Whether it is a child that falls off their bike and badly skins a knee, a teenager playing basketball in the driveway that twists an ankle, or an adult making dinner who accidentally touches a hot coil while taking the casserole out of the oven and gets burned…
Accidents happen at home ALL.THE.TIME.
And you need to be prepared!
While many people have a medicine cabinet prepared for illness, a shocking number are not ready for injuries beyond a minor scrape here and there.
Here are 10 things you should have in your home emergency first aid kit:
- Large Bandages and gauze pads & tape – to stop bleeding and cover wounds too big for a standard band-aid.
- Antiseptic wipes, ointment and/or spray – to clean cuts and scrapes before bandaging.
- Hydrocortisone cream – for relief from itchy bug bites or rashes.
- Aloe Vera Gel – to soothe mild burns (check out this post to learn how to severe burns)
- Antihistamine – to reduce allergic reactions.
- Tweezers – to remove splinters or ticks.
- Scissors – to cut bandages, gauze, and tape.
- Safety pins – to hold bandages or clothing in place.
- A first aid manual – to provide guidance on how to treat medical emergencies.
- A flashlight – to help you find what you need in the dark.
Other things you might want to keep on hand in case of an emergency are:
- A brace for limbs that have been sprained in the past and are susceptible to becoming reinjured.
- Crutches in case of a serious sprain or suspicion of a broken ankle/foot/leg.
- An extra inhaler for anyone that suffers from breathing problems.
- Any equipment given to you or a member of your household by a doctor because of a previous injury that has the potential to reoccur