The First Aid Checklist

When you are looking at making up a first aid kit for your home, office, or vehicle it is important to make sure that you include all of the items that are essential for a good first aid kit. Even purchasing one at the store you should check to make sure that your kit contains all of these very essential items to help you combat just about any emergency.

1.    Cut first aid items. When you cut yourself these are the items you will need to do a simple blood clean up. Included in this section should be rubber gloves, alcohol pads, Neosporin, Band-Aids, gauze pads, tape, scissors, and butterfly bandages. A tweezers is also a good accessory to have for wound care but anything larger than a splinter should be left in until a medical professional can assess the item further. Many times pulling something out of the skin can actually harm the patient further.

2.    Bump, sprain, strain, and break care. When it comes to caring for these types of issues you will definitely want to have an ace bandage, splint stick, some painkiller, and an ice bag readily available. For the most part these are the things that you will most likely need only until you can get the person to a medical doctor for further examination.

3.    CPR and Heimlich instructions. Some people use a breathing apparatus and some don't but it is good to keep one in your kit in case you need to breathe for someone that you don't know or someone who is less than clean or has blood in or around their mouth. Of course, in this case you will also want to make sure and wear the gloves you have in your kit as well. Keeping the instructions in your first aid kit is definitely a good idea. Even if you are trained it can be helpful to have a guide there so you don't get panicked during an emergency.

4.    Emergency numbers, allergy info, Benedryl, an inhaler, and an Epinephrine pen. Allergies are one of the biggest issues that can arise and keeping emergency care cards for anyone who regularly travels with you can be helpful including all allergy and contact information for them. It is also wise in a day with many deadly allergies to keep Benedryl, an asthma inhaler, and an Epi pen with you if you have access to these items. These can really help to save someone's life if an unexpected allergy attack hits when you are away from civilization or medical attention.

A well prepared first aid kit can truly save a person's life. Don't just go to the store and purchase one, instead prepare one yourself so that you can be sure to have it well stocked with those items you know that you will need if an emergency strikes.