Basic First Aid Kits

First aid or medical kits should be found in every household and automobile. Accidents happen when we least expect them and being prepared can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. The most common types of accidents include cuts, scrapes, burns, and insect bites. A large percentage of accidents happen in and around the home, then out in the great outdoors, and final in and around vehicles.

A kit should be readily available both inside the home and when the family is outdoors. It is also important to keep a kit in your garage for outside emergencies and in your vehicle for emergencies that may occur when you are traveling. A kit should also be a part of every emergency preparedness plan. When preparing for a natural disaster, most experts believe everyone should have emergency supplies for at least the first 72 hours. It is a good idea to include at least a 72 hour supply of any prescription medications as well. First aid or medical kits are a must in households that have children. Children can be very accident prone and it is better to be prepared than caught unaware. It is important that each member of the family be familiar with the contents of your kit and knows how to use them.

Your kit should consider the needs of each individual family member. It is very important to change the medications in the first aid kit periodically. Most medications have an expiration date, which can be written down on a piece of paper and kept inside the first aid kit. Also, include items such as glucose monitors and blood pressure monitors for family members that have diabetes and/or high blood pressure.

Every kit should include the following basic items, a assortment of gauze pads, adhesive tape, various bandages, antibiotic ointment, cotton swabs, eye drops, latex gloves, a tweezer, bottled water for cleaning wounds, and a first aid handbook. All kits should include prescription medications as well as non-prescription medications such as syrup of ipecac used to induce vomiting if instructed by a poison control center, medicines for treating bee stings, antihistamines for itching and allergic reactions, and pain medications such as aspirin.

If you had an emergency in your home or vehicle today, would you be prepared? Most people don't like to think about emergencies and this often results in not being prepared for household accidents. Don't leave your family's safety to chance. Be sure your home and vehicle are properly equipped with a first aid or medical emergency kit today!