Redesigning of first aid kit design Project

1.0 Introduction 

 First aid kid is a box containing equipments and medicines needed to give medical help during emergency (Collins, 2017). Researcher wants to research about first aid kit and the visual interpretation of the medicine and equipments which can be simplied by redesigning the first aid kit so that the patients can use it easily and with better understanding. Researcher also wants the research about contemporary design style. The characteristics of contemporary design include use of neutral and masculine colour, calm, simple, minimalistic and less flashy (Antonelli, 1997 & Britney, 2016).

1.1: Problem Statement

First aid kit usually always in scattared manner and placement of compartment in first aid kit is difficult for the user. The patients who don't have medical knowledge face difficulties to use first aid kit. The researcher wants to investigate about the ways to create more organized first aid kit with easy visual interpretation, labels and instruction for the users.

Figure 1: Scattered equipments in first aid kit (fubiz, 2017)

 “Standard first aid kits don’t address how they function in real life, where they are often used by someone who has no medical training,” Meldaikyte says.(Vanhemert, K, 2013)

1.2: Objective

i: To research about contents of first aid kit and contemporary design
ii) To analyze the first aid kit and contemporary design
iii) To apply contemporary design in redesigning the first aid kit in an organized manner and to create visual symbols that easily can be interpreted

1.3:Scope of Research

Basic first aid kit and visual symbols of each equipments and medications.


1.4: Target audience

People above 12 years old who need emergency medical care

1.5: Literature review

 The below shows the design of first aid kit which is clean, color-coded pictograms, created by graphic designer Nerijus Keblys, offer at-a-glance direction along the way. (Vanhemert, K, 2013)

Figure 2: Design of first aid kit by Nerijus Keblys

Designer Kevin Harald redesigned the first aid kit in order for the patient to use it easily and with better understanding. He also included simplified term of symbols which replaces the long words of instructions.

 

Figure 3: Redesigning of first aid kit

Figure 4: Visual communication in form of symbols

Figure 5: New way of opening first aid kit

The first aid kit is with clear instruction, colour and icons and easily can be interpreted by the user.

(Lindquist, 2013)

Contents of first aid kit

first aid tools:

• plasters in a variety of different sizes and shapes
• small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings
• at least two sterile eye dressings
• triangular bandages
• crêpe rolled bandages
• safety pins
• disposable sterile gloves
• tweezers
• scissors
• alcohol-free cleansing wipes
• sticky tape
• thermometer (preferably digital)
• skin rash cream, such as hydrocortisone or calendula
• cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings
• antiseptic cream
• painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen
• cough medicine
• antihistamine tablets
• distilled water for cleaning wounds
• eye wash and eye bath

(NHS, 2015)

 Figure 6: Thermometer

Figure 7: skin rash cream

 Figure 8: insect bites cream and spray

Figure 9: antiseptic cream

Figure 10: painkiller

Figure 11: eyewash

Figure 12: wound wash saline

Sterile dressings and plasters

• Plasters: Used for small cuts and grazes.

• Sterile pad: For more cushioning, it is holded in place with sticky tape.

• Sterile wound dressing: A sterile wound dressing is a sterile pad attached to a bandage. These are for larger wounds to apply pressure to help stop bleeding and are quick to be used

(St John Ambulance, 2015)

Figure 13: plaster

 

Figure 14: sterile pad

 

Figure 15: sterile wound dressing

Bandages

• Roller bandages: Roller bandages are long thin bandages rolled up to support joint injuries, hold dressings in place, put pressure on wounds to stop bleeding, and to reduce swelling

• Triangular bandages: Triangular bandages are large triangular shaped pieces of cloth. It is folded to be used as either a bandage or sling, or, if sterile, as a dressing for large wounds and burns.

(St John Ambulance, 2015)

Figure 16: roller bandage 

 

Figure 17: triangular bandage

Protective items

• Disposable gloves:  reduces the risk of infection between rescuer and the affected person. Always wear gloves whenever you dress wounds or deal with any body fluids or waste.

• Face shields or pocket masks: prevents infection when giving rescue breaths.

