Having a good home first aid kit can be the difference in life and death, or at the very least help you avoid discomfort in an emergency.
We as human beings are always prone to all sorts of major and minor emergencies and you can’t really do anything to stop them from occurring. However, you can minimize the damage they cause or the intensity of pain caused by that certain emergency.
You may or may not consider a broken bone, a cut, or even an allergic reaction to be a major problem, but they can be enough to make you desperately look for some relief.
Usually, in circumstances like these, an instant reaction would be to fend for yourself with something that provides immediate relief. This can only be done when you have the essentials well-stocked in the form of a first aid kit.
There is no rocket science involved in putting together a medical kit for addressing the issue, on time.
Why do I need a Home first aid kit?
Medical emergencies, big or small, can happen at any point in your life. There’s no way you can be 100% safe from anything happening to you.
When unwanted and unexpected health problems occur, you will most definitely need something at home to stop things from getting out of control. Therefore, having an emergency or first aid kit with you at all times is just as necessary as having food to eat.
However, putting together a basic or an all-purpose first aid kit depends entirely on you and your experience with handling emergencies.
You can put almost everything in your emergency kit but do not have proper knowledge and experience about how to use these things properly.
However, the core purpose of a first aid kit is to provide aid to a person in pain until you can get professional help; so you really don’t need to be half a doctor to use that.
Things That Matter:
You can’t just mindlessly put every medicine and band-aid you find in your first aid kit. Take your time to prepare a rather comprehensive kit that serves the purpose.
You can buy a basic first aid kit, available at any medical or chain store. However, if you have some specific medical needs or have some prescribed medicines then it is suggested that you put together your own first aid kit.
Apart from medical emergencies, your first aid kit should always be there if there is any other emergency of sorts like a hurricane or a power cut.
What if your allergies are triggered during a blizzard and there is no way you can go to a hospital or get any professional help?
With something as important as a first aid kit well-stocked with your prescribed medicines, you can save lives. In case of emergency, it is vital that every first aid kit has copies of your medical records.
Here’s what you need:
Essentials:
- Dressings and bandages
- Adhesive bandages in all sizes to cover all types of wounds.
- Alcohol wipes or cotton swabs
- Gauze pads of different sizes
- Dressing Tape
- Gloves
- Scissors
- Safety pins
- Alcohol-free cleaning wipes
- Crepe bandages
- Sterile water
- Eye pad
- Digital thermometer
- Tweezers
- Inhaler
- Mouthpiece for CPR
- Sanitizer
- Disposable syringes
- Cotton buds
Medicines:
- Basic cough and cold medicine (prescribed)
- Antiseptic solution
- Asprin
- Povidone-iodine
- Antiseptic ointments
- Eyewash Saline solution
- Calamine lotion
- Laxative and anti-diarrhea meds
- Sting relief spray or cream
- Anti-nausea meds
- Prescribed medicines for a medical condition
It is important to keep your emergency numbers in your first aid kit and make sure that it is kept where it is accessible to everyone. Let us know if there’s anything else that one should keep in his/her first aid kit?
Want to learn more about first aid? Check out our series on building a “Target” First Aid Kit:
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***Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.***
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on November 30, 2015, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
Thank you for suggesting you include any prescription medications you are taking in your first aid kit. I think it is a wonderful idea for any home to have a first aid kit. My family is always getting hurt but I don’t have much time to put a kit together. Maybe I can find somewhere that I can buy one from so I can keep my family healthy.