Chances are
you have a small first aid kit around somewhere. Perhaps you picked
it up when you were in the pharmacy, thinking it would be handy to
have around. But have you ever looked to see what’s inside that
first-aid kit? If it’s like most pre-made kits, it really isn’t
going to be much help for anything more serious than a scraped knee.
A
good first-aid kit is a critical piece of equipment to have around
for emergency situations. During any emergency, medical services are
overwhelmed. Even if you can get to the hospital or can get an
ambulance to your home, you may have to wait for hours to get the
service you need.
Having a
well-stocked first-aid kit can literally mean the difference between
life and death; especially in a crisis situation where medical
services are overwhelmed. The ability to take care of minor injuries
in your own home is something every family needs.
Assorted
Adhesive Bandages. This is
probably the most basic first-aid supply. Adhesive bandages are
helpful for all types of minor cuts and scrapes. The fabric type are
much better as they are more flexible and stick to your skin better.
While more expensive, they are worth it.
Large
Bandages. Some injuries require
more than a simple adhesive strip. If you are going to be prepared,
then be prepared for large injuries as well, such as gunshot wounds
or wounds caused by power tools. Sanitary napkins make excellent
bandages for large wounds and can be less expensive than the big
gauze pads.
Blood
Clotting Agent. People can bleed
to death from serious injuries. A blood clotting agent, such as
Celox, will help the wound to clot faster, reducing the total blood
loss.
Medical
Tape. Most large bandages do not
come with adhesive strips on them so they must be held in place with
medical tape. There are many types of medical tape available, but the
best are the cohesive bandages made of a stretchy material that
sticks to itself. It’ multi-functional and causes no pain when
removing the dressing.
Antiseptic.
Before bandaging, it is necessary to clean out the wound and apply
something to kill any bacteria that might have entered through the
broken skin. Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are used for cleaning, and
then antiseptic should be applied.
Adhesive
Sutures. A large cut needs to be
closed up for healing, as well as being bandaged. If you were to go
to the hospital, they would close that wound with stitches. Unless
you have been trained in how to do that, you’re better off using
adhesive sutures. Just make sure that the skin is clean and dry where
the suture will be attached.
CPR
Mask. Modern CPR techniques use
a mask between the unconscious person and the one who is trying to
revive them. The purpose of this is to avoid direct contact with
bodily fluids (mostly saliva), which is the fastest way of
transmitting a virus.
Glucosameter.
Used by diabetics everywhere, these small electronic devices measure
the blood sugar level. While most diabetics have high blood sugar,
which causes long-term problems, low blood sugar can cause several
short-term problems. Loss of strength, dizziness, loss of mental
clarity and even unconsciousness can be caused by low blood sugar.
Blood
Pressure Cuff. High and low
blood pressure can cause a number of problems as well. This is one of
the key vital signs that medical personnel use to determine a
patient’s overall medical condition.
Ear
Thermometer. Another vital sign
that medical personnel look for is temperature. While an oral
thermometer works, an in-the-ear model is both faster and more
accurate.
Aluminum
Splint. Broken bones need to be
immobilized. While just about anything can be used to splint them,
aluminum splint material is universal. This is an aluminum strip
coated with a layer of foam rubber on one side. It can be formed to
the necessary size and configuration by hand, making it very quick
and convenient to use.
Elastic
Bandage. When it is necessary to
support a joint due to a sprain, an elastic bandage is used. They are
also useful for holding an aluminum splint in place. These come in a
variety of widths to accommodate different sized joints. Keep a
variety of sizes on hand, from 2 inches through 6 inches.
Tweezers
and a Magnifying Glass.
Splinters can be painful and get infected. With a pair of tweezers
and a magnifying glass, they can be easily removed.
Eye
Cup and Saline. The best way to
get something out of the eye, such as chemicals or dust, is to flush
it with water. This is done by using an eye cup filled with saline
solution.
Syrup
of Ipecac. If something that is
potentially poisonous is swallowed, the best thing to do is induce
vomiting. Syrup of Ipecac is used specifically for this purpose,
especially for children.
Instant
Cold Pack. In the case of many
injuries, such as a twisted ankle or a sprained wrist, putting
something cold on it can reduce the swelling and associated pain.
However, this must be done quickly before it has a chance to swell.
Cold packs are the perfect way of doing this, especially when ice
isn’t available.
Rubber
Gloves. Just like the CPR mask
is designed to protect the care giver from becoming infected by air,
rubber gloves are needed as well to protect picking up bacteria and
viruses through touch.
Pain
Reliever. Maybe aspirin seems a
bit obvious for this list, but it is an important ingredient in any
first-aid kit. Most of the time that someone is injured, a few pain
relievers are necessary. They also work to prevent swelling, which is
important for many types of injuries.
The Bottom Line
Of course,
having all that stuff in your first-aid kit doesn’t do you much
good if you don’t know how to use it. While pretty much everyone
knows how to apply an adhesive bandage, most people don’t really
know how to do much more than that when treating injuries. Take the
time to learn.
There are
lots of excellent videos online about basic first-aid care. Take the
time to view instructional videos and even to practice using the
things in your kit. While not always so, there are times when mere
seconds count. Knowing how to use what you have could make all the
difference in the world for someone close to you.
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