first aid kit

Preparing Your First Aid Home Kit

Feeling lost and completely baffled over a serious injury is one of the prime reactions of almost all people. Calling a doctor and rushing for an emergency is the first step we usually take. But, rushing to the hospital and getting medical help altogether takes a minimum of 15 to 20 mins. What do you do in these 20 minutes time to save life or stop bleeding or treat an injury? This is where a first aid home kit comes of great help. If stocked with all the right things, you can surely attend to burns, bleeding, poison ingestion and also broken limbs. At least, you can start with the treatment, allowing a doctor to continue with it and treating the injury for well.

A First aid Home Kit is nothing less than a Life saving emergency kit. You need to keep it well stocked to ensure immediate medical support in all kinds of health emergencies. Take Control with a strong head and try saving a life with a first aid home kit.

Preparing a First Aid home Kit

Basics are a must. Always keep your first aid kit ready and in a nearby location. The kit should include:

  • Sanitizers

  • Plasters of various size and shapes

  • Sterile Small, medium and large sized gauze dressings

  • 2 sterile eye dressings

  • Bandages

  • Crepe roll bandages

  • Sterile disposable gloves

  • Safety pins

  • Scissors

  • Cleansing wipes (alcohol-free)

  • Tweezers

  • Sticky tapes

  • Skin rash cream

  • Digital Thermometer

  • Antiseptic cream

  • Antiseptic powder

  • Cough and cold medicine

  • Spray or cream for insect bite

  • Painkillers

  • Anti-histamine tablets

  • Eyewash and eyebath

What can a First Aid home Kit treat?

Bleeding

Bleeding, no matter small or large, always need instant attention. Use a clean cloth to cover the wound. Press hard if the bleeding fails to stop. Rush to a doctor of the wound is big, else you may simply clean it with some cotton and sprinkle an antibiotic powder on it. Bandage and close the wound with a cotton bandage. If needed, then rush to a doctor for medical assistance.

Burns

Burns are categorized into first, second and third degree burns, based on their severity. For first degree burns, where the skin has not cracked, applying cold water and then using an antiseptic cream can help treat the burn. For second degree burns (skin has broken on a larger diameter of 2-3 inches), use a clean cloth to cover the area and then rush to a doctor for assistance. Avoid touching the area as they may cause infections.

Breathing difficulties

Spot the signs of choking and be prepared to give the patient a CPR instantly. Also make sure you call for an emergency health service.

Is the person Unable to talk, Skin has become blue or dark? If the answer is YES, the person is choking.

In such situations, use back blows and abdominal thrusts to remove the thing causing choking in the neck.

IF the person has stopped breathing, it could have been caused due to a Heart attack, Stroke, asthma attack, etc. In such conditions, start giving the patient a hands only CPR and call an emergency health service.

Broken limbs

If a person has suffered a fall which has caused a broken limb or dislocation, then simply avoid touching the limb and keep it completely immobile. Check for swelling and rush to an emergency medical center.

Poison consumption

Children and Adult, many a times consume poison accidentally or in depressive situations, voluntarily. In such conditions, call an emergency medical service for treatment and ask them for guidance to help avoid fatal conditions. Also make sure you know what type of poison has been consumed by the patient. This will help start the treatment faster.

Insect or animal bites

Bug bites are common today, especially with the increasing number of mosquitoes. But, when it comes to insect and animal bites, it is important that you treat the cut and get all the information possible about the bite. Bandage the cut and rush to a doctor for shots and the necessary treatment.

Above all, Remember, a first Aid Kit is only an initial treatment kit that helps you avoid fatal situations. The real treatment can only be provided by a medical practitioner. So, make sure you always have the numbers of your doctors handy.

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