First Aid Kits

First aid Kits

A well-stocked first-aid kit is essential in every home, car, or workplace. Being prepared ahead of time will help you handle the everyday emergencies that happen. First aid kits can be purchased everywhere from your drugstores, discount retailers or even your local Red Cross office, best of all you can make one of your own. If you decide to make your own kit, you can start with a basic and build on to it or start from scratch.  Remember to choose containers for your kits that are roomy, durable, easy to handle, and simple to open. Plastic tackle boxes are a great choice, since they’re lightweight, have handles, and offer a lot of space.

 

The basic kit

 

Include the following in your basic first-aid kit:

First-aid manual

Sterile gauze pads of different sizes

Adhesive tape

Adhesive bandages in several sizes

Elastic bandage

Bandages all sizes

Splint

Antiseptic wipes

Soap

Antibiotic ointment

Antiseptic solution  (hydrogen peroxide)

Hydrocortisone cream (1%)

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen

Extra prescription medications (if the family is going on vacation)

Tweezers

Scissors

Safety pins

Disposable instant cold packs

Calamine lotion

Alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol

Thermometer

Tooth preservation kit

Plastic non-latex gloves (2+ pairs)

Flashlight and extra batteries

Blanket

Mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Cross)

Emergency phone numbers

 

Remember the above is just a basic kit – watch for the advanced kit to follow in another post.