What to have in the first aid kit at home, at work and in the vehicle

The first aid kit contains a range of medical supplies and other equipment used to administer first aid to an injured person during an emergency situation

It is essential to keep a first aid kit readily available in the home, cottage, car, boat, workplace and recreational area so that minor accidents and injuries can be dealt with.

A well-stocked first aid kit is a useful thing to have.

First-aid kit at home:

The first aid kit at home should contain the following:

  • Sterile gauze pads (dressings) in small and large squares to place over wounds
  • Adhesive tape
  • Roll and triangular bandages to hold dressings in place or to wrap around the arm
  • Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
  • cold pack
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Safety pins
  • Instant ice packs
  • Non-latex disposable gloves, such as surgical or test gloves
  • Torch, with extra batteries in a separate bag
  • Antiseptic wipes or soap
  • Pencil and pad
  • Emergency blanket
  • Eye patches
  • Thermometer
  • Epinephrine auto-injector
  • Other items you may also have in your emergency first aid kit at home:
  • Respiratory barrier devices, such as a pocket mask or visor
  • emergency telephone or coins
  • Emergency telephone numbers, the local poison control centre and personal physicians
  • Home and office phone numbers for family, friends or neighbours who can help.

Emergency first aid for the workplace:

Emergency first aid in the workplace is also essential if a fatal disaster occurs during working hours.

For example, the office could be structurally damaged and electricity could be out for a couple of days.

There could also be injuries such as cuts and strains that require medical attention when emergency assistance is not available.

The emergency supply kit for the workplace should contain the following:

  • Four litres of water per person per day (use sealed, unbreakable containers and replace the supply every six months)
  • Packaged or canned food that does not go bad and a can opener (replace food once a year)
  • Walking shoes, rainwear and a change of clothes
  • Blankets or sleeping bags
  • A first-aid kit and prescription drugs (check medicines every six months to ensure they have not passed their expiry date)
  • Toilet paper and other personal supplies
  • An extra pair of glasses
  • Battery-powered radio and torch, along with extra batteries
  • Spare money
  • An extra set of car keys
  • A list of your family doctors
  • Important family information such as a list of any medical conditions or medical devices, such as pacemakers
  • Photocopies of all necessary identification documents for you and your family, including health card numbers
  • Special items for infants, the elderly or disabled
  • Mobile phone and contact information for family and friends
  • In some cases, personal protective equipment may be required for employees as part of a safety programme.

Keep emergency supplies in a backpack or duffel bag so you can take them with you if you have to evacuate the area.

Emergency first aid kit for cars/vehicles:

Having first aid equipment for your car is one of the best ways to prepare yourself and your family for any emergency you may encounter.

Whether you’re simply driving to and from work, going out to run your daily errands or embarking on an exciting family road trip, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for anything that might happen along the way.

The car/vehicle emergency first aid kit should contain the following:

  • Battery-powered radio and torch, with extra batteries
  • A blanket
  • Booster cables
  • A fire extinguisher
  • Bottled water and energy-dense food that does not go bad (replace water every six months and food once a year)
  • Maps of the area
  • A shovel
  • Rockets
  • A tyre repair kit and a pump
  • Matches and a ‘survival’ candle in the deep can burn for many hours

Contents of travel first-aid kits

Travel first aid supplies need to be more comprehensive because a drugstore may or may not be accessible in your area.

In addition to basic medical items, the travel first aid kit should contain items to help relieve common symptoms of allergies and viral respiratory infections.

Here are the basic first aid items you need when travelling:

  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Instant cold compress
  • Painkiller
  • Scissors
  • Self-adhesive wrap
  • Thermometer
  • Tweezers

For skin problems, include these things in your emergency kit to take care of skin mishaps:

  • Aloe vera gel
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Antiseptic
  • Bandages
  • Calamine lotion
  • Gauze roll bandage (at least 2 inches wide)
  • Medical tape

It would be best if you were also prepared for digestive problems with these items:

  • Antacids
  • Antidiarrhoeal medication
  • Laxatives or stool softeners
  • Medication for motion sickness

Sneezing and coughing are a shame when you are travelling. Include these medications to help you feel better:

  • Antihistamine for allergic reaction
  • Medication to relieve colds
  • Cough suppressant
  • Saline nasal spray

Where to keep the first aid kit?

The best place to keep your emergency first aid kit at home is in the kitchen because most family activities take place in the kitchen.

Avoid putting your first aid kit in the bathroom because it has too much moisture, which shortens the shelf life of the items.

A first aid kit in the car should be like a home first aid kit.

After all, you can keep similar first aid kits in your travel trailer, mobile home, camper van, cabin, holiday home and wherever you spend time.

When travelling, you should keep a first aid kit in a water-resistant bag, backpack or fanny pack, depending on the activity.

How to use a first-aid kit?

Having the essentials of a first aid kit at hand is not enough.

You have to make sure you know how to use all the items in your kit correctly, especially the medicines.

It would be beneficial if someone in your family is trained to make sure that others in your family use the kit.

You can also prepare children for medical emergencies in age-appropriate ways.

Always check the kit twice a year and replace expired drugs or medicines.

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Source

CPR SELECT

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