MEGA CLOUD

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

Concept/theme:
Horror genre

Storyline:

Dave is shorter in height compared to his friends. So, he always get bullied by his friends like avoiding him from playing football together. So, he felt isolated, lonely and depressed. He often cries alone at night. Meanwhile, a black shadow watched this with a huge smile on its face. It started to get close with Dave by sitting beside and pressing his neck whenever he cries. Dave likes to stay in darkness in his room.

One day, while laying on bed in dark, he saw some strange red eyes in his cupboard.He got scared and turned on the light. And the shadow disappeared. He went back to bed and covered him with blanket. After a while, the blanket was pulled by someone and he didnt notice it. Suddenly, his leg was pulled by the black shadow. Dave got startled . The shadow crawled and sit on his body and pressed him until he can't breath or utter a word. He prayed to God 'Save me!', and the shadow let him free and disappeared.

The next day, he finished its homework and went back to bed. He cried on bed thinking about his bad memories. He fallen sleep. Suddenly, he heard strange noise and he opened his eyes. He was in different dimension and dark shadows are swirling above his head. A king of all the shadow appeared in front of his eyes and said, "Join our force, we will against those who harmed you, TOGETHER!" and laughed 'HAHAHHAHA'. Dave run and the laughter of the King of black shadow slowly reducing in volume from far.

He waked up from his sleep. "Oh it was just a nightmare" and he was sweating. He wakes up and went to drink a glass of water. Later, he was walking and looking at his reflection on the mirror. Suddenly, his reflection smiled. And a hand comes out from the mirror and then followed by the black shadow. Dave run out of fear. He looked back, and the shadow was chasing him. ' I should face my fears!', Dave got a torchlight from a desk and Holy book. He shined the Holy book with the torchlight towards the black shadow. The ghost burned in fire and turned into air and disappeared.

Moral: Either you run from the fears or face it, Its in your hand.

Characters:

Dave (12 years old)
Black shadow
2 random friends

Environment concept:

Bedroom whiich has a window, bed, mirror, desk
School playground
Different dimension of ghost

Character reference: