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What Should Be In A First Aid Kit?
A first aid kit is good to have in any situation because it keeps medical supplies organized and at hand and can be used to quickly treat minor injuries and medical problems. In a disaster or emergency situation, first aid becomes even more important. When someone is injured and they must be treated quickly, or in a situation where medical help may be delayed or unavailable, having adequate first aid supplies and the knowledge to use them can save lives.
There are many choices when stocking or buying a first aid kit, and they can be added to or customized to suit particular risks, activities and levels of training. People who are serious about disaster preparedness will often have three types of first aid kits: a small, basic kit that can be carried in a survival kit or stashed in a vehicle or hiking pack; a larger, more advanced first aid kit kept at home and carried on longer trips, camping expeditions, or for sports and recreational activities with an injury risk; and a larger, more comprehensive medical kit such as an EMT kit or trauma bag for serious disaster situations when you may not have access to a doctor or hospital.
Some suggested items for the first aid kits are:
In the basic kit:
- Adhesive bandages
- Gauze bandages and pads
- Surgical tape or other medical-grade tape
- Antibiotic ointment
- Iodine pads or alcohol wipes or swabs for sterilization
- Scissors - blunt-tipped “EMT shears” are best
- Tweezers
- A pocket mask or shield for giving CPR
- Sterile gloves
- Basic medications – pain relievers, antihistamines, anti-diarrheal, decongestant, cold medicine, etc
An intermediate kit may add:
- Butterfly bandages – also called butterfly stitches or Steri-Strips
- Petrolatum dressings – for non-stick wound coverage
- Burn dressings and/or ointment
- Moleskin
- Thermometer
- Blood pressure cuff
- Ace bandages or wraps
- Ammonia inhalants or “smelling salts”
- Eye wash
- Instant hot & cold packs
- Sun Screen
- Hydrocortisone cream
- A basic first aid handbook
An advanced kit may also include:
- More gauze and bandages, including specialized trauma and field dressings
- Hemostatic dressings to stop bleeding quickly
- An epinephrine injector, or Epipen,to treat anaphylactic shock
- Betadine
- Surgical tools, including scalpels, forceps, and hemostats
- Sterile sutures
- Dental tools
- Splints
- A more in-depth first aid guide and, possibly, a surgical and/or dental guide
Many of the items in the advanced kit should only be used in a true emergency, and can be dangerous in the hands of an untrained person. With any first aid, but especially with advanced emergency medical care, it is important to know what you are doing. Most communities have classes on first aid offered by the Red Cross or other organizations, and some communities offer advanced first aid and first responder training for a reasonable cost. These will teach you how to use the supplies properly and give you the confidence to provide first aid in an emergency.
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