An essential part of caravan safety is a proper first aid kit, so John Ford tests out a comprehensive option from the Aussie brand, SURVIVAL.
When the staff in the Melbourne office recently went through their first aid certification, it was a timely reminder that it was time to update the kit in our car. We have carried it for the past few years, and the plastic toolbox looked a bit second hand. Much of the content was depleted, out of date or dust damaged. It was time for a new kit.
Our choice was a SURVIVAL Boaties Bundle because it includes a comprehensive kit of all the essential items and comes in a waterproof box designed to protect the contents in dusty and wet environments. Often, our travels include boating, so the water resistant kit made sense, but I was more interested in the kit being dustproof, which the box provides. And if you've already got a kit but want the benefits of the box, it can be purchased separately (click here).
SURVIVAL is an Australian family-run business that began offering first aid products in 1988. Its First Aid Emergency Handbook has sold more than two million copies, and its products are sold worldwide in a range of Australian-designed kits for various applications.
Inside the heavy-duty box, the kit comes in a good quality 27cm x 12cm x 21cm coated polyester bag with strong zippers and folds flat to reveal the contents laid out in logical colour-coded sections, making it quicker to respond to in an emergency situation. The opened length of the kit is 79cm. To keep the kit up to date, the numbered labelling system lets you know how many of each item the kit should hold to simplify restocking.
The SURVIVAL Boaties Bundle includes the same extensive selection of first aid items as the SURVIVAL Workplace kit. This means it complies with Safe Work Australia’s code of practice, providing a sense of security. The kit includes CPR instructions and a basic instruction manual, ensuring you’re well-equipped for in the case of an emergency.
As well as dressings, bandages, tapes and antiseptics the kit includes fever strips, hydro gel for burns, an ice pack and spider and snake bite compression bandages.
Because of variations in reactions to their use, modern first aid kits don’t include medications, but there is space for pain relief and other personal items. This highlights the care needed when administering any medications to people we don’t know. All in all it's a good kit and is suitable to take to all the various places your travels lead you.
You will find the SURVIVAL First Aid Kits range at A247.com.au. from $79.95. The Boaties Bundle combines the Workplace First Aid Kit and a waterproof box for $239.95.
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