First aid kits are a necessity at any place. At your home, in the workplace, or even while travelling. It helps prevent any possible injuries from worsening. A first aid kit should come in handy when in crisis. It helps you treat minor cuts and injuries on the spot. It helps provide everything in one place with lesser risks and also helps stop blood loss in extreme cases. Keep reading further to know the essential supplies for your first aid kit because it is sometimes lifesaving.
1. Plasters or Bandages:
If you are preparing your first aid kit, you must have different plasters and bandages. You need roller bandages that help you dress joint injuries and reduce pressure by applying less pressure on the wound. It helps reduce swelling and may be used to stop the blood flow by cushioning the injured area. You can apply the bandages on the arms and feet.
Plasters come in many different shapes. It is useful when you want to cover minor wounds. It is more comfortable and convenient for joints especially. Bandages and plasters may require scissors to cut the bandages to the size of the wounds.
2. Gauze:
If you are preparing your first aid kit, then you need to have gauze dressing pads and gauze bandages. Gauze pads are used for burns, bigger and deeper cuts. It is used after some alcohol disinfectant has already been used first, and the wound is cleaned properly; only then it is used to cover it. After the gauze dressing is applied next, a gauze bandage is used to cover it up and keep the dressing in place. It also helps absorb any fluid secreted by the wound, including serum or pus.
3. Surgical Tape:
A surgical tape is used to attach the bandages, gauze, and other dressings to the skin around the wounds. These adhesive tapes are sensitive and help provide pressure that sticks and stays in place. There are many types of surgical tapes, which include micropore paper tapes, which have tiny holes and can be used in the long run. Other types of tape include transport polyethene tape, which is used on wet wounds, and zinc oxide tape, which helps accelerate the healing process. Other tapes include waterproof tape that is designed for use in the water itself, protecting the wound from water, and durable cloth tape that is widely used and ideal for long-term use.
4. Scissors:
Your first-aid supplies should include scissors. It should be a sharp, blunt scissor. It is very useful when cutting bandages to size and shape of the wound. It is also very useful for cutting a piece of cloth to examine the wound under a piece of clothing. So, when you are cutting those old bandages, you need a blunt scissor because then you need to slide the scissor under the bandage close to the wound and the skin. Thus, you need to ensure that it has blunt and angled tips. This makes the process simple, easy, and painless. Also, first aid scissors are small in size and have different shapes from normal scissors.
5. Tweezers:
Tweezers are a must-have first aid supply. Especially if you are preparing a first aid kit for a hiking trip or for some outdoor activities, then you must have these. It helps in removing a splinter or a tick without any inconvenience. You just need to disinfect the tweezer with alcohol before and after every use so that it remains clean and hygienic to use, as in when required.
6. Medications:
The first aid kit should contain antibiotics ointments, anti-diarrhoea medications, antihistamine, calamine lotion, EpiPen, pain relievers like Tylenol, ibuprofen, and some other basic medications. You should also add aspirin for adults, which is a saviour when they experience chest pain and can even save a person from a heart attack. And it is also a pain reliever for children.
7. Antihistamine Cream:
To relieve itching and pain caused because of insect bites, sunburns, poison, or bee stings. If you scratch when there is some insect bite, then it only worsens the skin’s condition. Creams work best for the outer body. These are also used as drugs in the form of oral consumption to stop the itch-scratch cycle.
8. Cold Packs:
Cold packs are one of the must-have first aid supplies to have. These are ideal in case of burns and cuts. It helps provide immediate relief from pain, sprains, bruises, bumps, etc. It helps alleviate the pain in minor injuries and cuts as well. Also, you can decide the size of the cold pack according to your needs, as it helps provide cold therapy when required.
9. Thermometer:
Thermometers are important for measuring temperature. It helps when a person is feeling feverish as the temperature is one of the body’s vital signs of any significant change in the temperature. It indicates early signs of some illness that might need immediate attention at times. You can choose from a range of thermometers available in the market, including mercury thermometers, digital thermometers, digital ear thermometers and many other types of thermometers. But digital thermometers are most commonly used.
10. Antiseptic Solutions:
Antiseptic solution is mainly used to kill the growth of microbes like bacteria, fungi, or viruses on the wound. It is useful to clean the wound, particularly if you have cuts, scrapes or minor burns. And you need to clean the wound in such a way that no microorganisms grow on it. Only then you can fasten up the healing process of your wound.
Conclusion:
A first aid kit is easy to assemble only when you know what is required. You need to have a thermometer, some bandages, a pair of scissors, tweezers, an antiseptic solution, and a cold and hot pack to help out with the wounds. Also, you need a manual so that a person in need can read it and use it. A first aid box should come in handy everywhere when you require it. So, it should be placed in such a way that it is easily accessible. A first aid kit is a saviour because sometimes it saves lives even before a doctor does. It helps in stopping blood and getting instant help when needed.
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