First Aid Equipment Guide: first aid kits, AEDs & trauma kit.
The complete guide to the first-aid equipment every Irish workplace needs to respond to an emergency - from a fully stocked first aid kit and an accessible AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to CPR pocket masks, tourniquets, burn dressings and clear first-aid signage. The correct use of every item is taught in our Online First Aid Course (Emergency First Aid at Work).
The right tools turn first aid from paperwork into practice.
A fully stocked first aid kit, an accessible AED and a trained first aider are the front line of every successful emergency response in Ireland.
- All equipment use covered in our course
- Offices, factories, retail, healthcare
- Supports your workplace first-aid duties
The right tools make first aid work.
An emergency response is only as strong as the equipment your team can reach in the first 60 seconds. A fully stocked first aid kit gives your trained first aider everything needed to control bleeding, treat burns, dress wounds and stabilise a casualty. An AED (Automated External Defibrillator) roughly doubles survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest when used in the first 3-5 minutes. CPR pocket masks protect both rescuer and casualty during rescue breaths. Tourniquets and trauma dressings save lives where catastrophic bleeding is the immediate threat.
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the General Application Regulations 2007, every Irish employer must provide the first-aid equipment that the workplace risk assessment demands and make sure appointed first aiders can use it correctly. Missing equipment, an out-of-date kit or an inaccessible AED leaves your people exposed when it matters most.
This guide covers the nine pieces of first-aid equipment every Irish workplace needs - and our online First Aid Course (Emergency First Aid at Work) teaches your team how to use every one of them correctly in just 90 minutes.
9 essential pieces of first-aid equipment.
The life-saving tools every Irish office, shop, factory, site and care home should have ready on shift.
AED (Defibrillator)
The single most important tool after CPR. An AED delivers a controlled shock to restart a heart in cardiac arrest. Most modern units are fully automatic, voice-prompted and safe for any trained first aider to operate.
Stocked first aid kit
A clearly signed, in-date first aid kit holding sterile dressings, bandages, plasters, scissors and gloves. The everyday foundation of wound care, ready for any cut, graze or minor injury.
CPR pocket mask & face shield
A barrier device that lets you give safe, hygienic rescue breaths during CPR. It protects both rescuer and casualty and removes any hesitation about giving breaths to a stranger.
Tourniquet & trauma dressings
For catastrophic bleeding, a windlass tourniquet and haemostatic or pressure dressings stop life-threatening blood loss within seconds. Essential wherever machinery, blades or sharp materials are in use.
Burn dressings & cooling gel
Sterile, non-adherent burn dressings and cooling gel soothe and protect a burn after you have cooled it under running water. Vital in kitchens, workshops and any area with hot surfaces.
Eyewash & sterile saline
Single-use sterile saline pods and an eyewash station flush dust, debris or chemical splashes from the eyes and clean wounds before dressing. Always check the expiry date and replace after use.
Emergency foil blanket
A lightweight foil blanket helps keep a casualty warm and treat the signs of shock while you wait for the ambulance. Compact, inexpensive and a must in every kit.
Triangular bandages & splints
Triangular bandages and supportive splints help immobilise and support suspected fractures, sprains and dislocations until the casualty reaches hospital.
First-aid signage & records
Clear signage shows where kits and AEDs are kept, while incident reports, AED self-test logs and kit checks keep your first-aid provision current, auditable and ready for inspection.
First-aid equipment - your questions answered.
Quick, practical answers Irish workplaces ask when setting up their first-aid provision.
