When it comes to first aid nothing is more important than being prepared for any and every medical emergency.
For most people where health is concerned there is no room for games and when it is a first aid emergency it’s vital to be prepared for any and every eventuality. It’s a well known fact that thousands of households in America don’t even have a first aid kit.
Ensuring you are equipped with the right remedy for the right ailment you must have a good stock of items in your first aid kit. It is also paramount to keep all items well stocked and in date. The last thing you want is to need a certain cream or pill in an emergency only to find it is years past its expiration date. If you have the right stock and are well prepared in advance it can save a lot of time waiting for an ambulance or on the long drive to the emergency room, in some cases it could also be lifesaving especially when it comes to allergic reactions.
That’s why we at lifedaily.com have put together this handy, all important list for you so that the next time there is a medical emergency at home you’ll be prepared.
1: Gauze and Tape
We are going to kick off the list with this vital component to any first aid box. Gauze you will need for bigger injuries or for when the wound is bleeding heavily. It is important to buy good quality, durable gauze and a good adhesive tape to stick it in place. You can see more in depth information about which quality gauzes you should buy in this article written by Nikoletta Tarkan of livestrong.com. You would want to use in most cases a sterile gauze with some antiseptic cream held firmly in place with some good quality medical tape.
2: Antihistamines
In this day and age it seems that more and more people suffer from allergic reactions, from mild to severe and for a variety of reasons. Especially when it comes to kids who suffer from nut allergies, lactose intolerance and are sensitive to gluten. It is very important to make sure you have plenty of the right antihistamines as you never know when an allergic reaction will occur. Often manifesting in a rash, sneezing or breaking out in spots antihistamine medication will tide most people over till they seek further medical attention.
3: Thermometer
A good thermometer is a crucial part of your first aid kit. These days doctors don’t suggest traditional mercury thermometers and modern digital ones are favored for home use as they are safer and more accurate. Most inexpensive digital thermometers record temperature accurately within ±0.2 °C when new but be sure to replace every few years and always ensure the batteries are working. If your child feels hot you need to be sure whether or not they have a fever so you can establish the best course of action and the next steps you need to take.
4: Fever Medication
Once you have established that someone is running a fever you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of the right fever medication to regulate their body temperature. Paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin are the most common and come in pills for adults and sweet tasting liquid medicines for children. The recommended dose for adults is 400-800 mg every 6-8 hours whereas for kids, depending on their age, 50-400 mg is recommended. You can see a handy ibuprofen dosage chart for kids here at the babycenter.com website.
5: Pain Relievers
When the pain hits, whether it be a headache, toothache or backache pain relief is the thing you’ll be looking for in your first aid kit. Pills like paracetamol and those containing codeine, taken with caution and in the recommended doses, offer great pain relief. What you must bear in mind is that these pills will only offer temporary relief without dealing with the real cause of the pain. It’s fine to get through a nasty toothache or headache, perhaps over the weekend but you must get the root cause of the pain seen to by the appropriate medical professional.
6: Muscle Spray
It’s handy to keep some good quality muscle spray or cream in the kit to help alleviate tension in tired muscles or to sooth pulled or stretched muscles. Muscle relief is available in different forms including sprays, creams and even patches. In the US Icyhot is a famous brand that can be found in millions of households. In the UK they call it Deep Heat whilst in Asia they have been using tiger balm incorporating a unique blend of ingredients based on ancient secrets for thousands of years. All of these products heat the affected area stimulating blood flow and alleviating the pain associated with tight or sprained muscles.
