Accidents can happen at any time, so it’s best to always be prepared. Jessica Cordes, EMT, Parkview Whitley Hospital, walks us through the essentials for any well-stocked home first aid kit.
At Home First Aid Kit Essentials
- Gloves – It’s important to wear gloves in any incident involving blood or other fluids to protect yourself and others.
- Bandages and dressings – Single or bulk pack bandages, gauze pads and acrylic dressing are great for covering a bleed or burn, or applying necessary pressure.
- Adhesive bandages – Always keep adhesive bandages of all sizes on hand, especially if you have young kids in the house.
- Elastic bandage – Often called an ACE wrap, these rolled bandages are great for a basic injury or to hold a bandage in place.
- SAM Splint – This product will help splint an injured arm or leg and helps keep the patient from moving the injured extremity.
- Hydrogen peroxide – This first aid essential is used to clean out wounds and prevent infection.
- Ice packs – Apply to an injury or sprain to address swelling and pain.
- Tourniquet – A tourniquet is used if a patient suffers a major bleed from an artery. You will want to put the device on to stop the bleed until someone gets there to help or the patient can get to a hospital.
- Triangular bandage – This bandage is ideal if someone has a hurt shoulder or arm. It can serve to brace the injury and make a sling so the patient doesn’t move the injured limb.
While these items will help with basic household injuries, or to assist in an emergency, if you or someone you are with is seriously hurt, please call 911 or seek medical attention from a professional immediately.
