First Aid Kits Are Essential
Mar 15 '02
The Bottom Line A good first aid kit is a very important thing to have and will come in handy in case of an emergency.
It seems of it these days a well-stocked first aid kid is not only a handy thing to have, but, I feel an essential thing to have as well. To be best prepared for an emergency it is best to keep a first aid kit not only in your home, but in your car as well. It is always a good idea to carry a first aid kit with you when you are going to go hiking, biking, camping, boating, skiing, or enjoy just about any outdoor activity. When my children are away at basketball camps or any type of activity like that, I always encourage them to find out where the kits are kept. We, as parents, also check to see where the are kept at our places of employment.
A first aid kit can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. You can buy one from almost any store or you can get one from you local Red Cross. Many people do as I have done and choose to make their own. It really does not matter if you buy one already made up or if you make your own, as long as you make sure that it is stocked with all the items that you will need.
One advantage to making your own kit would be that you could include some more personal items such as medications, emergency phone numbers, or other things that your doctor has suggested that might be relevant to you alone. You can, however, add these to any pre-made kit as well.
Because of the many needs of my children, I chose to make my own kit as there were several things that I added to mine that may not be found in some of the premade kits.
What you might want to put into your kit:
Gauze Pads and Gauze Roller (bring assorted sizes)
Band-Aids
Cold Packs
Adhesive Tape
Disposable Gloves
Activated Charcoal
Any type of Antiseptic Ointment
Triangular Bandages
* Blankets
Flash light (Make sure to bring extra batteries
Scissors
Tweezers
Plastic Bags
* Epi-Pen
* Emergency Numbers
* Medications you may need
Syrup of Ipecac
Hand cleaners
A&D ointment
* Cell Phone
The * denotes things that I have put into my kit that many may not have in theres. Living in the mountains of Colorado, we are always told to keep cell phones and blankets in our trunk and with our kits as the weather can change in the blink of an eye and what started out as a beautiful and sunny day can turn to snow and blizzard conditions.
Because I have children with many medical needs, I always keep such things as allergy medications, asthma medications, extra g-tube supplies, cartons of Pediasure, feeding bags, extra feeding tubes, seizure medications, and inhailers in my kit or car at all times. These are not essential for many, but for my family they are. I also carry an extra oxygen tank for my son in case we get stuck in a place where I can not get some right away.
We now even have one of those medic alert stickers on our car and in our first aid kit should there be some reason where we could not respond to those all essential questions that need to be answered if you are in need of medical attention.
Now that you have made your first aid kit and have one place in all of the required places there are a few things that you will need to remember. Check the kit often for such things as expiration dates on creams and medications. Check and make sure that phones and flash lights are in working order and that batteries are working as well. Make sure to dispose of out of date contents in the proper manner.
I think that the most important thing to remember in designing your kit is your location and your own personal needs.
Good luck putting your kits together.
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Debbietipton
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Member: Debbie Tipton
Location: Colorado Springs Co
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I am a SAHM of seven children. I love every minute of it.
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