What To Include In Your First Aid Kit

Ask any mother and she will attest that accidents occur around the home. It does not matter whether there are children in the home or all adults; there is certainly a need for wound care products and tubular bandages. No matter who lives in the home, having a first aid kit is a wise investment. In fact, every 1.6 seconds another accident happens in the home. Those who are prepared with antiseptic wipes and adhesive bandages have an upper hand. 

Whether it is for the office or home, a first aid kit is essential. The most common accidents that occur in the home are resulting from poison, slips and falls and also choking. In a home where there are children, it is necessary to have the proper equipment on hand to treat these injuries, such as liquid bandages. Where other bandages lose their stickiness in certain activities, liquid bandages can last thought swimming and all of child's play. 

When putting together a first aid kit, it should be carefully thought out and well stocked. Pre-made kits are an excellent start, but they usually do not have everything that one would need in them, like tubular bandages. Sure pre-made kits will have the basic necessary wound care products, but one will need to add additional products to them. It is advisable to stock the first aid kit with things that are pertinent to each family. For instance, if a person has asthma, an inhaler should be kept in the kit for emergencies. 

 Adhesive bandages are the number one thing that needs to be in a kit. For kids adding some cute character bandages are nice and make wearing Band-Aids more enjoyable. The first aid kit is also a great place to keep antiseptic wipes and a list of any medications being taken in the home. For those who have allergies to meds, it is a good place to list them. If there is a baby sitter or grandparents taking care of children, this information can prove valuable. Important phone numbers like doctors or the poison control center are also a great thing to have on hand. Here are some other things that should be included in a first aid kit:

• Paint Reliever like aspirin 
• Cough Medication
• Medical Syringe for Medicine
• Syrup of Ipecac
• Band Aids in Various Sizes
• Gauze
• Safety Pins
• Peroxide
• Long Armed Tweezers
• Cold Packs
• Hot Packs
• Antibiotic Creams
• Scissors
• Clean Rags for Blood Spills
• Flash Light
• Batteries (not in flash light)

Once a family has a kit, it is important to remember to keep restocking it periodically. Nothing is worse than needing the kit and someone has removed something from it. Bandages are something that can quickly disappear. Children love to play with them and always have a need for one more. Making sure these are stocked for true emergencies is essential. 

Credit : Debra