Stocking your First Aid Kit

 Almost everyone will need a first aid kit at some point in their lives. Everywhere you go, there should be a first aid kit in schools, restaurants, stores, parks, etc. However, what people don't have is their first aid kits in their homes. I have gone to people's places where they don't even have an item as simple as a band-aid. Even I have to admit, that in my own home when I was younger, my family lacked certain essentials whenever we got a cut or a burn. My family would have to hurry up in driving to the store and back while the person who got hurt was at home, waiting in pain. I believe it is of extreme importance that people have their kits stocked and ready to go in case of an emergency. In this blog, I will be talking about what specific items are not usually present in first aid kits that I think are important to add and a list of items that should be included in these kits. I'm not going to lie to you, doing this research, in a way, opened my eyes to how important it is to have a first aid kit because you never know what type of emergency you can be into and you always want to be ready. 

Let's first talk about items that are often missing in prepackaged first aid kits. In these packages, you have your typical bandages (in different sizes), gauze, scissors, cleansing wipes, etc. However, what is usually not included in these packages are tweezers, instant cold packs, medications, a first aid manual, gloves, and a thermometer. In "Tips for creating a useful first-aid kit," according to Johnson (2012), essentials that every first-aid kit should contain are a first aid manual (so you understand the contents in the kit), adhesive bandages in different sizes (to cover cuts and scrapes), triangular bandages (to wrap injuries and make arm sling if needed), gauze and pads (to dress cuts and scrapes), scissors (to cut items such as tape, gauze, clothing), adhesive tape (to hold the gauze in place for wounds), latex-free gloves (to decrease the risk of infection when dressing wounds), instant cold packs (to relieve aches), thermometer (to monitor the temperature when feeling ill), and aspirin (in case of pain). You want to be able to customize your first-aid kit as well to your own needs, especially when traveling. In "First-Aid Kits: For Whom and Why," the author wrote, "Anyone traveling far from home should take along a first aid kit. Contents should be chosen carefully with the awareness that infection is not the main problem facing travelers" (Tessier, 1997). In other words, the kits should prioritize the needs of the families traveling, for instance, people with severe allergies, motion sickness, etc. 

Certain over-the-counter medications should be included in the first-aid kit, especially when traveling. For an at home first aid kit, I think it is important to include ibuprofen or acetaminophen. But when traveling, there should be an additional medication that should be included with the kit. For example, in "This Is What Your First Aid Kit is Missing," Austin (2020) mentions, "When you're on short day trips, experts recommend packing a smaller kit. This could include ibuprofen for sore muscles, acetaminophen/aspirin for fevers, chewable Pepto-Bismol for upset stomachs, and even Dramamine for motion sickness. Another pro-tip is packing antihistamine (like Benadryl) for allergic reactions." However, one has to be careful when taking over-the-counter medications, so just carefully read the warning label. Another important aspect of first-aid kits is checking the expiration dates. According to Johnson (2012), it is important to check the first-aid kit's contents every 6 months and replace any medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or prescriptions that have expired. It is also important to check on the other supplies (i.e. bandages, dressings) are still intact, nothing is broken down, and packages are not ripped open. 

References: 

Austin, C. (2020, May 28). This is what your first aid kit is missing. The Clymb. Retrieved April 9, 2022, from https://blog.theclymb.com/tips/first-aid-kit-missing/

Johnson, T. D. (2012, April). Tips for Creating a Useful First-Aid Kit. The Nation's Health. Retrieved April 9, 2022, from https://www.thenationshealth.org/sites/default/files/additional-assets/healthyyou/HealthyYouArthritis.pdf

Tessier, D. (1997, January 1). First-Aid Kits: For Whom and Why? Europe PMC. Retrieved April 9, 2022, from https://europepmc.org/article/med/9612755