First Aid Kit Recommendations
Here are MomRN's
recommendations for stocking your first aid kit. You also need to carry at least
a small kit in your car with a few of the top items. If you have a storm shelter
or a disaster kit, then you need to have one in there too, in a waterproof
container, with some of the basic supplies. Use a durable, preferably
watertight or waterproof portable plastic container for your first aid supplies.
Plastic tackle boxes and art supply containers with a handle make great kits.
For Your Home First Aid Kit:
1)Adhesive bandages of varying sizes
for different parts of the body (make sure to have some large enough to for an
elbow or knee or large wound)
2) Sterile gauze pads (non-stick are
preferable)
3) Roll of sterile gauze (at least one but more is better)
4)
First aid tape, to keep gauze pads or rolled gauze in place
5) Antiseptic
first aid spray, foam, or towelettes to clean wounds
6) Antibiotic
ointment (triple antibiotic, such as Neosporin)
7) hydrocortisone cream
(1%)
8) calamine lotion
9) 2 or more pairs of sterile gloves (non-latex,
if possible)
10) Tylenol (for adults and also liquid or chewables for the
kids)
11) Ibuprofen (adult and child dosages, same as above)
12)
Children's chewable aspirin in case of suspected heart attack (do not give to
kids without dr's permission)
13) Benadryl (same as above, age appropriate
for kids, and also adult dosages)
14) Anti-diarrhea medication (check with
dr. before using for children, most are not recommended for kids)
15)
Antacid
16) Laxative (again, don't use in kids without dr.'s
permission)
17) Meat tenderizer (can be used to make a paste to take the
sting out of bug bites and stings, and snake bites)
18) Thermometer
19)
Scissors
20) Petroleum jelly or KY jelly
21) Sterile eye wash with an eye
cup to apply it
22) Tweezers
23) Disposable instant cold packs
(most cold packs should not be applied directly to the skin so you
might want to add a thin cloth too to act as a barrier)
24) Mouthpiece for
administering CPR (can purchase from local Red Cross office or online)
25)
emergency blanket
26) safety pins
27) flashlight and extra
batteries
28) First Aid Manual
29) List of emergency numbers (911, local
hospital, fire, police numbers, poison control, emergency contacts)
30) Extra
prescription medications for family members on meds
Check your kit
periodically for expired meds and to restock. Keep the kit in an area that is
easily accessible to adults but out of the reach of children. Read over the
first aid manual and if possible, take a CPR and First Aid class. As soon as
your kids are old enough, teach them how to call 911 and some basic first aid
techniques.
Tamara Walker, R.N., MomRN
