Choosing The Right First Aid Supplies

Choosing The Right First Aid Supplies
Knowing which First Aid supplies to buy is crucial to
giving proper first aid treatment. Having an adequate
supply of necessary first aid products on hand for an
emergency is something everyone should have on their to do
list.

Though you might know that you need to have first aid
supplies at home, you might not know which supplies you
need to have on hand. Learning what supplies will be most
handy in an emergency situation can you prepare yourself
and your family for injuries and accidents. Here are some
of the basic first aid supplies you should have on hand at
your home, your office, and in your car.

For Cuts and Scrapes

Since cutting yourself is the most likely scenario, you
will want to make sure your first aid supplies include a
variety of bandages, antiseptic wipes and creams, as well
as wrap bandages. You need to have equipment to clean and
sterilize the wound as much as possible and then to cover
it up to prevent infection. If you have a larger wound,
you might want to have butterfly bandages on hand too in
order to keep the wound together until you can get to a
hospital.

For Burns and Big Bites

When you are buying first aid supplies for your home, you
will also want to include a tube or jar of burn ointment as
well as cortisone treatments. The burn ointment will help
to soothe a burn, while the cortisone will help when you
have gotten bitten by a mosquito or other biting insect.
This anti-itch cream will also help with allergic
reactions. In addition, you should also stock some pain
relievers (acetaminophen is well tolerated by most people)
as well as an antihistamine medication.

For Sprains and Possible Broken Bones

Other common first aid supplies to buy include reusable or
breakable ice packs. These work well for bruises as well as
for sprains, strains, and fractures. Simply wrap the ice
pack in a piece of cloth and then place on the affected
area for 20 minutes. Take the ice pack off, allowing the
skin to re-warm for 20 minutes and then replace. It will
also help if you have a splint in your first aid kit to
help keep a broken or sprained limb in position until you
can see a doctor.

You might also want to include:

* A thermometer to check for fever
* Sugary candy for low blood sugar
* Anti diarrhea medication

There are hundreds of different possibilities in terms of
first aid supplies. Start with some of these basics and
then slowly add to your collection as you feel is
necessary. Of course, these items will need to be replaced
as they age, so watch out for expiration dates ever so
often.

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Wilfred Ball is a writer and owner of
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