| First aid kits are a standard feature on | | | | don't outstay their shelf life. Officials can |
| school buses continent-wide. While that basic | | | | monitor when a kit is installed on a bus and |
| white box with the Red Cross on the front is | | | | also make record of the disposal of expired |
| a familiar and welcome symbol, seeing a first | | | | kits. Another way to ensure the safety and |
| aid kit in place is not enough to guarantee | | | | effectiveness of first aid kits is to conduct |
| that a school bus is well-equipped. | | | | random checks of their contents - making sure |
| | | | all the necessary features are inside and |
| A recent accident in Florida brought home the | | | | opening some of the individual packages to |
| fact that the simple presence of a first aid | | | | make sure they're in good shape. |
| kit is no indication of its contents and | | | | |
| their usefulness. In this particular case, | | | | In Florida it was the gauze that went bad, a |
| people rushing to help a young bicyclist hit | | | | serious concern, since school bus kits |
| by a school bus found that the bus's first | | | | generally contain several gauze pads and |
| aid kit contained rotten gauze that | | | | bandages. There are other items contained in |
| disintegrated in their hands. | | | | the kit that could also degrade with the |
| | | | passage of time, including adhesive strips or |
| This situation raises questions about school | | | | tape, eye pads, CPR face shields and |
| bus safety checks and the effectiveness of | | | | ointments. |
| inspections that merely verify the bus has a | | | | |
| sealed kit on board. With no expiry date and | | | | As school and transport safety officials have |
| no way to tell how long any particular kit | | | | begun to realize, having well-stocked first |
| has been in place, officials can't judge the | | | | aid kits on school buses is not enough. The |
| soundness of a first aid kit. In light of | | | | best stocked kit in the world isn't any good |
| this, some school boards are already taking | | | | if the contents have outlived their |
| steps. | | | | usefulness - only organized first aid kit |
| | | | tracking and more thorough inspections can |
| Tracking kits is one way to ensure that they | | | | ensure a safe and effective kit. |