When you set out to stock your own personal first aid kit, you usually can include anything and everything that you think will be required during an emergency.
Now, first let me say that there are two kinds of first aid kits, the first one being the kit that handles small cuts or bleeding, and the second one being one that is needed if there is an emergency. Normally the first aid kit is fairly basic, but the emergency kit can include many items that could be essential during a power outage, a storm or a disaster. I’ll start by going over what is needed in the first aid kit, then move on to the emergency kit, which could be even more vital.
The First Aid Kit
Usually, most first aid kits contain similar items, and you can expect that the things that you put in your first aid kit will not be very different from what anyone else would put in theirs. But you are at liberty to select the brands you prefer and the quantity of each item that you include in your kit; everyone has their own opinion as to what important items should be included in a kit.
Following is a list of items that I believe should be included in each First Aid Kit:
Adhesive Bandages — You should have bandages in various shapes and sizes, from tiny ones for a paper cut, to large ones that can cover a scraped knee. Having a variety of choices means you are prepared for every situation.
Micro-Shields — In the event that CPR must be performed, it is always wise to have these on hand to protect the provider.
Neosporin — This is the brand that I use, but you could substitute another brand. You just need something to apply to the wound prior to bandaging. I think Neosporin is the best product, since you have a reason to practice safety when there is a wound.
Antiseptic Wipes / Alcohol Pads — If you cannot completely clean out a wound, you can use these to perform the cleaning function. While using alcohol to clean it can be painful, at least you will be certain that the bacteria and germs have been eradicated. It is necessary to have adhesive tape, gauze, and an elastic bandage if you end up with a problem that a band-aid won’t take care of. These are helpful in securing a bandage in place on an area such as the knee.
Thermometer — A Thermometer is needed to determine if someone has a fever.
Gloves — Latex gloves or plastic gloves are required if you have a situation in which someone else needs help. Wearing gloves protects both you and the person you are helping.
Scissors and Tweezers — The scissors can be used for cutting the various supplies, while tweezers can be helpful in extracting gravel or other foreign objects from wounds. Also, tweezers can be useful for removal of splinters.
Medications — A pain reliever and a stomach antacid are good medications to have available.
Hot Packs /Cold Packs — For those times when you need to apply cold or heat to a person for a specific injury or condition, these items can be very useful. So you should always have these in your kit.
List of Emergency Numbers — Since you may have a long list of emergency contacts, chances are you will not be able to memorize them all. Especially during an emergency, you are unlikely to be able to recall your doctor’s number, let alone the number of the Poison Control Center. It is wise to keep a list of these contact numbers in your emergency kit.
Wildcard – If a family member must take medicine, it is always a wise choice to have some of that medication in the first aid kit to lean on for back up. That way, if disaster strikes, they will have a medicine supply in the kit and that could be a lifesaver.
While you can probably think of many other things to include, I believe these are the most important items that belong in any first aid kit.
So that’s the list of items that must be in your First-Aid kit. Of course, you may chose to include other items in your first aid kit, but these are the bare minimum of required items that you should include. When an emergency arises, you want to be sure that you have whatever is necessary to survive for several days.
Tags: injury, medications, pain reliever, survive
