The Necessity of a First Aid Kit

This attitude is fine for the day to day interactions, but sometimes circumstance necessitates more action on the part of individuals. When someone is injured there is a surprising amount that the common person can do to help them before emergency medical professionals arrive, if they are even necessary at all. Having a well stocked first aid box can help someone treat anything from a scraped knee to an unconscious person who has stopped breathing. The more advanced in first aid training a person is, the more intricate their first aid kit can be.

Even if a person does not have any formal first aid training and cannot administer things like CPR, having a properly stocked first aid kit in the car and home is very important for dealing with the minor injuries that can result from normal everyday activities. A properly filled first aid box can even help in emergency situations, though no one who is not properly trained should do anything, their equipment could be very helpful in a moment of crisis if there happens to be a trained individual in the area who does not have the proper tools to treat an injured person.

Preparing for the unexpected is the main purpose of having a first aid kit both at home and in the car because as the saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry. When putting together a first aid kit it can be hard to know what items are essential and which are not. Fortunately there are plenty of lists made by doctors and emergency medical specialists that outline what needs to be in a first aid kit and what is just extra. The range of items that are necessary for a first aid kit goes all the way from calamine lotion to instant cold packs.

...adhesive tape to help secure any pads or bandages that have to be applied to an injury.

Aluminum finger splints are another necessary item in order to stabilize a sprained or potentially broken finger.

Antibiotic ointment should be present to treat and minor scrapes or cuts as should antiseptic solution or towelettes to clean and sterilize the wound.

Adhesive bandages as well as a roll of elastic wrap should have an important place in any good first aid kit.

At least two pairs of disposable latex gloves should be in the kit and be worn by anyone treating an injured person in order to avoid any mixing of blood or contamination.

Cotton balls, swabs, gauze pads, and roller gauze are other essential items for a first aid kit. The gauze pads are good for treating superficial burns while the roller gauze is very helpful in reducing the swelling where there is a sprain. Instant cold packs are very important because they help reduce the swelling in sprains as well as help the healing of bruises. A first aid manual is a very good thing to have so that a person can have a little guidance as to what materials should be used for what minor injuries and in what fashion. Eye goggles, petroleum jelly, and plastic bags for discarding contaminated materials are other essential items for a good first aid kit.

Safety pins of different sizes are important because they help secure any wraps that are put in place around sprains. Save-A-Tooth storage devices have a salt solution and carrying case so that in the unfortunate event of a tooth being knocked out the chances of saving it are greatly increased. Scissors are important for cutting bandages and other material while tweezers help remove items like splinters from small wounds. Soap or instant hand sanitizer are very good to have because they can help clean a small wound and make sure that the person administering first aid has clean hands as well. Sterile eyewash is necessary for instances where debris or some other unwanted item gets in someone’s eye. A thermometer and triangular bandage are other important items for a proper first aid kit. A turkey baster or a similar item is necessary to help flush out any wounds in order to prevent infection.

There should be a list of emergency phone numbers that include local emergency services, poison control center, emergency road service providers, and the name and number of an individual’s personal doctor. The kit should also have a waterproof flashlight, sunscreen, and mylar emergency blanket. With all of these items in tow a person will be in possession of the most thorough and helpful first aid kit out there. It is important to regularly check on the items and replace any expired goods in order to maintain the effectiveness of the first aid kit. This is especially true with things like the latex gloves and lotions since they tend to have a shorter shelf life. A well stocked first aid kit can make all the difference in some situations and it is important to be prepared.