A Look At First Aid Preparation

Written by Adrianna Noton Thursday, 21 April 2011 11:54

First aid is something to think about at home and when on a trip. Kits are easy to assemble. In addition, there is plenty of advice online, at public libraries, doctor's offices and from pharmacists.

First aid is something to think about at home and when on a trip. Kits are easy to assemble. In addition, there is plenty of advice online, at public libraries, doctor's offices and from pharmacists.

Many accidents often occur right at home. Although most are minor ones, others can be serious and even life-threatening. Even still, all medical emergencies are not always accidents. Some manifest themselves as sudden onset of illness and other urgent care matters, so it is better to be prepared for any emergency situation.

Injuries, physical distress or illness can easily happen on trips and vacations, so it is prudent to be prepared for such events. When adequate preparations are taken care of, sudden turns in events may not become catastrophic. Alternatively, minor casualties can quickly turn nasty when immediate aid is not available.

When assembling an emergency kit, whether its purpose is for home use or otherwise, the first decision made should be where to keep it so that it is easily accessible when needed. All of the home occupants and visitors should be made aware of the location of the kit and its location must be permanent. Keeping these kits well-stocked and in a certain place will guarantee that they can be located and useful when needed.

When travelling, the kit can be kept in one place or left in the responsible care of a person who is always available. If at a cabin, cottage or on a boat for example, the kit would be placed in an easily accessible spot of which everyone is made aware. It would be wise to make knowledge of the placement a priority before any unpacking or unloading of luggage or equipment is done.

Assorted styles and sizes of bandages are automatically included in most kits. It is good to carry at least one or two tensor bandages along in the event of sprain injuries. At least one bottle each of hydrogen-peroxide and rubbing alcohol are essential items to be included as well as burn medication.

Pain-killers, for example, tylenol and aspirin are essential components. Antihistamine medication and/or an epipen are requirements to offset the severity of an allergic reaction. A loud air-horn and a whistle are two items which would be extremely helpful in case there is a need to call for help.

A corrugated bone-stabilizer, usually yellow in colour, would be a good addition to stabilize a broken bone if it becomes necessary to transport a patient to an urgent care facility. Having a neck-brace and a cane would also be a wise choice for this same reason.

Good old soap and water and baby-wipes, (unscented), are handy items to have on hand to avoid the onset of infection when abrasion injuries are sustained. Safety goggles and non-latex medical gloves are absolutely essential items these days to avoid potentially spreading HIV or Hepatitis when assisting a person who is bleeding.

It would be advisable to include non-prescription medication for anti-nausea, coughs and cold/flu symptoms. Snake-bit kits and eye-washes/baths can be packed along with the other items.

Although it may seem at first that there are too many items to carry Medical supplies Canada along, the fact remains that it is always better to be well-prepared to administer first aid than to have regrets afterwards.