Things could go wrong anytime. Although optimism is a rather helpful mindset, it also pays to factor in what they call the worst-case-scenarios in our everyday activities. After all, it is better to be prepared than to be blindsided by a condition or circumstance that do not bother with friendly introductions. With this said, having a reliable and well-stocked first aid kit is indeed a worthy exercise in being proactive.

Where do we need a first aid kit?

Home: Our house should be a safe haven at all times. There are various hazards found in our abode such as different electrical equipment hence it is only fitting to have a first aid kit handy.

Workplace: No matter what kind of business or enterprise you are running, a first aid kit is always an essential when it comes to workplace safety. It also communicates the level of priority which the management assigns to its employees’ safety and security.

Automobile: For people who are always on the go and behind the wheel, having a first aid kit in their car is nothing less than a smart move.

First aid kit essentials

Trauma injuries: This covers bone fractures, bleeding, and burns. Items that should be included in the first aid kit are adhesive bandages, dressings, bandages, butterfly color strips, soap, saline, antiseptic, hemostatic, and hypoallergenic adhesive tape.

ABC: This acronym refers to Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. This is in relation to cardiopulmonary resuscitation or artificial respiration. Essential supplies for this first aid treatment include face shield, pocket mask, oropharyngeal airway, suction unit or manual aspirator, nasopharyngeal airway, sphygmomanometer, bag valve mask, and stethoscope.

Protective equipment and essential instruments: In order to properly administer first aid treatments, the needed supplies include gloves, mask, goggles, and apron. Meanwhile, for procedures to be carried out with utmost efficiency, the first aid giver needs to have trauma shears, tweezers, alcohol, lighter, irrigation syringe, torch, cotton swab, instant chemical cold packs, penlight, alcohol rub, thermometer, and space blanket.

Medication: These are critical components of a first aid kit since most people under recent trauma injuries and other health-related conditions will need immediate drugs. Things to not overlook are Aspirin and Epinephrine (life saving), Ibuprofen and Paracetamol (pain killers), Loperamide and antihistamine (symptomatic relief), and burn gel and other relief creams (topical treatment).

Other things to remember

Before shopping for your first aid kit, make sure to properly determine the extent of its purpose. Not all of the items mentioned above should be present in all first aid kits. The same way that a first aid kit should not be limited to the items that have been cited. There are such things as home-use, workplace-use, and professional-use first aid kits, and these vary in terms of their essential supplies.

You can personalize your first aid kit depending on certain standards. For example, your family’s medical history or your workplace’s most commonly encountered health and safety related emergencies.
Guest author Marc Webster is a Parts and Components Specialist at All Time Medical Equipment and Supplies. See handcycles, racing chairs and other top end wheel chairs that will be used by athletes in the upcoming London 2012 Paralympics on their website.