HOSPITAL LOCATION MAPS ON FIRST AID KITS

Safety: logging

INTRODUCTION: North Carolina logger Glenn Coleman of Inez Forest Industries Inc. has been using Bailey's Magnetic first aid Kwik Kits in his logging machines since the early 1990s (see FRA Technical Release 97-R-23, "Logger's Versatile Magnetic First Aid Kit"). He attaches a useful feature to the magnet side of the kit: a hospital location map and typed emergency telephone numbers.

As part of his preparation to move onto a new tract, Coleman locates the nearest hospital. He plots the location of the logging job and the hospital on a county road map and highlights them on the map with a highlighter pen. On a separate piece of paper he types the appropriate emergency telephone numbers: 911, hospital numbers, and the Duke Hospital Helicopter Life Flight number. Finally, he makes copies of the map and directions, covers them with clear plastic, and attaches them to the magnetic first aid kit. The typed phone numbers are taped to the front or top of the kit, and the map is taped to the back or bottom between the magnets. Coleman also uses the Bailey's Woodsman Industrial Station first aid Kwik Kit. To the inside of this kit's lid he secures a laminated copy of the map with an elastic strap and a laminated copy of the phone number list with tape.

 
Fig. 1: Country road map affixed to thet back of the Magnetic Kwik Kit.

Fig. 2: Country road map and emergency phone numbers (orange card)
included in Woodsman Industrial Station Kwik Kit.

APPLICATION: Coleman places the first aid kits with the attached hospital map and phone numbers inside each of his logging machines and his crew vehicles. Taped to the first aid kits, the hospital location map and phone numbers are readily available in the event anyone on the operation must be transported by a crew member to a hospital. Coleman adopted this innovation out of concern for the health and welfare of his crew members. He recognized that quickly transporting an injured worker to a hospital is of the utmost importance. Having the map and phone numbers readily available in an obvious and known location, such as a machine first aid kit, is an important step for obtaining medical care with minimal delay.

SPECIFICATIONS AND COST: The Magnetic and Woodsman Industrial Station Kwik Kits are available from Bailey's Woodsman Supplies Company. The kits meet OSHA first aid kit requirements and respectively cost approximately $80 and $100 (prices subject to change without notice). Contact Baileys at 800/322-4539. The cost of producing, copying, and attaching the maps and directions to the kits is less than a dollar for materials and a little bit of time.

Information supplied by:
Glenn Coleman Inez
Forest Industry Inc.
Route 3, Box 158A-1
Warrenton, North Carolina 27589

Reviewed By:
 Michael Wetzel
 Southeastern Technical Division Forester