First Aid Kit

The AmericanCollege of Emergency Physicians recommends that every home have a first-aid kit to respond to common medical emergencies. A kit is a portable container of medicines, supplies and information used to treat minor illnesses and injuries at home, at play, or on vacation, reducing the risk of injury and serious illness.

Description

The contents of a well-stocked kit should include the following items:

Thermometers for infants, children and adults

Rubbing alcohol to clean tweezers, needles and thermometers

Tweezers and needles to remove slivers and ticks

Band-Aids in assorted sizes

Butterfly closures to tape minor cuts together, sizes ¼ and one inch.

Sterile gauze pads (2x2, 4x4, and 5x9 inches)

Non adherent dressings burns or abrasions need a non-stick dressing

Triangular bandage to make a sling or use as a tourniquet

Elastic bandage to support a sprain

Safety pins to fasten bandages

Medical tape to affix a gauze pad to a large wound

Plastic resealable bag

Scissors

CPR shield

Butterfly closures to pull the edges of small wounds together

Latex gloves

Medicine dropper to administer medicine to children

Medicine spoon

Petroleum jelly to lubricate rectal thermometers for infants under one year old

Heating pad/Hot water bottle

Tongue depressors

Antiseptic wipes to cleanse hands or wounds

Cotton-tipped swabs for cleaning wounds

Iodine swabs for cleaning around a wound

Topical calamine lotion or antihistamine cream for allergies, insect bites and rashes

Acetaminophen in appropriate doses for infants, children and adults

Cough suppressant to relieve coughing in appropriate doses for infants, children and adults

Decongestant tablets to relieve nasal congestion. Use in appropriate doses for infants, children and adults

Anti-bacterial cream

Oral rehydration fluid for the treatment of diarrhea

Sunscreen

Insect repellent

First aid manual

An emergency information list

Storage

The items in the kit can be stored in a box or a tote bag where adult members of a family or a team know where it is located. The kit should be stored out of reach of children and products should have child safety caps. Follow the physician or manufacturer’s guidelines for the correct use of medications and supplies.

The kit should be compact enough to be transported in a car, suitcase, or rucksack if traveling.

Maintenance

The kit should be inspected monthly to ensure that the contents are not damaged or out of date

Training

All adult persons should have knowledge of the appropriate use of all equipment and medication and know the situations when immediate medical attention is required.

The emergency information list should include the following:

Phone numbers of family physicians and pediatricians

The regional PoisonControlCenter number

Numbers of local police, fire and ambulance services

In addition, a list should be compiled of any allergies that a family or team member has, and the treatment required

Attendance of a course in basic first-aid will enable adults to respond quickly and appropriately to any emergency, equipping them with knowledge of life-threatening situations and the first-aid treatment to be taken. At least one person in a family or organization should be trained in first-aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Resources

American College of Emergency Physicians ACEP, “Home First Aid Kit”

ACEP, 1125 Executive Circle, Irving, TX75038 phone 800-798-1822

Schmitt, B.D. “First Aid Kit”, Clinical Reference Systems. Annual 2000 p670