First-aid equipment stock, contents and expiry checklist

Use the school's current first-aid needs assessment to determine the facilities, boxes, supplies and contents to be checked.

Check that the first-aid facilities and boxes provided by the school can be accessed when needed.

Check that first-aid facilities and boxes are suitably identified so that they can be located.

Compare the contents of each first-aid box or supply location with the first-aid needs assessment and identify missing, unsuitable or surplus items.

Only where the needs assessment identifies low-hazard work, check whether the stock is appropriate for the school's activities and includes, as applicable: a leaflet giving general first-aid guidance; individually wrapped sterile plasters appropriate to the work; sterile eye pads; individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile; safety pins; large and medium sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings; and disposable gloves.

Do not treat the suggested low-hazard list as a universal or exhaustive contents requirement; ensure the final contents reflect the school's actual first-aid needs assessment.

Where the needs assessment identifies that the standard kit is insufficient, check that the required additional materials or equipment are available, such as foil blankets, cleansing wipes or cutting shears.

Where additional materials or equipment are required, check that they are stored in the first-aid kit if there is room or stored separately.

Inspect each first-aid box and supply location and check that tablets or medicines are not ordinarily stored in the first-aid box.

If medication is present or an exception is relied on, check that the arrangement is limited to the circumstances described in the applicable first-aid guidance, including aspirin for a casualty with a suspected heart attack in accordance with accepted first-aid practice or emergency administration of specified Schedule 19 prescription-only medication for saving life.

Inspect items, particularly sterile items, for expiry dates; arrange replacement by the dates shown and safely dispose of expired items.

For sterile items without expiry dates, check with the manufacturer how long they can be kept and use that advice to decide whether replacement is required.

For non-sterile items without expiry dates, check whether each item remains fit for purpose and replace or remove items that do not.

Replace items that are expired, damaged or otherwise unfit for purpose, and safely dispose of items removed from stock.

Record missing or unsuitable contents, replacement requirements, disposal actions and any changes needed to align the stock with the first-aid needs assessment.