Designing a first aid kit must take into account daily and monthly activities. A first aid kit should be red with a first aid label and include basic items like bandages and gloves. Furthermore, the kit must have items specific to lifestyle and environment such as soft candy for diabetics and tweezers or a sturdy plastic card for hikers. Emergency preparedness can mean the difference between saving a life, a limb and functional capacity. A well stocked and updated first aid kit will help in properly responding to an emergency situation.
Step 1
Build a kit specific to the most common situation. Helping a group of people at a park necessitates more supplies than tending to a passenger in a car or a child in a grocery cart. A back pack is also more portable than a tool chest-like kit when having to run across a soccer field or carry a long way. Situations requiring splints may need a first aid kit that is two feet long.
Step 2
Include heat emergency products. In hot environments, have items like cold packs activated by a squeeze between the palms. Also, keep sunburn spray to cool non-blister injuries and sterile gauze to cover blistered skin. A battery operated mini-fan is an added perk.
Step 3
Replace the heat items for cold items when the weather changes. For areas with hot and cold months, it is important to update first aid kits. Take out heat emergency products and use warming pads activated with a squeeze or a snap to the packaging. Insulated gloves and socks should also be included with a warm blanket as space allows.
Step 4
Carry basic emergency response products. Sterile products in the first aid kit include: band-aids, gauze, roller bandages, triangular bandages, several pairs of gloves and scissors. Have differing sized bandages to use for a small cut to a large, gaping wound. Antibacterial and antiseptic products like wipes, swabs and ointments must also be in your first aid kit. Use non-latex items as some victims may be allergic to latex. Over-the-counter pain medication and a small water bottle may help a headache when on the road.
Step 5
Include items for bone and joint injuries. When a bone or a joint is injured, soft or hard splints may be needed. Soft splints are made from folded magazines or rolled-up newspaper. Hard splints are made with hard objects like a covered piece of wood or light-weight poles. The only instance you should use a splint is if you are trained to use them and if you must move a victim before emergency medical personnel arrive, such as when a scene becomes unsafe.
Step 6
Incorporate breathing emergency items. First aid kits must have a breathing shield for instances requiring rescue breathing. The selection of shields includes flat shields that cover the victim's mouth as well as dome-like shields that cover the nose and mouth.
Step 7
Update first aid kits. If carrying items with expiration dates like ointments and medications, be sure to check and replace them as necessary. Go through paper and plastic packaging, replacing damaged items. Restock items which have been used.
Tips and Warnings
- Use small, backpack-like first aid kits for the home when having to rush out. These should be located near a door or escape window. Be sure to include emergency phone numbers, contact information, cash and family pictures (for identification purposes).
- Reduce legal risks by maintaining CPR and First Aid certifications, responding only within the scope of practice of such certifications.
Things You'll Need
- First aid case
- Bandages
- Wipes
- Ointments
- Splints
- Gloves
- Breathing device
- Hard candy
- Scissors
References
- First Aid/CPR/AED for Schools and the Community; American Red Cross; 2006
- "Personal Trainer Manual"; American Council on Exercise; 1997
