First Aid Kit

Every day accidents happen around the home. Thankfully most of the time they are minor and the resulting injury isn’t much more than a small cut or bruise. Sometimes, it can be more serious and burns or sprains can occur. If you have a first aid kit in your home, you’ll be prepared for any type of medical issue.

You can certainly buy one of these medical must-haves already put together. These are usually found in most drugstores and contain everything you need to administer help at home. A standard first aid kit like this will have band-aids, antibiotic cream, a thermometer and gauze. Latex gloves are almost always in the kit too and should be used. The price of the kit you purchase will determine any extra items that are added. For instance, an expensive kit is likely to contain gauze, scissors, tweezers and many other items.

This is something you can make at home yourself, which is likely to save you some money. First you’ll need to purchase a medium size plastic container. Plastic is best as it is easily washable. This will be the basis for your first aid kit. Now you can begin to fill it up. The standards are important, so buy a box of band-aids that contain several different sizes. Add the cream, thermometer and also the gloves. Now you can add on the things you think you’ll need. Calamine lotion is a great addition to a medical kit as it can be used in many different ways. An antiseptic should also be included as it’s always wise to thoroughly clean out any small cuts and wounds before bandaging them.

Once you’ve purchased and stocked your kit, you should put it in a safe spot. Under the bathroom cabinet is a good choice or perhaps in an easily accessible kitchen cupboard. Many people find it useful to make a label using their computer and printer that lists all emergency numbers. 911 must be at the top of the list, as well as the numbers of the poison control center and the nearest hospital. If you have young children in the house add on the number for a grandparent or aunt and uncle. This label should be placed on the front of the first aid kit for easy access.

Making smaller versions of this helpful kit is a great idea. They can be placed in the car, a travel trailer or a boat. A small first aid kit can be useful in the event you get a cut or splinter while you are out and about. It’s much easier to reach in the trunk for the kit than it is to find a drugstore so you can buy some antibiotic cream and band-aids. Being prepared is really the key when it comes to immediate medical care.

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