There are many ready-to-use first aid kits on the market, available everywhere, from the local pharmacy to Amazon. They range from a few dollars for as little as a set of many antibiotic ointments and strips to several hundred dollars kits for the survivalists, tactical and professionals. In this article we will guide you about how to prepare a first aid kit at home.
While you may find one of these ready-made combinations to suit your needs, it has a multitude of issues, including low-quality products, optional items, and a lack of or poor organization that makes getting what you need and when you need it cumbersome at best.
Home first-aid kits are commonly used to treat these types of minor traumatic injuries:
- Burns
- Cuts
- Abrasions (scrapes)
- Stings
- Splinters
- Sprains
First aid kits for travel should be more complete as the pharmacy may or may not be available. In addition to personal medicinal things, the first aid kit should contain items to help relieve typical symptoms of viral respiratory infections, such as fever, nasal congestion, cough, and sore throat. You should also include things to treat these ailments, such as cuts, mild pain, digestive problems, skin problems, and allergies.
Try to keep the kit simple and manageable. They should be stocked with handy items. Almost anything can be used to get a good view of the contents of the first aid kit. If your kit will be moving a lot, the best is a waterproof and fall prevention container. In-expensive nylon bags, personal kits, fanny packs, or makeup bags are handy.
You don’t have to waste much money on an elegant “medical bag.” Use sandwich or oven bags that can be closed to assemble and divide items. Put the wound supplies in one pocket and the medicines in another. Make sure you know how to use everything in the kit correctly, especially the medicines.
The best place to store a first aid kit is in the kitchen. Most family activities take place here. The bathroom has a lot of humidity, which reduces the life of the items. The travel kit is for real trips away from home. Please keep it in a bag, backpack, or dry bag, depending on the activity.
The first aid kit for daily use in the car should be like the home first aid kit. Besides, you can keep similar kits in your boat (inside a waterproof bag), a travel trailer, a portable house, a mobile home, a cabin, a holiday home, and wherever you spend most of your time.
The home first aid kit should include the following:
- Adhesive tape
- Anesthetic spray or solution: rashes and insects bite
- 4 “x 4” sterile gauze pads – for wrapping and cleaning wounds, like a soft eye patch
- Ace bandages 2 “, 3” and 4 “: Wrap the twisted or strained joints, wrap the gauze on the wounds, wrap the splints
- Adhesive bandages (all sizes)
- Oral antihistamines, diphenhydramine or loratadine, for allergies, itchy rashes (avoid topical antihistamines as they can worsen the rash in some people).
- Topical steroids, such as 1% hydrocortisone without a prescription for rashes
- Polisporin antibiotic cream: applied to minor wounds
- Non-stick pads – to cover injuries and burns
- Lockable oven bag: as a container for contaminated items, it can also become an ice pack
- Safety pins (large and small): to remove splinters and hold the triangular bandage ropes
- Scissors
- Triangular bandage – like a scarf, towel, tourniquet
- Forceps: to remove pieces, pricks or ticks
Almost everyone will need to use the first aid kit at some point. Take the time to prepare travel and household kits for the safety of your family. First aid kits can be basic or comprehensive. What you need depends on your medical practice and your distance from expert medical assistance. First aid kits are now commercially available in chain stores or outdoor retailers. However, it’s easy to make your first aid kits smart and inexpensive by yourself!