Two weeks ago we talked about having a well-stocked-and-ready cleaning kit for those OOPS! moments; now we are going to discuss having a well-stocked-and-organized First Aid Kit. Summer is upon us, and with mosquitoes, other buggy bites, sunburn (ouch), cuts, scrapes, etc., a First Aid kit is a MUST!
The first thing you need to do is locate any and all First Aid Kits that you may have in your vehicle or cupboard, and discard any old, leftover medicine from last year. Even if it looks perfectly fine, heat and moisture can ruin the medicine, so don't take any chances. Get rid of it!
Secondly, this would also be a good time to go through your medicine cabinet. Discard expired meds and take note of what needs to be replenished.
These are the items that I keep in my Home First Aid Kit:
Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin tablets (Aspirin should not be used to relieve flu symptoms or be taken by children.)
Cough Suppressant
Antihistamine
Decongestant tablets
Oral medicine syringe (for children)
Bandages of assorted sizes
Bandage closures; safety pins
Triangular bandage
Elastic wraps
Gauze and adhesive tapes
Sharp scissors with rounded tips
Antiseptic wipes
Antibiotic ointment
Hydrogen peroxide
Disposable, instant-activating cold packs
Tweezers
A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you respond effectively to common injuries and emergencies. Keep at least one first-aid kit in your home and one in your car. Store your kits in easy-to-retrieve locations that are out of the reach of young children. Children old enough to understand the purpose of the kits should know where they are stored.
You can purchase first-aid kits at many drugstores or assemble your own. Contents of a Vehicle First-Aid Kit should include:
Adhesive tape
Aluminum finger splints (I use Popsicle sticks)
Antibiotic ointment
Antiseptic solution or towelettes
Bandages, including a roll of elastic wrap (Ace, Coban, others) and bandage strips (Band-Aid, Curad, others) in assorted sizes
Instant cold packs
Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs
Disposable latex or synthetic gloves, at least two pair
Gauze pads and roller gauze in assorted sizes
First-aid manual
Petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Plastic bags for the disposal of contaminated materials
Safety pins in assorted sizes
Scissors, tweezers and a needle
Soap or instant hand sanitizer
Sterile eyewash, such as a saline solution
Thermometer
Triangular bandage
Medications
Activated charcoal (use only if instructed by your poison control center)
Anti-diarrhea medication
Over-the-counter oral antihistamine (Benadryl, others)
Aspirin and non aspirin pain relievers (never give aspirin to children)
Calamine lotion
Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream
Syringe, medicine cup or spoon
Emergency items
Cell phone and recharger that utilizes the accessory plug in your car dash
**IMPORTANT** Emergency phone numbers, including contact information for your family doctor and pediatrician, local emergency services, emergency road service providers and the regional poison control center
Small, waterproof flashlight and extra batteries
Candles and matches for cold climates
Sunscreen
Mylar emergency blanket
First-aid instruction manual
Give your kit a checkup Check your first-aid kits regularly, at least every three months, to be sure the flashlight batteries work and to replace supplies that have expired.
I take my vehicle kit into the house with me when I know it is going to be really hot outside. If you do this, just be sure and take it back into the vehicle with you the next time you leave the house!! :) Now that you have the basics for a well-stocked First Aid Kit, you can customize your kit to suit your family's needs. :)
when we visited my family in the Philippines, we brought with us a first aid kit because you never know what's going to happen when you are travelling.. thanks for the tips..
ReplyDeleteYay!!!!!!! Would've been back sooner but was tracking my bosses. They left Birmingham and are in Germany awaiting the flight to Ohare.
ReplyDeleteThank you mom! How many times have I made a run to Walgreens for most of the stuff in that list??
A. Marie- sorry, I forgot you have to type it :-)
I was just giving you a hard time, Helene...LOL
ReplyDelete:) Hope you have a good day, and that your bosses have a good flight! :)
They're in flight now, due to arrive 730 pm. They're going to be wrecked from the time change :-)
ReplyDeleteWell that one was a lot to type :-) But yep I wait impatiently. :-)
Great tips from Mom!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this important post, especially this summer where the kids are more active, mean more chances of getting boboos!
ReplyDeleteI love mom minutes!! Give her my love. And I made little kits for all of the cars a couple of years back. Den even comment the other day when he had a headache at work how nice it was to grab some aspirin. I save all the free samples for the cars and my fanny pack. And yes, I've gone over to the dark side and I wear a fanny pack when we go to 6 flags. But my kits aren't as complete as yours. I'll have to work on this!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!