(St John Ambulance, 2015)

Figure 18: Disposable gloves

Figure 19: pocket mask

Other items

• Cleansing wipes, alcohol free wipes: To clean the skin around the wound

• Gauze pads as dressings: To use as padding, or as swabs to clean around wounds

• Sticky tape (adhesive tape): To hold dressings in place or to hold the loose end of bandages

• Pins and clips: To fasten the loose end of bandages

• Scissors and tweezers: To cut sterile pads, bandages or sticky tape to the right length. Also can be used to cut clothes to reach for the wound.

(St John Ambulance, 2015)

Figure 20: alcohol wipes

 Figure 21: gauze pads

Figure 22: sticky tape

Figure 23: pins and clips

Figure 24: scissors

Figure 25: tweezer

Useful extras:

• Use alcohol gel: Replaces water to clean the hands

.

Figure 26: alcohol gel

Research on Icons:

Thermometer - Normal temperature : 36-37.5 degree Celcius
                           Fever: > 37.5 degree Celcius

(WebMd, 2017)

 

Figure 27: Icons

Skin rash cream-

Insect bite cream:

Antiseptic cream:

Painkiller:

eye wash:

 Wound wash saline:

Plaster:

rubber gloves, scissors, bandage, sterile bandage, triangular bandage, adhesive tape, resuscitation mask:

Pin and clips:

tweezer

(Shutterstock, 2017)

Alcohol gel:

Instruction to use first aid kit





For dressing a wound:

1) wear gloves
2) Clean the wound and around the wound with cleansing wipes(alcohol wipes for small wounds), distilled water/wound wash saline (large wounds). Dry it with piece of gauze.
2) Choose the dressing to be used :

  - For large wounds, sterile wound dressing with bandage is used

i) Take the bandage out and unwind it until get dressing pad. Do not touch the part that touches the wound.
ii) Hold the bandage on each side and place the pad directly on the wound
iii) Start by winding the short end of bandage around the wound to hold the dressing pad. Let the short end of bandage ro hang free to be tied later.
iv) Then wind the longer end around the wound, until it covers the whole pad
v) Make a knot and make sure it is not too tight.

  - For medium, sterile pad with sticky tape is used

i) Hold the pad at the edge and place on the wound
ii)Use sticky tape to hold the pad in place
iii)For excessive bleeding and to keep pressure, bandage can be used.

  -For small wounds/cuts, plaster is used

i) Unwrap the plaster and hold it by the protective strips with the pad facing downwards
ii)Peel back the strips so that pad is exposed and place the pad on wound
iii)Pull away the strips carefully and press down the edge of plaster.

3) The pad must cover few centimeter around the wound. If blood sweep through the bandage, place another dressing on top of it.

 (St John Ambulance, 2015)

Reference:

Fubiz, 2017, first aid kit concept, fubiz.net, accessed on 7th May 2017, url: http://www.fubiz.net/en/2013/07/04/first-aid-kit-design/

 Linquist, D, 2013, Concept: First Aid Kit, thedieline.com, accessed on 6th May 2017, url: http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2013/9/19/concept-first-aid-kit.html

emedicinehealth, 2017, First aid Kits, WebMd, accessed on 6th may 2017, url: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/first_aid_kits/page3_em.htm

NHS choices, 2015, What should I keep in first aid kit?, NHS, accessed on 6th May 2017, url: http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/990.aspx?categoryid=72&subcategoryid=725


St John Ambulance, 2015, How to use first aid kit, sja.org.uk, accessed on 6th May 2017, url: http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice/first-aid-techniques/how-to-use-your-first-aid-kit.aspx

Antonelli, P, 1997, Contemporary Design from the Netherlands, MOMA, accessed on 7th May 2017, url:http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/1996/dutch_design/

Collins, 2017, first aid kit, collinsdictionary.com, accessed on 7th May 2017, url: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/first-aid-kit

Vanhemert, K, 2013, Brilliant first aid kit Provides One handed Relief, wired.com, accessed on 7th May 2017, url: https://www.wired.com/2013/07/a-brilliant-first-aid-kit-you-can-operate-with-one-hand/

WebMd, 2017, fever symptoms, causes, treatment, WebMd UK Limited, accessed on 8th May 2017, url: http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/fever-symptoms-causes-treatment