First aid kit installation at a medium-sized University: Program implementation & evaluation

First Aid Kits (FAK) are stocked with medical supplies for minor injuries. At Tufts University, FAKs were installed as a student-led project to provide easily accessible medical supplies. After working with a multidisciplinary team at Tufts, FAKs were installed and usage data obtained. It was hypothesized that maintenance expenses would fall within the project's projected costs, kits would be used regularly, and EMS calls and Health Service walk-ins for minor injuries would decrease. Results showed kits were well-used and initially experienced heightened use before dropping to roughly 60% of initial levels. The monthly cost to refill the kits was $11.23 per kit. Data on trends in the use of Health Services/EMS were insufficient to draw conclusions. This case study provides a blueprint for successful FAK installation on a college campus, and after a one-year pilot program, Tufts institutionalized the project within the Department of Public Safety.