Packing The Most Useful First Aid Kit: A Complete Guide

 

Do you know what a good first aid kit should contain? A first aid kit should have the essentials you need to respond to any emergencies and common injuries. It’s recommended that you have a first aid kit in your car and at your workplace and home.

While first aid kits are readily available in many drugstores, it’s always better to assemble your kit depending upon your needs, activities, or adventure trips. Here are some things a useful first aid kit should contain:

1. Basic Supplies:

Basic supplies include bandages or tools for minor injuries. These include:

· Duct tape

· Adhesive tape

· Disposable non-latex examination gloves

· Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swab

· For slings - Triangular bandage (large)

· Aluminum finger splint

· Superglue

· Butterfly bandages

· Bandage strips (assorted sizes)

· Elastic wrap bandages

· Petroleum jelly or other lubricants

· Roller gauze (assorted sizes)

· Sterile Non-stick bandages (assorted sizes)

· Rubber tourniquet or 16 French catheter

· Eyeshield or pad

· Plastic bags, assorted sizes

· Hydrogen peroxide to disinfect

· First-aid manual

· Syringe, medicine cup, or spoon

· Breathing barrier (surgical mask)

· Sterile saline for irrigation, flushing

· Bulb Suction device (flushing wounds)

· Thermometer

· Eyewash solution

· Antiseptic solution and towelettes

· Antibiotic ointment

· Hand sanitizer

· Scissors and tweezers

· Safety pins in assorted sizes

2. Common/Specific Medications:

Your daily medications for diabetes, heart issues, or other conditions must be on hand at all times and extra in your first aid kit. Other than that, some medications you should keep in your kit include:

· Pain relievers (Ibuprofen – Advil, Motrin IB, etc., Acetaminophen – Tylenol, Aspirin)

· Epinephrine Auto-Injector

· Personal medications

· Cough and cold medicine

· Hydrocortisone cream

· Antihistamine – diphenhydramine

· Antacids

· Laxatives

· Anti-diarrhea medication

· Calamine Lotion

· Aloe vera gel

3. Emergency Items

Some additional items that you can pack depending on your requirements include:

· Insect Repellent

· Sunscreen

· Cell phone with solar charger

· Emergency space blanket

· Small notepad

· Waterproof writing instruments

· Waterproof matches

· Headlamp or waterproof flashlights

· Extra Batteries

· Medical history forms for family members

· Medical consent forms for family members

· A comprehensive list of all emergency numbers and helplines in the US and your emergency contacts like family members and family doctors

4. Regular Kit Checkups

Regularly check your first aid kits for the viability of their contents. Check if the batteries are working, replace expired supplies, and fill used supplies. You do not want to go on a trip and find out you have run out of ointment or pain medication or no batteries for your flashlight in the dark.

 

Looking for emergency first aid training classes? Contact Metro Safety Training.

They prepare and educate teens and employees on workplace safety and basic first aid. Metro Safety Training offers a variety of training on first aid training courses and occupational first aid safety levels 1,2,3 courses in BC.