First Aid Kit

What you need for your emergency first aid kit

You never know when an accident might happen in your home or while traveling, so it's best to be prepared with a well-stocked first aid kit in any instance. Why take the chance of being caught off-guard in an emergency?

Home First Aid Kit Supply

There are several prepackaged home first aid kits available. While it is easy to just pick one up and go, it's still a good idea to know which supplies are a must in an emergency first aid kit. This way, you'll know if the kit you selected has everything you might need. You may also find, depending on your needs, that it might cheaper to buy the specific items separately and put your own kit together.

No matter which route you choose, here is a semi-exhaustive list of what you might want to have on hand to treat the most common household accidents: Bandages of various shapes and sizes (including roller bandages), gauze of various sizes and lengths, medical tape, hand sanitizer, antibiotic ointment, cortisone ointment, antiseptic, gel for burns, a cold pack, eye wash, moistened towelettes, over-the-counter pain relief (acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, for example), allergy medications, anti-diarrhetic medication (or its opposite, laxatives, as the case may be), antacids, activated charcoal, Vaseline, scissors, tweezers, safety pins, sutures, a thermometer, tongue depressors, medical examination gloves and soap.

Travel First Aid Kit Supply

To be prepared for any minor accident which may take place while traveling, one should have a travel first aid kit with them. The kit should contain antihistamines for allergies or insect bites, laxatives for constipation, oral dehydration salts, antacids, antibiotic cream, mosquito repellent and/or bug spray, painkiller cream for insect bites, non-prescription pain killers, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, sterile gauze, band aids, adhesive wound secures, a roll of adhesive tape, foot blister protection plasters, sunblock, pills or bands for motion sickness, water purification tablets, cotton balls, tweezers, a pocket knife, safety pins and insect repellant. Last but not least, keep a cell phone charged and ready in case you need to call for emergency help.