners conduct safety risk assessments to determine what first aid provisions should be provided in workplaces. The Critical Injury First Aid Kit is ideal for high-risk work environments with a high likelihood of major injuries. You can learn more about workplace first aid requirements on our blog.
Additionally, this kit is suitable for treating severe injuries caused by mass-casualty accidents, major workplace incidents, or terror attacks. For this reason, businesses across the UK are now equipped with a British Standard (BS8599-1:2019) Critical Injury First Aid Kit to protect their staff, visitors and passersby in the event of an emergency.
Public Access Trauma (PAcT) First Aid Kit
As previously mentioned, PAcT First Aid Kits were developed in response to the Manchester Arena Bombing in 2017. Steroplast’s PAcT First Aid Kit includes supplies that have been designed to provide essential first aid treatment in the event of a terror attack or another major public incident.
All PAcT kit contents are suitable to be used by the non-medically trained in the event of an emergency, with equipment tailored to treat a range of severe, life-threatening injuries such as deep cuts, loss of limbs, and respiratory distress (laboured breathing).
Contents of Steroplast’s Critical Injury First Aid Kit
This kit has all the essentials you need on your trauma kit supplies list:
| Contents | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Face Masks | 4 |
| Gloves (pairs) | 4 |
| Resusciade | 2 |
| Safety Goggles | 4 |
| Scissors | 2 |
| S.T.A.T Tourniquet | 2 |
| Trauma Dressings | 4 |
| Triangular Bandage - Calico | 2 |
Steroplast’s Public Access Trauma First Aid Kit provides all the essentials on a trauma equipment list, including premium bleed control equipment, PPE for the person assisting, and resusciades for providing CPR treatment to critically ill casualties.
Benefits of Steroplast’s PAcT First Aid Kit
- Contents can be used by a casualty to treat themself.
- PAcT kits are recognised by the emergency services across the UK, supporting a paramedic's first aid response.
- Developed for accessibility and can be used by anyone, including young people and people who have had no medical training.
- Suitable for treating life-threatening injuries, including major bleeding, laboured breathing, unresponsiveness, cardiac arrest, and more.
The UK government and NaCTSO strongly recommend that private and public sector businesses ‘enhance their first aid preparedness and response planning, so it takes into account the likely injuries as the result of a malicious event, such as a terrorist attack’. Ensuring your business has a PAcT Kit available will strongly support these efforts.
Visit our
Interactive First Aid Guide
Demystify workplace first aid & find out exactly what your business needs.
Sterostop Bleed Control Kit
The Sterostop Bleed Control Kit has been developed to support first aid providers in treating a life-threatening injury until the casualty can receive professional medical attention.
The Sterostop Kit includes contents ideal for treating catastrophic injuries where a casualty is experiencing significant blood loss. Stemming blood flow is essential to saving lives in the event of a crisis. This kit’s contents provide essential items to treat critical injuries, including wounds caused by stabbing, amputation, lacerations or extensive haemorrhaging.
Contents of Steroplast’s Critical Injury First Aid Kit
This kit has all the essentials you need on your trauma kit supplies list:
| Contents | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Compressed Gauze | 1 |
| Gloves (pairs) | 2 |
| Resusciade Face Shield | 1 |
| S.T.A.T Tourniquet (including time strip) | 1 |
| Trauma Dressing | 1 |
| Tuff Cut Scissors | 1 |
This kit includes all the necessary items to dress a traumatic wound, create a tourniquet to stop blood loss and provide safe, hygienic CPR.
Forestry First Aid Kit
Prioritise safety in your demanding work environment with our essential Forestry First Aid Kit. Designed to meet the unique challenges faced by arborists, forestry professionals, farmers, and construction workers, this comprehensive kit combines a compliant workplace first aid kit with a specialised Trauma Bleed Control Kit.
The highly visible, high-strength PVC bag contains crucial items such as tourniquets, trauma dressings, and sterile wipes, ensuring you're prepared to handle severe bleeding incidents and other emergencies that may arise in your high-risk work setting.
Our Forestry First Aid Kit is a must-have for those engaged in chainsaw operations, landscaping, and park maintenance. It not only helps you meet regulatory requirements but also demonstrates your commitment to workplace safety. With this dual-purpose kit by your side, you can have peace of mind knowing that you're equipped to address the specific hazards present in your demanding profession.
What should be on my trauma kit supplies list?
You should now have a good idea of the different trauma kit products available and their contents. If you want to purchase a trauma kit, or build your own, clearly understanding everything on a trauma kit supplies list is vital.
Below, we’ll take you through the essential trauma items to include in your emergency supplies and provide a useful trauma supplies checklist so you can make sure you’re stocked up on everything you need.
If you’re working to ensure you’re prepared for a critical situation where traumatic injuries have occurred, it’s important to know how best to organise the items on your trauma equipment list. We recommend breaking down your trauma supplies into these categories:
- Dressings and wound applications
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Tourniquets
- Tools and accessories
The items included in a trauma kit supplies list are intended to safely treat catastrophic, life-threatening injuries, preserve the life of casualties, and protect the first aid provider from risk. Many of the products below will often also be included on a professional trauma room equipment checklist in a hospital or emergency care centre.
Dressings and Wound Applications
Trauma Dressing
Chito-Sam 100 Haemostatic Dressing
Prometheus ChitoGauze XR Pro
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Anyone tending to the care and treatment of a critically ill casualty will be at risk of cross-contamination and potential infection without using PPE. Whether you’re an untrained passerby, qualified first aider, or emergency first responder, ensure that you have PPE available, and put it on to protect yourself before beginning to treat a casualty.
PPE is also essential to any trauma room equipment checklist to support vital infection control measures in clinical settings.
Disposable Gloves
Face Masks
Safety Goggles
Resusciades
Trauma Tools and Accessories
Foil Blanket
Tuff Cut Scissors
Tourniquets
Tourniquets are an essential piece of equipment on a trauma kit supplies list, applied above a wound site on a limb to stop the blood flow to the injury, preventing continued blood loss. You can find out how to apply a tourniquet on our blog.
PPE is also essential to any trauma room equipment checklist to support vital infection control measures in clinical settings.
Essential Trauma Kit Supplies Checklist
We’ve devised a handy downloadable checklist, breaking down everything you should include on your trauma equipment list to ensure you are prepared for any situation. By regularly checking that you have everything on your trauma kit supplies list, you could save a life in an emergency.
Want to know about life-saving equipment? Check out these articles from our Knowledge Base to learn more:
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