Keep A First Aid Kit Handy In Case Of An Emergency

First aid kit comes in many shapes and sizes. For home use or in your car, a plastic container works well.

If you love to camp, storing your first aid kit in waterproof bags are the best way to keep it safe and dry in case of emergency.

If you like to take leisurely walks, a canvas bag that can be attached around your waist will give you easy access to your kit should you need it.

If you are using your kit for outdoor activities, there are certain things that you should keep in it.

Of course bandages are the number one item that needs to be added to your kit, also needed is lotion for sunburn, calamine lotion and medicine for poison ivy. If you are going to be in the woods, certain regions have poisonous snakes. Having snake bite medication is a good idea.

The kit you keep in your home should be well stocked with a little bit of everything. It is important that you have everything you need in case of emergency because often that is the first type of aid that is available in case of accident or injury.

If you do not want to make your own kit, they can be purchased at any drug store or at a Red Cross agency. There are also checklists available with the recommended items it should be stocked with. Your first aid kit should be place in an area that is easy to access, yet away from little hands.

It is recommended that you know how to use your first aid box. It is more than just putting iodine on a scraped knee. If you purchase your first aid box, you will also receive a manual on how to use the products in it.

When you make your own kit, it gets a little tricky. Community clubs and organizations and colleges as well as the Red Cross offer first aid classes at low rates teach the proper use of these kits. In a situation where there is severe bleeding, a dressing must be applied with pressure. When the dressing is blood soaked, another layer of dressing needs to be applied.

What most people do not know, and these classes will teach you is that the first layer of dressing should not be removed all of the subsequent dressing should be placed on top of that last while applying as much pressure as possible. When the bleeding has slowed down, than a bandage should be applied with a good amount of pressure but not enough to stop the circulation.

It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your medical kit. It is better to have one that is overstocked and not use it than to need something and not have it.

Summary:

Having a first aid kit is a necessity in any household. It is a requirement to have one in a business for all little emergencies. Having a kit that is well stocked and knowing how to use it could be a matter of life and death. You may never have to use your one but it gives you a secure feeling to know that it is available if you do.

Brooke Hayles