Patch plasters are made from bamboo and free from plastic. Made with coconut oil and charcoal (over acrylic) these are more suitable for people with allergies, and used worldwide. They also contain aloe vera for quicker healing for burns. This company also sells bamboo bandages and body tape, plasters for children and plasters for bites.
Steroplast offers a zero waste kit that’s mostly plastic-free. It meets HSE recommendations and contains items wrapped in medical grade paper in a recycled polypropylene/wood plastic compound box.
It helps to always have a good first aid manual to hand, bearing in mind information updates. First Aid Manual is a regularly updated manual from St John’s Ambulance and other experts, with quick tips for over 100 scenarios. The latest edition includes info for pandemics, terrorist incidents and delivering first aid for patients during a mental health crisis.
The Children’s Book of First Aid is even better (also for nervous adults) as it’s very simple and clear to understand.
Act Fast First is an Etsy shop that sells quick and easy laminated book charts for first aid, for both humans and dogs. They cover various situations like for children and in the workplace, forest or outdoors. Belovaid offers baby and child first aid prints, for handy reference.
You can take online courses at NHS (free), Student First Aid (free), Red Cross (free for workplaces) and St John’s Ambulance.
Mini First Aid and Daisy First Aid also offer courses.
First Aid for Pets
Patch Eco First Aid Kit for Pets Includes a vet-approved first aid booklet. Along with bamboo cleaning pads, bandages and gauze pads, metal tweezers and scissors (and a tick remover but it’s best usually to have vets do this), a safety pouch, eco glove and a refillable tin.
Read The Cat Owner’s Guide to First Aid and The Dog Owner’s Guide to First Aid (both written by an emergency vet).
Pet Safety Crusader has a good book for children, along with books on pet first aid for birds and other creatures. You can also take online courses at
