What should go in a first aid kit

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Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Emergency care for you: Home first aid kit. American College of Emergency Physicians. Accessed April 27, Anatomy of a first aid kit. American Red Cross. Auerbach PS. First-aid kit.

A well-stocked first-aid kit, kept within easy reach, is a must for every home. Having the right supplies ahead of time will help you handle an emergency at a moment's notice. Keep a first-aid kit in your home and one in each car. Also be sure to bring a first-aid kit on family vacations. You can buy a first aid kit at drugstores or a local Red Cross office, or make one of your own.

If you make one, use containers that are roomy, sturdy, easy to carry, and simple to open. I absolutely agree that everyone should consider taking a CPR class. We always hope we never encounter an emergency with our loved ones at home, however, we should all take the time to be as prepared as possible in order to facilitate a positive outcome in the event of such emergency.

Your email address will not be published. Public Health Matters Blog. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Customize your kit Think about the healthcare needs of your family when putting together a first-aid kit.

For example: If you have a family member with a severe allergy, include antihistamine medicine and an epinephrine injector. If you have elderly family members with fragile skin, including a roll of paper tape can be useful for protecting delicate skin.

If you or a family member lives with diabetes , include a juice box, glucose tablets and gels, and an emergency glucagon injection kit.

Chewable, baby aspirin might help someone who has coronary artery disease, provided the person is not allergic to aspirin. First aid as practical skill A first-aid kit is a tool, but any tool is only as good as the person using it. Practical skills include learning how to: Perform hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR Operate an automated external defibrillator AED Apply a tourniquet and control bleeding Administer seizure first aid Use the contents of a first-aid kit Family, friends, coworkers, and bystanders—not first responders—are often first on the scene in a medical emergency.

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