First aid kits are a useful item to have in the home, in the car, or at work. There are a few first aid kit items that are essential for any first aid kit. Without these items, a first aid kit may not be as useful as it could be.
While a simple first aid kit may not save a life, it can save on pain and discomfort. With these few items in your first aid kit you will be ready for whatever minor medical incident may occur.
#1 Bandages
Bandages of all sizes are useful items to have in a first aid kit. Smaller adhesive bandages can be used to cover up smaller cuts and allow for healing. Larger adhesive bandages can also be useful for cuts that are medium in size, if the cuts are too big for a smaller adhesive bandage and too small to warrant a wrap bandage.
Wrap style bandages can be used to cover larger cuts or large burns, after ointment has been applied. Butterfly bandages are useful in the case of a deep cut that needs to be held together until stitches can be given.
#2 Ointments
Ointments are a must for any first aid kit. The most essential types of ointments to have in a first aid kit are antibiotics and burn ointments. If you go outdoors often, you may also want to consider putting ointments as one of your first aid kit items for insect bites or rashes caused by poisonous plants. Antibiotics are extremely important in the case of a cut, as they will stop the cut from becoming infected. Antibiotics should be placed on a cut before you put the bandage on.
Burn ointments are also important to put on a burn before placing a bandage over the burn. These ointments will help with the pain and promote healing of the burn.
#3 Pain Medications
Pain medications can be very useful if placed in a first aid kit. First, you will know exactly where your pain medications are in the event that you need them. Second, it can help those who have been cut, burned, or have another injury to avoid pain associated with their injury. Carrying pain relievers of multiple types will help to ensure that if someone can not take one type for a medical reason you will have another type available.
#4 Eye Drops
Eye drops are an important addition to any first aid kit. In the case of eye irritation there is little else that can be done but use eye drops. Make sure that you are only using eye drops when you know that they are necessary.
#5Tape
Medical tape is useful in the case that you need to tape on a bandage. Medical tape can also help to make sure that an adhesive bandage will stay affixed for a long period of time.
If you have these items in your first aid kit, you should be ready for any minor emergency. Make sure that you have a first aid kit at home, at work, and in the car and you will be prepared at all times.
Contributed by A.E. Fortier
Editor’s Note: These are just the bare essential first aid kit items! The more useful items you can stuff in your first aid kit the better! Be prepared for any emergency.
