7 Not So Obvious Items for Your First-Aid Kit
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- Published on Saturday, 18 February 2012 22:59
- Written by Wayne
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Along with food, water, and other necessities, a well-stocked first aid kit is an essential part of any family emergency preparedness plan. And there are a number of commercially available first aid kits that cover all the basics—from bumps, bruises, and rashes—to scratches, cuts, and scrapes. While these prefab kits are good at dealing with the obvious, some customization will be needed to provide for the potential medical needs of all family members. With that goal in mind, here’s a look at some of the not-so-obvious items you may want to include in your first aid kit.
1. Emergency Contact Information:
When you grab your first aid kit, you’ll want to make sure that it contains critical emergency contact information—including the phone numbers of poison control, physicians, and family members. Although this information may already be on your cellphone, don’t assume that that will make it easily retrievable when an emergency occurs.
2. Emergency Medications:
Do you have a family member with a condition which, if left untreated, could be life-threatening? You will want to make sure your first aid kit contains the critical items they might need, such as essential inhalers for asthmatics, diabetic supplies, including needles and syringes and insulin—properly stored in a readily retrievable container—Epinephrine pens, Benadryl, or separate supplies of any prescription medications that will be needed in the event of an emergency. Be sure to check the expiration dates routinely to make sure all meds will be useable and effective if needed.
3. Emergency Pain Medication:
Aside from prescription medications, it’s smart to have over the counter pain and fever medications available in your emergency kit. If disaster strikes, you will want to have access to these items wherever you are. Although aspirin is fine for those over 18, it should not be given to children. Ibuprofen is a good choice for treating pain, fever, and inflammation in both children and adults, but it should be taken with food. Tylenol can also be effective, but the dosing guidelines must be strictly followed. The key is to make sure that in the event of painful injury, each family member can be treated with the appropriate pain medication.
4. Emergency Masks:
Although no one wants to think about worst case scenarios when putting a first aid kit together, doing so can save a life. CPR masks or Pocket Resuscitators should be included in your kit in the event that someone stops breathing. These items are more effective and sanitary than typical mouth to mouth.
5. Emergency Means to Minimize Blood Loss:
Although standard first aid kits are well equipped to treat cuts and abrasions that involve minimal blood loss, the ability to effectively treat deep bleeding wounds should not be overlooked. Aside from the obvious uses, sanitary pads and tampons, while taking up minimal space, can succeed in stopping bleeding when Band-Aids and gauze bandages fail. While suture kits can be very useful, they should only be used by those who know how to use them properly, in the event that professional medical care is not an option. Butterfly bandages are a good alternative to sutures.
6. Emergency First Aid Supplies For Pets:
If your family has animals, their well-being should also be factored into your first aid kit. While most items used for humans such as bandages, hydrogen peroxide, and antibacterial ointments are also perfectly suitable for pets, it’s best to check with your veterinarian to make sure any special items your pet may need are included.
7. Emergency First Aid Training:
The last thing you want to do when treating an emergency injury is to look at the items in your first aid kit and wonder how to use them correctly. Basic first aid training courses are readable available to the public through community colleges, fire departments, and hospitals, and most take less than a day to complete. There are also online courses that provide good basic information. Knowing what to do and how to do it before the need occurs will give you added peace of mind, which is what emergency preparedness is all about.
About the Author: Ryan Hamilton is a freelance writer for Shelf Reliance. Shelf Reliance food storage and other products are great to have in case of an emergency.
