Your first aid kit is your first defense when you or someone close to you is injured or sick. It not only offers immediate medical attention; your first aid kit can save someone’s life. It can also prevent the situation from getting worse. However, you need to stock up your kit appropriately for your first aid kit to be as efficient as it should be.
You can protect your health with these kits by stocking up with the right equipment. So, here’s a list of everything you need to keep in your kit.
Cleaning Supplies and Bandages
Burns, scrapes, and cuts are common injuries people experience at home. So, how do you address such injuries, especially in the comfort of your home? This is where cleaning supplies and bandages become essentials. The cleaning supplies and bandages you should stock up on should include:
Adhesive Bandage
Also referred to as a sticking plaster, the adhesive bandage is one item you shouldn’t lack in your first aid kit. Unlike traditional bandages, adhesive bandages are designed to fit minor cuts perfectly. This functionality makes them completely unfit for serious injuries. However, they help protect scabs and wounds from damage, friction, bacteria, and dirt.
By protecting the wounded area, your body can heal the wound with less disturbance. Therefore, ensure you pack up different sizes when loading your first aid kit.
Gauze Bandages
You can always use gauze bandages for wounds that are too large to cover with an adhesive bandage. This bandage can also absorb blood, making it pretty helpful in stopping bleeding. Like adhesive bandages, gauze bandages come in different sizes, so be sure to have an assortment in the first aid kit.
Medical Tape
You will need to secure the gauze wraps or bandages, which is where medical tape comes in handy. Using medical tape ensures that there is no residue left around the wound. Another advantage of medical tape is that you can purchase it in long rolls. This ensures that you have a sufficient supply in your kit.
Alcohol Swabs
Before you can place bandages or ointment on a wound, cleaning the area is important. This is where you use alcohol swabs. You can also use these swabs to sterilize the equipment you will use on the affected area.
Elastic Bandages
This bandage comes in handy, especially when someone sprains their joint. You can use an elastic bandage to reduce swelling and keep the joints immobile. Also, be sure to place hook-and-loop fasteners in your first aid kit.
Disposable Latex Gloves
You also need to protect yourself when administering first aid, which is why your first aid kit should contain at least a pair of latex gloves. Wearing gloves when offering first aid is important as it protects you from the transmission of illness and disease through bodily fluids.
A Thermometer
While our body temperature varies throughout the day, a slight spike in your temperature can indicate infection or illness. A thermometer in your first aid kit can help you check if you or someone else has a fever. If you determine that they have a high temperature, you can decide what steps to take.
Medications
You may require medication to manage muscle aches, headaches, inflammation, or stomachache symptoms. This is where over-the-counter medication comes in handy. You can stock up your first aid kit with drugs like:
- Cold medication
- Throat lozenges
- Ibuprofen
- Laxatives
Prescription Medication
If you are suffering from a particular illness, ensure that you stock up a week’s stash in your first aid kit. Having a small stock of your medication can be useful in emergencies like hurricanes, blizzards, or other disasters. It is also advisable to keep your current list of medicines and the dosing instructions in your first aid kit.
Instant Cold and Heat Packs
You can accidentally bump your head, fall, trip, or slip even at home, and these injuries can cause pain. With instant cold and heat packs, you can reduce swelling and pain, especially in situations where you have no access to ice packs.
Tweezers
Removing a shard of glass or splinter in your skin isn’t pleasant. Apart from being uncomfortable, it can also cause infection if left in your skin for too long. You can remove splinters “neatly” with the help of tweezers.
You should also include emergency phone numbers, flashlights, and non-perishable food items in your first aid kit. Being prepared for an emergency can help keep you and your loved ones safe.