11 Things Your First Aid Kit Should Have

——  June 24, 2022

Every family should have a home first aid kit readily available in case of an emergency. Being prepared with a properly filled first aid kit becomes even more vital in households with small children, and having one within easy reach will bring a considerable piece of mind in the event of any unforeseen circumstances, which is what a first aid kit is all about. Here is a handy checklist of the items that your first aid kit should contain at a minimum:

  1. An Antiseptic: 

To avoid infection, it is critical to clean scratches or wounds. If soap and water aren’t accessible, an antiseptic can be used to clean the wound and give pain relief. Antiseptics come as creams, liquids, and sprays.

  1. Band-Aids and gauze pads

Band-Aids help cover minor injuries of all sizes. Your best bet is to buy a large package that comes in a variety of sizes. For gauze pads, buying larger sizes works best, because you can always cut them down to the size you need. Gauze pads work well for more extensive injuries. 

  1. Scissors

When it comes to cutting, scissors are sometimes ignored in first aid kits. Scissors are useful not just for cutting gauze pads, but also for cutting clothing, sticky tape, and other materials or blockages that may arise in an emergency.

  1. Ace Bandages

Ace bandages are useful for a range of injuries, including sprains and fractures.

  1. Instant Cold and Hot Pack

Since these packs are only good for one use, it’s a good idea to keep them in your first aid kit. They can be used to treat sprains, bruises, and bumps by reducing swelling.

  1. Adhesive Tape

Adhesive tape can be used to form splits, tape gauze, and secure any other bandages.

  1. Tweezers 

Just like scissors, tweezers are usually overlooked but they come in handy. Stingers, ingrown hairs, splinters, and hung nails can all be removed using them. 

  1. Latex Gloves

Latex gloves are a helpful addition to any first aid kit. Latex gloves are a clean and sanitary approach to protect yourself from bacteria, blood, bodily fluids, and other potential contaminants that you might come into contact with in an emergency. 

  1. Analgesic

An analgesic is a pain reliever. To treat headaches, migraines, or pain from an injury, keep a small bottle of aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen on hand. 

  1. Antibiotic Ointment 

A small tube of antibiotic ointment can go a long way. Antibiotic creams and ointments can be used to prevent infection in scrapes, cuts, wounds, and other injuries. 

  1. Rubbing alcohol and disinfectant

These can be used to clean bug stings and wounds. Alcohol wipes are important to add to your first-aid checklist because they take up very little space.

It is often more difficult to manage home accidents or crises when there is no operational first aid box available. It could be a matter between life and death in some cases.

Even if we don’t want mishaps, it’s always a good idea to be prepared!

Keywords: first aid, family, health