It has been many years since I took several classes over at our local chapter for American Red Cross but still, so much of those classes come back to me time after time. Volunteering for the ARC led me to take an EMT-B class at my local community college years ago. While I never worked as an EMT-B, I’m still glad for those months of training. Basic First Aid and CPR are great skills anyone can benefit from and you never know when you might need them. As a parent, I’ve been able to use some of the skills learned… including just last week when our 2 yr old fell and was burned while we were camping. Thankfully, he is okay and we were able to tend to his burns with our own First Aid kit before setting off to the Ranger Station.
Maybe you’re like me and you have a First Aid kit in each car and at least one or two at home. Yes, I like to be prepared. And as a mommy to little ones, I think it’s very important to be ready for anything basic. We can’t take care of all injuries at home, but we can take care of the basics and get our little ones the medical care they need for the more major issues.
As we were going through our First Aid kit last week, I realized it was time to replenish items. We were getting low on a few things and some other things were outdated. I plan to replenish all our kits this weekend and thought a list would be helpful. And since I need to make a list, why not share it with you all?!?! 🙂
So what do you need in an Emergency First Aid kit? First, you can purchase a kit at just about anywhere – Amazon, Target, Walmart, Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS, etc. That’s always a great place to start but I have found that most First Aid kits still need updating/adding to so buy a larger one or buy a large latching plastic container.
Basic supplies
- Adhesive tape (I like to have several rolls)
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic solution or towelettes
- Bandages, including a roll of elastic wrap (Ace, Coban, others) and bandage strips (Band-Aid, Curad, others) in assorted sizes
- Bulb suction device for flushing out wounds
- Butterfly Bandaids – these work wonders for deeper cuts so be sure to include them
- Burn Cream
- Instant cold packs
- Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs
- CPR Barrier Masks*
- Disposable latex or synthetic gloves if you’re allergic to latex, at least two pair (I would include sizes for you and your spouse)
- First-aid manual
- Finger Splints
- Gauze pads and roller gauze in assorted sizes
- Hydrogen-Peroxide
- Petroleum jelly or other lubricant
- Plastic bags for the disposal of contaminated materials
- Safety pins in assorted sizes
- Scissors and good tweezers
- Soap or instant hand sanitizer
- Sterile eyewash, such as a saline solution (and eyewash cup)
- Thermometer
- Triangular bandage
Medications
- Activated charcoal (use only if instructed by your poison control center)
- 100% Aloe Vera gel
- Antacid Tablets
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, others)
- Aspirin and nonaspirin pain relievers (never give aspirin to children) – be sure to include infant/child if you have children
- Calamine lotion
- Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream
- Extra Personal medications that don’t need refrigeration
- If prescribed by your doctor, drugs to treat an allergic attack, such as an auto-injector of epinephrine (EpiPen, Twinject, others)
- Syringe, medicine cup or spoon
Emergency items
- Emergency phone numbers, including contact information for your family doctor and pediatrician, local emergency services, emergency road service providers and the regional poison control center
- Medical consent forms for each family member
- Medical history forms for each family member
- Small, waterproof flashlight and extra batteries
- Candles and matches
- Sunscreen
- Emergency space blanket
- First-aid instruction manual
*Means you should take a CPR class before using.
Check your kit every 3 months. You’ll want to check expiration dates on all the products and make sure your flashlight and batteries are working well.
If you have never taken a First Aid and CPR course, I highly recommend looking up your local American Red Cross chapter and seeing if you can get into one of their classes.
Please note: I am in no way affiliated with the American Red Cross. I am not a First Aid/CPR instructor. This list is made up from personal experience and research. If you see something missing, please feel free to share in a comment and I will gladly add it to the list. This post is in no way meant as medical advice. Please seek certified training before administering First Aid and CPR.
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