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Why packing a First Aid Kit this summer could save a life
Summer in Aotearoa is all about sunshine, road trips, beach days, camping missions and long-awaited downtime with the people we love. But while we’re loading up the car with towels, chilly bins, lifejackets and snacks, there’s one small essential that often gets forgotten — a first aid kit.
It may not be the most exciting thing on your packing list, but it’s one of the most important. And according to ACC data, injuries over summer are more common than many of us realise.
Every year, ACC accepts more than two million injury claims, with a large portion occurring at home, outdoors or in the community — exactly where many of our summer adventures take place. Cuts, scrapes, stings, sprains, burns and slips are all part of the “Kiwi summer experience,” whether we like it or not. Even seemingly small injuries can escalate quickly if you’re far from help.
That’s why this year, we’re encouraging all New Zealanders to pack a first aid kit before heading away.
Why first aid kits matter
A first aid kit is often one of the smallest items you’ll take on holiday — but in the moment you need it, it becomes the most valuable. It can help:- Clean and cover cuts before they become infected
- Treat stings, bites and burns on the spot
- Support someone while waiting for medical attention
- Give peace of mind during outdoor activities
- Keep holiday mishaps from turning into holiday dramas
Whether you’re boating, camping, tramping, road-tripping or simply spending time at the bach, a well-stocked first aid kit helps you stay prepared for the unexpected.
At Capes Medical Supplies, we want to help more Kiwi families stay safe this summer. Our Capes Essentials First Aid Kit includes the basics you need to handle minor injuries quickly and confidently.
To help you stay prepared, we’re offering 10% off the kit when you use the code FirstAid at checkout.
This offer runs until 31 January 2026, making it the perfect time to add one to the car, boat, caravan, backpack or bach cupboard.�� Shop the Capes Essentials First Aid Kit.
Need help finding the right first aid solution for your home or workplace? Get in touch.
Capes Medical partners with Aspen Surgical to bring world-class Symmetry Surgical instruments to New Zealand
Capes Medical Supplies is proud to announce an exclusive partnership with Aspen Surgical, the global organisation behind the Symmetry Surgical portfolio — one of the most trusted, clinically proven and historically significant families of surgical instruments in the world.
Through this partnership, New Zealand theatre and CSSD teams will have direct access to a suite of premium, German-made Symmetry Surgical instruments, backed by more than 300 years of combined heritage and relied on by surgeons across the globe.
A legacy New Zealand surgeons will instantly recognise
While the Aspen name may be new to some Aotearoa-based clinicians, the instruments absolutely won’t be. The Symmetry Surgical portfolio includes some of the most iconic and proven tools in modern surgery, such as:
- Kerrison & Shurtleff neurosurgery instruments
- The world-renowned Bookwalter® Retractor System
- SSI (Specialty Surgical Instrumentation)
- Olsen Medical electro-surgery instruments
Symmetry Surgical combines a legacy of heritage instruments crafted in Germany—the epicenter of surgical instrument manufacturing since the early 1800s—with advanced craftsmanship and precision that have defined operating rooms for generations.
Today, Symmetry Surgical maintains more than 13,000 surgical products spanning access, intervention and closure — all engineered to support safer surgery and superior patient outcomes across multiple specialties.
For New Zealand, that means clinicians can ask Capes Medical to source, match and replace instruments they have relied on for decades under names they know and trust: Bookwalter, SSI, Olsen, and more.
A partnership grounded in excellence, trust and shared values
“Aspen Surgical chose to partner with Capes because of their strong reputation, nationwide reach and genuine commitment to working alongside CSSD and theatre teams,” says Tony Pascoe, Managing Director / VP Australia & New Zealand, Aspen Surgical. “Capes puts the needs of healthcare professionals first, so they can focus on doing the incredible work they do. We’re proud to partner with a company that shares our focus on quality, reliability and patient outcomes.”
From their headquarters in Michigan, Aspen Surgical has built a global reputation for precision engineering, consistent performance and product innovation. That commitment extends across the entire Symmetry Surgical product family.
Strengthening support for New Zealand operating theatres and CSSD teams
“We are incredibly proud to partner with Aspen and bring the Symmetry Surgical portfolio to New Zealand,” says Ginene Scott, General Manager, Capes Medical Supplies. “These instruments are known worldwide for their craftsmanship and clinical performance. This partnership strengthens our commitment to theatre and CSSD teams, giving them greater access to reliable, high-quality tools — backed by a supplier who genuinely puts people first.”
