First Aid Kit

Posted on: 03-04-2008

A First Aid Kit is a necessity in every home, car, and workplace because accidents can happen to anyone almost anywhere. First Aid Kits should be easily accessible at all times. Before stocking your kit, you should look at the container itself and make sure it is durable, easy to open, and large enough for all its contents (check below).
Medicines should be stored in their proper containers; they should be put in a bag on the side. They should be properly marked with dosage and instructions about how and when to take them.
Kits of families with young children should have a safety lock; this lock should never need a key to be opened because that could make it inaccessible in cases of emergency.
The same precautions should be followed with First Aid Kits as with any other medicine:

It is to be stored out of children’s reach
Expiration dates of medicines and other included items should always be checked so what expired gets directly replaced.

Family caretakers, usually parents, should know where the kit is stored and how to use each item
What is kept in a First Aid Kit depends a family’s health conditions, diseases, and needs:

General Items in the First Aid Kit

MEDECINES	USAGE
Acetaminophen (paracetamol)	To reduce pain and fever
Ibuprofen (Advil)	To relieve muscle aches and pain and reduce fever
Antibiotics ointments	To apply on cuts and scrapes
Hydrocortisone cream 1 %	To relieve minor skin irritation, itching and rashes due to insect bites, detergents, cosmetics and jewelry, etc…
Calamine lotion	To relieve itching
Burn cream	To apply on burns, scalds, small wounds, scratches, cuts and abrasions.
Other medications	For asthma, nausea, diarrhea, allergies, constipation, nose bleeding, cough, sore throat….

ITEMS	USAGE
Adhesive bandages or band-aid	Used to cover small laceration and abrasion They should be of different sizes for various injuries.
Sterile gauze	Ideal if you have large wounds Can be used to clean the wound with antiseptic
Cotton	Used in case a tooth has fallen. To clean medical items such as thermometers To clean your baby’s nose Never use cotton on a wound especially an open wound
Bandages closure or safety pins	Used to attach splints, dressings Used to secure bandages in place
Triangular bandages	Are non-stretch bandages used to hold gauzes in place Used to help splint broken arms Other
Arm slings	To help to splint broken arm To elevate the arm
Elastic bandages	To bandage a sprained articulation To hold dressing in place
Adhesive tape	To hold gauze in place To help splint broken bone To cover blisters and lacerations
Eye dressing	One for each eye Should be sterile and kept in a sterile packet
Sharp scissors preferably with rounded tips	To open boxes To cut tapes To cut clothes To cut the dressing to adequate size
Sterile saline solution	To wash eyes
Hydrogen peroxide (“eau oxygenée”)	To clean wounds
Antiseptic solution (betadine )	To apply on cuts and or scratches To prevent infection Do not apply in or around the eyes
Ice pack (keep it in the freezer )	For icing down injuries to combat swelling
Tweezers	To remove ticks, splinters and dirt from lacerations
Alcohol 70%	To remove dirt To decrease germs To prevent infection To disinfect medical instrument Alcohol should not be used on an open wound
Thermometer	To check temperature
Gloves	To protect hands To reduce the risk of infection when treating wounds
Emergency phone numbers	RED CROSS :140 Fire :175
Oral medicine syringes	To administrate the accurate dose
Hot water bottle	Used as Heat therapy To reduce pain arising from menstrual cramps To relieve body aches due to muscle spasm To keep oneself warm and cozy in cold nights
Mask	To protect oneself and others from contagion
Paper bag	Used in case of hyperventilation
Plastic bag (Ziploc bag )	To put inside an amputated organ (like finger). In this case, add ice on top of the bag. To hold the vomiting.
Small plastic container	To hold a broken tooth ( add normal saline )

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First Aid Kit