Preparing a First Aid Kit What You Need to Include

It is important that you have a first aid kit with you wherever you go. This includes your home, workplace, and car. It is the only way that you can be certain that you will be able to take care of minor injuries that may crop up. 

If you are considering putting together a first aid kit, you may not be entirely sure what to put in it. All you have to do is to visit some medical supply stores to realize just how many different items there are! Well, if you need some help, here are the things that you should pick out: 

Cleansing Products

With most injuries, one of the first things that you will need to do is to clean the cut out. This is why you should consider saline washes. These can be used for all kinds of wounds and to rinse out your eyes as well. What’s great about this product is that it cleans without doing any additional damage to the wound. 

You may also want to stock up on some antiseptic wipes. They work well as an additional precaution if you feel like dirt or bacteria could have gotten into the wound. Avoid cleaning agents that could be overly harsh and that may hurt the skin further. 

Dressings and Coverings 

Once you have cleaned out the wound, the next step is to cover it up. Now, what you will require will depend on the type of wound or injury. So, to be on the safe side you should have mesh dressings, adhesive bandages, elastic wrap, and bandage closures. You should also keep a pair of sterile scissors to cut the coverings to the right size. 

Having these items isn’t enough. It is also important for you to know how to treat different kinds of wounds and injuries. Here, some online research can help while there should be first aid courses offered by your community as well. 

Additional Items 

In addition to the ones mentioned above, you should also keep hot and cold compresses. These can help quite a bit with minimizing the effects of sprains. Of course, a pair of surgical gloves is a must. They will cut down on the risk of infection when you are treating wounds. 

You may also want to include certain over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. However, you do need to be careful about how you give these medications to. They may not be suitable for children or people with certain medical conditions. 

Customized Items 

Now, each household is different. For instance, some of your family members may have specific issues such as certain medical conditions or allergies. Thus, it is important to pack the first aid kit to help with such situations. For instance, if your kids are allergic to a wide variety of substances, have some antihistamine available. Or, you could have a backup EpiPen as well. To be absolutely prepared you can include an AED.

As long as you follow these tips, preparing and packing your first aid kit should be a breeze. In turn, you can be certain that you, your family, and your friends will be a lot safer as a result.