This partnership is a significant step forward for New Zealand surgical services, offering:
- reliable access to world-leading surgical instruments
- better product matching and replacement support
- fair, transparent pricing
- clinical continuity for teams who rely on Codman, SSI and Bookwalter systems
Support for product matching, samples and replacements
Healthcare providers can now contact Capes Medical’s surgical team to:
- arrange product matching to replace instruments from other manufacturers
- discuss sets, trays and CSSD requirements
- view samples from the extensive portfolio
Speak with a Capes surgical instrument expert
If you’d like to know more about our range of surgical instruments, please get in touch and we’ll connect you with one of our experts.
Capes Medical. We’re in it for you.
Happy Christmas: Here's our Christmas opening hours
Order now for pre-Christmas delivery
If you'd like your order to arrive before Christmas, please ensure it is placed with our team by COB on Monday the 15th of December. Like Santa, our couriers are extremely busy at this time of year, so pre-Christmas deliveries cannot be guaranteed.
Holiday hours
Over Christmas and New Year, our office and warehouse will take a short break so our team can recharge with their whānau. We’ll be closed on the public holidays. Our holiday hours are:
- Wednesday 24th December: 8am to midday.
- Thursday 25th December: Closed.
- Friday 26th December: Closed.
- Monday 29th December: 8am to 4.30pm.
- Tuesday 30th December: 8am to 4.30pm.
- Wednesday 31st December: 8am to midday.
- Thursday 1st January: Closed.
- Friday 2nd January: Closed.
Our normal trading hours resume from Monday the 5th of January.
Wishing you a safe, happy and restful holiday season from all of us at Capes Medical.
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Clarius in the ED: Fast, portable imaging for critical moments
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Free wound care education resources for clinicians
We know that improving wound care knowledge leads to better assessments, fewer complications, more consistent dressing choices and improved patient comfort. It also helps reduce costs by preventing unnecessary dressing changes and inappropriate product use.
However keeping up to date with all the latest developments in wound care is hard! Especially for busy clinicians.
To help you stay ahead, we’ve compiled some of the best online wound care education platforms — many of which are free or low cost — and highlighted how many of our amazing suppliers work hard to support ongoing education as well.
1. TENA Professional Online Training
The TENA Professional website offers a suite of free online modules aimed at healthcare professionals. Their “Supporting Tools / Education” section includes resources on continence and wound-care basics that are highly relevant for aged care and community nursing teams.
Find it here.
2. ActivHeal Academy
If you’re already using or considering the ActivHeal wound-care range, their academy offers training in advanced wound management. It helps clinicians understand how to assess exudate, select dressings (including PHMB foam) and optimise healing pathways.
Find it here.
3. Mölnlycke – Wound Care For All
Mölnlycke provides free downloadable tools and e-learning modules including wound assessment guides, skin-tone tools, and algorithms for managing venous leg ulcers or skin tears. Clinicians in NZ can access these for no cost, supporting continuous learning. Mölnlycke Health Care
Find it here.
4. New Zealand Wound Care Society (NZWCS) Education
The NZWCS offers education and professional development in wound care for Aotearoa. Their “Education” page lists courses, resources and guidelines aimed at fostering evidence-based practice in wound management.
Find it here.
5. Ko Awatea eLearning Modules – Wound Care
Ko Awatea’s eLearning platform (Health New Zealand) includes multiple wound-care modules such as “Wound Basics”, “Pressure Injury Prevention and Management” and “What Wound, What Dressing” — ideal for practice nurses, community staff and clinic teams. Many modules are free or very low cost.
Find it here.
6. The European Wound Management Association offers e-learning courses aimed at healthcare professionals globally. While some modules are paid, there are free or introductory resources applicable to NZ practice.
Find it here.
Need guidance or product training?
If you would like help choosing the right learning options for your team, or if you want to explore product training through suppliers such as Mölnlycke, ActivHeal, BPositive or TENA, our team is here to support you.
Get in touch with one of our education and product experts. Together we'll keep your wound-care team up to date and confident.
Capes Medical
We're in it for you.
