About this topic
A first aid kit is useful for dealing with minor accidents and injuries. You may want to have a first aid kit for your house, school, or workplace. Some people also carry a small first aid kit in their car. Some people buy a ready-made kit. Others put one together. ‚
General
Here are some supplies you may want to keep in your first aid kit. ‚
- Adhesive bandage strips for cuts and scrapes, elastic bandages for wrapping sprains and injuries
- Adhesive tape for taping on gauze
- Instant cold packs to ease swelling
- Sterile cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs for cleaning wounds
- Sterile gauze pads to use as a bandage on large wounds
- Safety pins to fasten splints or bandages
- Scissors to cut bandages
- Syringe for measuring drugs
- Soap or instant sanitizer to clean hands and wounds
- Thermometer to check for fevers
- Tweezers to remove ticks, stingers, and splinters
- Blanket to use as a splint or keep an injured person warm
- Triangular bandage to make an arm sling or wrap an injury
- Bulb suction device to clean a wound or clear a nose
- Tooth storage device for broken or knocked out teeth
You may also want to keep some commonly used drugs in your first aid kit. Be sure to check the expiration dates often. ‚
- Antiseptic solution or wipes to clean cuts and scrapes
- Calamine lotion for bites or stings
- Sterile eye wash or saline-like contact lens solution
- Aloe vera gel for sunburns and other mild burns
- Antidiarrhea drugs
- Antibiotic ointments for cuts and scrapes
- Hydrocortisone cream for itching
- Drugs to ease pain and lower fever
It is also good to include emergency phone numbers in your first aid kit. You may want to have the phone number for your: ‚
- Doctor
- Local emergency numbers
- Local poison control
- Service road emergency service providers
Some people also include a permission to treat or medical consent form in this kit. A health history of each family member may also be included. You may also want to include: ‚
- Flashlights and batteries
- Candles and matches
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- First aid instruction manual
Think about any special needs in your family. Add supplies as needed for these problems. ‚
Helpful tips
- Read the first aid manual in your kit. This will tell you how to use the contents. Teach children the basic instructions.
- Check your first aid kit often. Make sure that everything is working.
- Replace missing or old supplies.
- Store first aid kits out of reach of children. Keep them in a place you can easily get to.
- Check flashlights and make sure they still work.
- Try to learn basic first aid. Take a class.
- Make sure that you carry your first aid kit each time you travel.
Where can I learn more?
FamilyDoctor.org ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/staying-healthy/first-aid/first-aid-kit-essentials.printerview.html ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/firstaid_kit.html?tracking=83967_G#cat31 ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/990.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