First-Aid Frenzy

We've all had that moment (or several)-- the one where we need a band-aid or hand-sanitizer and can't find it anywhere. Well now's the time to change that. First-aid kits are an essential item in everyday life and not just in disaster situations.  Burns, scrapes, bruises, sprains, etc. are common in life and it's helpful to be prepared before they happen.

It is important to keep a first-aid kit in your home and in each vehicle that you regularly use. The easier it is to find, the more likely you are to use it.  Remember to base the size of your kit on the potential number of people that may need it. In your home, its the number of household members and so on and so forth.

Remember to check and update your first-aid kits regularly (about every 3 months) and replace any items you have used up or have expired. 

Recommended and common items for a first-aid kit:

• Hand sanitizer
• Soap
• Antiseptic towelettes
• Non-latex gloves
• Ace bandages (variety of lengths)
• Instance cold packs
• Cotton balls
• Gauze pads
• Roller gauze
• Band-aids (variety of sizes)
• Adhesive tape
• Triangular bandage
• Sterile dressings
• Thermometer
• Antibiotic ointment
• Burn ointment
• Topical antihistamine
• Aspirin and non-aspirin pain reliever
• Laxative
• Antacid
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Aloe Vera gel
• Calamine Lotion
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Bulb syringe
• Prescribed medications you take each day
• First-aid manual
• Plastic bags for disposal of contaminated materials
• Safety pins
• Sterile eyewash (saline solution)
• Flashlight and batteries
• Sunscreen
• CPR mask