First Aid Kit
Does your first aid kit consist of whatever is in the bathroom cupboard? It shouldn't be left to chance.
That means not only gathering basic appropriate emergency supplies, but also learning the procedures for a few lifesaving techniques.
For example, every man, woman, and child should know how to do the Heimlich maneuver to save a choking victim. It takes about two minutes to learn and can literally be a lifesaver. Any member of your family or anyone at a table next to you in a restaurant could choke and die before help would arrive. Or you could perform the Heimlich maneuver and pop out the food in just a few seconds.
The difference between life and death could be a couple of minutes of learning and preparing for emergency first aid.
Another procedure everyone in your family should know is CPR. If someone in your family sticks a knife in the toaster and is accidentally electrocuted or drowns in your swimming pool, it's too late to begin learning how to save their life. Here's video showing the latest method of performing CPR. It's easy to do and may save the life of someone you love.
It's the same with basic first aid skills. If someone is bleeding, do you know how to stop it? Start learning the techniques of direct pressure, elevation, and pressure points now - not when the incident happens.
So it's important to have supplies on hand before the need arises and a very necessary item is a First Aid Handbook. Here is a list of common first aid kit supplies to include.
Standard First Aid Kit
Bandages
- Sterile gauze pads
- Rolled gauze
- Band-Aids of various sizes
- Triangular Bandage (36"x36"x52")
- Elastic Bandage
- Cotton Balls
- Cotton Swabs
- Sanitary Napkins (Pressure Dressing)
- Disposable Diapers (Dressing/ Splint/Padding)
- Micropore Adhesive, Paper Tape
- Small Splints, Possible Sticks
- Heavy String
- Hot/cold compresses
Medications
- Aspirin or Pain Relievers
- Laxatives
- Throat lozenges
- Diarrhea Medicine
- Antiseptics such as soap, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, triple antibiotic ointment, calamine lotion, or hydrocortisone cream, minor burn cream
- Antihistamine (such as Benadryl)
- Antacid (such as Rolaids or Tums)
- Activated charcoal (for poisoning)
- Eye drops
- Syrup of Ipecac
- Baking Soda (1/2 tsp. soda + 1 tsp. salt + 1 qt. water for shock)
- Other special medications like prescription drugs
Tools and Other Items
- Safety Pins
- Scissors
- Thermometer
- Matches
- Needles
- Tweezers
- Petroleum Jelly
- Salt
- Nail clippers
- Matches
- Medicine dropper and spoon
- Latex gloves
- Dust masks/industrial masks or gas masks
- Antiseptic towelettes
Special Individual Needs
- Baby/toddler needs
- Liquid pain reliever
- Teething ointment
- Diaper rash ointment
- Baby wipes with glycerin
- Oil/lotion
- Rubber syringe
- Current immunizations
- Compression socks or stocking
- Diabetic testing supplies
- Contact lens supplies
- Eyeglasses
Review all the items in your first aid kit every six months to make sure everything is in working order and fresh.
(Hmmm . . . I wonder if a bag of M&Ms counts as required prescriptions for stressful situations? 
)
Related Topics
- Emergency First Aid to prepare for a disaster.
- Emergency Contact List - Do you know where your family is?
- Bug Out Kits! Buy one or make your own.
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DID YOU KNOW?
The only time you apply a tourniquet is as a very last resort, after you have tried everything else, and the victim is going to die soon because you can't stop the bleeding? Using a tourniquet will cause the victim to lose their limb below the point of the tourniquet. If they lose a limb but save their life, it's worth it. But if their life wasn't ever in question, using a tourniquet consigns them to living the rest of their life as an amputee for no reason!
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