Making First Aid Kits for the Home

Introduction

One of the greatest contributions that the Boy Scouts have made to society is their motto "be prepared." This motto can be easily adjusted and used in the home when it comes to first aid kits. A home first aid kit is one of the most important items you can have in your household. This will assure that when an injury occurs, you will be ready.

The first step in assembling your kit is obtaining the container. When looking for a container to hold your first aid items keep in mind that it should be portable, easy to open and easy to find. The kit itself should be properly labeled, as well as every item inside the kit, and if necessary, instructions on how to use the item.

An important item to be included in the first aid kit is bandages. These should range from small band-aids to large gauze bandages and everything in between. This will ensure that you have the right size to cover any wound or injury that may occur. Also include adhesive medical tape.

You may not always have soap and water to clean out a wound. This is why it is important to include antiseptic wipes in your first aid kit. These wipes will help clean out a wound and kill any infection causing bacteria before you wrap it in a bandage.

Hydrogen Peroxide is another necessary component in your kit as it helps bubble out germs and debris that could cause a wound to become infected. Neosporin, or another antibiotic ointment, is helpful to apply to wounds to prevent infections.

Hand sanitizer is also an important part of your first aid kit as it will disinfect the hands of whoever is doing the bandaging. If your kit size allows, a bottle of purified water can also be helpful in an emergency situation.

Common medications for everything from headaches to allergies is another important aspect of a home first aid kit. Your kit should include cough suppressants, antihistamines, Acetaminophen, children's pain relievers, and other headache and pain relieving drugs such as ibuprofen.

Emergency tools such as small scissors, tweezers, safety pins and instant cold and hot packs will help finish off your kit. You can expand your first aid kit into an emergency kit by including necessities such as a flashlight and a battery operated radio.

If you have members of your household who are diabetic, have asthma, or are allergic to bees, you may also want to include items in your home first aid kit that are specific to that need.