First Aid: The Importance of Supplies That Could Save Lives
First Aid: The Importance of Keeping a Well-Stocked First Aid Kit
A well-stocked first aid kit can help you 
respond effectively to common injuries and emergencies. Keep at least one first aid kit in your home and one in your car. Store your kits someplace easy to get to and out of the reach of young children. Make sure children old enough to understand the purpose of the kits know where they’re stored.
You can buy first aid kits at many pharmacies or assemble your own. You may want to tailor your kit based on your activities and needs.
G
ive Your Kit a Checkup
Check your first aid kits regularly to replace supplies that have expired or been used up.
Consider taking a first aid course through the American Red Cross. Contact your local chapter for information classes.
Prepare children for medical emergencies in age-appropriate ways. The American Red Cross offers a number of helpful resources, including classes designed to help children understand and use first aid techniques.
Basic Supplies
When purchasing a first aid kit it is essential to examine what exactly you will be purchasing, and if it includes all the basic supplies required for immediate first aid instances. Below are a few basic supplies that should be in your at-home first aid kit.
- Adhesive tape
- Elastic wrap bandages
- Bandage strips and "butterfly" bandages in assorted sizes
- Super glue
- Rubber tourniquet or 16 French catheter
- Nonstick sterile bandages and roller gauze in assorted sizes
- Eye shield or pad
- Large triangular bandage (may be used as a sling)
- Aluminum finger splint
- Instant cold packs
- Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs
- Disposable nonlatex examination gloves, several pairs
- Duct tape
- Petroleum jelly or other lubricant
- Plastic bags, assorted sizes
- Safety pins in assorted sizes
- Scissors and tweezers
- Hand sanitizer
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic solution and towelettes
- Eyewash solution
- Thermometer
- Turkey baster or other bulb suction device for flushing wounds
- Sterile saline for irrigation, flushing
- Breathing barrier (surgical mask)
- Syringe, medicine cup or spoon
- First aid manual
- Hydrogen peroxide to disinfect
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Speak to your medical professional or pharmacist for more information.
The material in this blog was sourced from: mayoclinic.org; travel.gc.ca; cdc.gov/travel. It is intended for information purposes only and should not be used in place of consultation with a healthcare professional. Participating retailers/pharmacies, vendors, and/or agencies are not responsible for errors, omissions, or inconsistencies with respect to the information contained in this flyer and do not accept liability whatsoever for reliance by the reader on the information contained herein.