First aid kits are the first step to disaster preparedness. Being prepared for an emergency is key to safety and survival, so don't be caught off-guard.
First aid kits are filled with medical supplies such as prescriptions, antihistamines, splints, bandages, wraps, ice packs and gauze. People carry first aid kits in their home, for camping, in their car and for sporting events. Emergency kits for camping, home, car and sport differ greatly.
What to Look for
Take travel precautions before beginning a road trip. Consult your physician to check for vaccinations such as rabies. Get any and all prescriptions filled before traveling. Check to make sure your first aid kits have all of items in the following paragraphs.
For home, it is always beneficial for at least person in the household to be CPR certified. Be aware of family and personal medical history, such as atherosclerosis and diabetes, and fill the kit accordingly.
A car and camping first aid kit should include roadside flares, a second pair of glasses or contact lenses, blanket and antihistamines for allergies and bee stings. Don't forget that splinting may be necessary. Many objects can be used for splinting, such as ski poles, twigs and gun barrels.
A sports first aid kit should be designed for the common injuries of sport. Include bandages for cuts and scrapes, wraps for sprains, splints for fingers and ice gel packs for bruises. An arm sling can be made using an extra shirt or towel and adhering with safety pins.
Also consider travel time from a hospital. A makeshift bandage will only work for a limited period of time, so decide beforehand if you're going to need to change a bandage before arriving at a hospital or receiving medical care. This also holds true for water consumption.
Common Pitfalls
The biggest pitfall of camping and car first aid kits is not enough water. Water can be used for drinking if stranded and cleaning wounds. To prevent infection, wounds and animal bites need to be irrigated.
Label everything in the first aid kit. During and emergency, decisions need to be made quickly. Quick thinking can't turn into quick action if you have to open everything in the first aid kit to find out what it is.
Another common mistake people make is using ice on burns. Never, ever, ever put ice on a burn. Use cool water or aloe vera and then cover with tefla and antibiotic cream, not gauze.
