You never know when a loved one might sustain a minor injury, so be prepared. Having a fully stocked first aid kit at home, at the cottage, in your RV and in your vehicle will allow you to to treat any basic injury with ease. Here are the must-haves for your first aid kit.
Start with a storage box
Emergency numbers
Add a list of emergency numbers, such as poison control, provincial health services, family doctors, family numbers and ICE (in case of emergency) contacts.
Disposable non-latex gloves and hand sanitizer
Keep yourself safe from any disease that can be transmitted through bodily fluids by wearing disposable gloves when administering first aid. Have a minimum of three sterile pairs in your kit, and keep a travel-size container of hand sanitizer at the ready to keep yourself germ-free.
Bandages
Stock up on adhesive bandages in various sizes so you’re ready to protect small cuts and abrasions. For dressing larger or more severe wounds, keep a roll of sterile gauze or package of large gauze pads, a pair of sharp scissors and hypoallergenic adhesive medical tape in your kit. Triangular and elastic bandages are useful if immobilization is required.
Antiseptic wipes or an antibiotic wash
This is a must-have for cleaning out scrapes and cuts before treating them. If using a wash instead of the wipes, be sure to add a few sterile cloths that you can use to your kit.
Antibiotic ointment
Add a layer of protection against infection by applying this to the wound before bandaging it up.
A blanket
Have a blanket on hand to keep the victim warm or to use as a ground cover during treatment.
A disposable face shield
Add this barrier device to your kit, which will prevent the transfer of bacteria between people when administering CPR and artificial respiration.
A first aid manual
Keep one in your kit as an easy reference guide for treatment options.
Other useful items to add
- A thermometer
- An eyewash and eye patches
- A pain-relieving medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Tweezers
- Safety pins
Tell us
What essentials do you have in your first aid kit? Comment on the box below.
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