After an emergency, citizens may have to manage on their own for days until government agencies can come to the rescue, according to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Everyone should have at least a three-day supply of food and water, a weather radio and a well-stocked first aid kit to manage immediate health-care emergencies.
Wound Care
A first aid kit should contain sterile surgical gloves and sterile dressings to staunch blood loss, in addition to cleaning supplies for disinfecting a wound, such as soap and antiseptic towelettes. To prevent infection, the first aid kit should also contain antibiotic creams and burn ointments like aloe vera gel. Sterile gauze pads and bandages in different sizes should be in the kit. A first aid kit should contain an eye wash fluid to flush the eyes or decontaminate a wound. A thermometer may be useful to monitor the onset and course of infectious disease.
A first aid kit should contain a Mylar blanket to treat shock or prevent hypothermia, a breathing barrier with one-way valve, an instant cold compress, hydrocortisone ointment packets and a first aid instruction booklet.
Prescription Medications
Medications for chronic health problems are a part of the daily routine for many people, but can be forgotten in an emergency or evacuation. For example, insulin and glucose monitors with test strips should be in the first aid kit for diabetics. Daily heart medications and asthma inhalers should also be in the first aid kit for family members who use them. Also include blood pressure monitors, if needed. Any prescribed medications in the kit should be monitored and rotated so that the medication in the kit is not expired.
A syringe containing epinephrine, commonly called an EpiPen, is a vital component of a first aid kit for family members at risk of anaphylactic shock from a known allergy.
Non-Prescription Drugs
Over-the-counter medications to treat minor aches and pains, such as aspirin or other pain relievers, are useful to have in the kit. Anti-diarrheal medications, antacids and laxatives can provide comfort in an extended emergency situation and should be included.
Miscellaneous Items
The first aid kit should also have a cell phone with a power inverter, or preferably a solar charger, to call for help in an emergency. Emergency contact numbers for doctors and family members should also be in the kit. Scissors, tweezers and a tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant can also come in handy. A flashlight with spare batteries is also recommended.
Other useful items for the first aid kit are instant cold packs, eye goggles, duct tape, cotton balls, assorted safety pins and a needle and a "Save a Tooth " kit to transport a lost tooth to the emergency room. Skin-protection items like sunscreen and calamine lotion may prove useful in a first aid kit.
