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What’s in Your Home First-Aid Kit?
Every home should have a good first-aid kit that is stored in an obvious place known by every family member and by babysitters and other caregivers. Recommended items include:
- Special medical items for family members with severe allergies, diabetes, asthma or other medical problems. Ask your doctor what you should include.
- Acetaminophen and ibuprofen for headaches, pain, fever or simple sprains.
- Aspirin for headaches, pain, fever or simple sprains. In case of suspected heart attack or stroke, you may be advised to give a tablet to the patient. Note that aspirin should never be given to children under age 18 because of its link to the potentially fatal Reye’s syndrome.
- Anti-itch cream for bug bites and other minor skin irritations.
- Antihistamine for mild allergic reactions to inset bites or to relieve common cold symptoms.
- Ipecac syrup to induce vomiting. This should only be used on the advice of a poison control specialist, doctor, or emergency room personnel.
- Roll of absorbent cotton for padding with a splint or to stop bleeding.
- Instant-acting chemical cold packs for high fevers, sprains, and bruises.
- Elastic wraps with Velcro® closure for wrist, ankle, elbow, or knee injuries.
- Triangular bandages to use as a wrap or sling.
- Assorted sizes of adhesive bandages for minor cuts and scrapes.
- Antibiotic ointment for minor burns, cuts, scrapes, blisters, and other small wounds.
- Sterile gauze bandages and pads to dress wounds.
- White adhesive tape to hold dressings in place.
- Disposable forehead thermometers to check on body temperature.
- Scissors to cut bandages and tape to size.
- Tweezers for splinter removal.
- Safety pins to pin splints, bandages or slings.
- Isotonic eye wash and eye cup to rinse small particles from eyes.