Making Your Own First Aid Kit

Making Your Own First Aid Kit

Being Prepared

Every home should have an emergency kit. Accidents happen everyday, and its up to you to be ready for them; from scrapped knees to sprained ankles, first aid kits are very beneficially (NOTE: If serious injuries occur go immediately to the nearest emergency clinic). It's also a good idea to keep a kit in your vehicle. You never know when it could be needed. Besides, when is it a bad thing to be prepared?

Making Your Box

When you create your first aid kit have family members help in the process. They can learn what each tool is used for and have fun while doing so. You can build or buy your own box/container that you wish to store the contents in. There are a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and styles that you can buy in the store, but if you're looking for fun activity for the family, or yourself, making your own box is the way to go. Having a handle enables easier mobility for all ages so keep this in mind when building or purchasing your own. No matter store bought or homemade, make sure that the outside of the container is clearly labeled to indicate that its a first aid kit (a red cross is a universal symbol for first aid kits); this is especially important for visitors or babysitters to your home so it is obvious to them that this is a first aid box. Now that you have your designated box labeled you can begin to fill it with its essential contents.

Filling Your Kit

When stocking your kit with supplies, make a list of items that should be stored at all times. Its a good idea to keep this list in the lid of your first aid box so that its always fully stocked. You can also add any items that you feel should be included in the box at anytime. Here are a few staples to any homemade first aid kit:

1. Antibacterial Cream: used to prevent cuts and scratches from becoming infected. It can also be used on insect bites, diaper rash, fever blisters, burns, and scalding injuries.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide: used as an antiseptic and for cleaning wounds, removing dead tissue, and as an oral debriding agent.
3. Cotton Balls and Swabs: used (with sterilization product) to clean wounds and apply appropriate medicine. They help reduce the risk of infection.
4. Aspirin (or similar product): used to relieve many kinds of minor aches and pains, and to reduce swelling.
5. Band-aides: used to keep dirt and foreign matter out of wounds, it minimizes bleeding, and helps keep healing agents directly on the wound.
6. Gauze: used to guard and cushion a wound, to absorb blood or other fluids, to apply ointments, to rub cleansing fluids, such as hydrogen peroxide, to a wound or site of incision.
7. Bandages: used to hold a dressing in place, to apply direct pressure over a dressing, prevent or reduce swelling, provide stability for an extremity, and to extend (e.g. broken bones).
8. Medical Tape: used as a bandage to hold a dressing onto a wound.
9. Gloves: used to prevent contamination between caregivers and patients. Use when cleaning, dressing, or applying ointment to wounds.
10. Bandage Scissors: used to size bandages and dressings, cut through medical gauze, and cut through bandages already in place.
11. Hot/Cold Packs:used to minimize swelling of injuries such as muscle and joint sprains.
12. Eye Drops: used to flush out foreign contaminants from the eye, and in some cases, to apply appropriate medication (e.g. Dry eye).
13. Flashlight: used for visibility to check for abnormalities in the ears, nose, eyes, and throat.

You can add to and update your first aid kit anytime. The important thing is to know where it is and how to use it in case accidents happen. Be sure that visitors know as well. It's best to keep the kit in view at all times, but out of reach of smaller children as the contents can be cause serious injuries.