4 Items that should be in every first aid kit

A well-stocked first-aid kit is a must-have in every home and car. After all, you're just as likely to receive a bump, bruise, bite, or other self-treatable injury when traveling as you are while you're at home. Car first-aid kits do not need to be fancy, but they must have basic fundamentals.

 

Once you've decided what should be in a first-aid kit, you can construct it yourself in a waterproof box or purchase a pre-assembled kit from a drugstore. Because heat and sunshine can deteriorate certain goods, such as medicated lotions and ointments, keep your first-aid kit in a moderately cool place of your car. 1

 

It's also a good idea to keep duplicates of critical health forms in your car, such as:

 

 

  • Contact information for your primary care physician or pediatrician, local emergency services, emergency road service providers, the poison helpline (800-222-1222 in the United States), and relatives or friends

 

  • Forms of medical consent for each family member and a base medical history of each family member can be extremely helpful.

 

  • Bandages are useful for treating minor wounds, scrapes, and blisters. They come in a range of forms and sizes to accommodate various injuries, so equip your kit with as much diversity as possible. Include butterfly-shaped bandages, which can be used to close two sides of a wound. You could also want impermeable bandages or bandages with antibacterial medicine.

 

  • Some sort of antibiotic ointment. There are numerous topical antibacterial drugs available, such as bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin. Some brand-name drugs, such as Neosporin and Mycitracin, combine all three treatments into a single formulation. Before covering a wound with a bandage, apply antibiotic ointments directly to it or to an adhesive bandage or gauze pad. These formulations can aid in the prevention of bacterial growth, which can lead to illness and poor healing.

 

  • Miscellaneous items. Along with a first-aid kit, have a waterproof container stocked with supplies that will come in handy in the event of a roadside emergency, such as a blanket, a flashlight, an extra phone charger, and bottled water.

 

  • Antiseptic Wipes or Wash. A fresh wound should be cleaned with soap and clean water. If none are available, apply an antiseptic cleanser. Some come in squeeze bottles with a stream strong enough to wash dirt particles out of a wound.Antiseptic wipes are an excellent alternative. These wipes, which are recommended by the Red Cross for on-the-go medical care3, can also be used to sanitize your hands before administering first aid.

 

  • At least 4 pairs of disposable gloves.Gloves are essential for protecting the person providing first aid as well as keeping a wound free of germs and other hazardous microbes. They can also be used to wipe up areas where blood or other bodily fluids have been spilled. A well-stocked first-aid kit is a must-have in every home—and car. After all, you're just as likely to receive a bump, bruise, bite, or other self-treatable injury when traveling as you are while you're at home. Car first-aid kits do not need to be fancy, but they must have basic fundamentals.

 

 

 

Once you've decided what should be in a first-aid kit, you can construct it yourself in a waterproof box or purchase a pre-assembled kit from a drugstore. Because heat and sunshine can deteriorate certain goods, such as medicated lotions and ointments, keep your first-aid kit in a moderately cool place of your car.
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