Play parties are fun! But they do usually include activities which can be physically and emotionally stressful to the participants and which run the risk of minor injuries. There should always be someone present who is properly First Aid trained. If you wonder why, here are some of the problems which may occur and have occurred at parties. There is also a suggested kit to deal with them.
- Abrasions
- Allergic reaction
- Angina
- Asthma
- Burns (including friction burns)
- Bruises
- Choking
- Cramp
- Cuts
- Dehydration
- Diabetic attack
- Dislocations
- Drug overdose
- Electric shock
- Epileptic episode
- Exhaustion
- Eye injury
- Fainting
- Fractures
- Head ache
- Heart attack
- Hernia
- Hyperventilation
- Hyperthermia (over-heating)
- Hypothermia (deep cold, usually only in outside events)
- Hysteria
- Insect bites and stings
- Internal injury
- 'Lost' anal/vaginal probes etc.
- Panic attack
- Sprains and strains
- Stroke
First Aid kit (Quantities according to numbers potentially needing to be treated.) including:
- Emergency First Aid guide booklet
- Resuscitation pocket mask
- Latex gloves for dealing with bleeding wounds and other body fluids
- Torch for pupil reaction
- Paramedic shears or bandage scissors
- Pen, Paper for passing messages to emergency crews
- Cold water for treating burns and overheating
Immediate aid medicines (not strictly first aid ... but consider) :
- Ventolin inhaler for asthma
- GTN spray for angina, soluble aspirin for MI's?
- Sugar (for conscious diabetics)
- Hypo-stop or glucagon (for unconscious diabetics)
- Anti-histamine tablets (usually piriton .. but these can sedate)
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Calamine ... or a similar cream with anti-histamine (Eurax HC)
- Arnica for bruising (some people swear by it .. but its not very scientific) :)
- Anti-septic cream or wipes
- Aspirin
Now the more conventional first aid stuff :
- Plasters (assorted sizes)
- Sterile eye pad/ bandage x2 (or more)
- Triangular bandages for slings / wound coverage / padding
- Safety pins
- Sterile dressings (I suggest ambulance dressings .. sizes 1-4 rather than the usual HSE kit dressings 8/9)
- Sterile gauze swabs
- Combined dressings .... melolin-type (non adherent in centre, with me-fix adherent backing around)
- Micropore tape .. also consider sleek .. the waterproof version in addition
- Conforming bandages (the up-market version of crepe-bandages)
- Fine forceps (and matches) for splinters
- Plastic bags for sealing sucking chest wounds
Unconventional first aid stuff :
- Steristrips and/or wound 'glue' --- usable only by trained personnel
- Heat and cold packs ??????
dependant on risk / situation ......
- Cling-film as a burn dressing [not to be used for play :) ]
- Space blanket
Specialised or outdoors play may require additional safety/First Aid equipment.
Our thanks to Barry, 'TheDoc' for his help with this section.