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It is good to have at home or when going on a trip a well-stocked First Aid kit on hand. The following is a list that will provide a fairly good overview of what should be included in this kit, which should take care of most emergency situations.
1. An assortment of Band Aids that cover most cuts from finger cuts, to scrapes, to larger wounds.
2. Sterile Gauze squares that can be used for larger wounds in order to keep them clean and free from infection.
3. Rolls of sterile gauze, which can be used to wrap around a wound, also keeping it free from debris.
4. Latex or plastic (if allergic to latex) gloves.
5. A small pair of blunt scissors for cutting bandages
6. Cotton swabs for applying antiseptic lotions or ointments, or for cleaning small areas.
7. Cotton balls, again for applying antiseptic lotions or ointments.
8. Antibacterial soap used to wash wounds and prevents any infection from settling in.
9. Antibacterial ointment, again to prevent infection from settling into a wound.
10. Pain relievers (such as Aspirin, ibuprofin or acetominaphin)
11. Antihistamine if planning to spend a lot of time outdoors.
12. Insect repellent
13. Lip Balm
14. Sunscreen
15. Hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching and other irritations.
16. Antibiotics or prescription drugs (If taking a long trip, first check with doctor. If medication is kept inside the first aid kit, then these should be periodically checked for the expiration date so that if these have expired these medications can be replaced.)
17. A book on First Aid that will give instructions on treating such things as a fractures, head injuries, abdominal pain, insect or animal bites, and drowning.
18. CPR Micro shield, which is usually provided to those who take a CPR course. This protects the one who is administering the CPR.
19. A card giving CPR instructions.
20. Tweezers, which are excellent for removing tiny embedded splinters, and most importantly ticks and leeches.
21. Safety pins, which can be used to keep bandages in place.
22. Salt tablets, especially for hot days.
23. A snakebite kit
24. Ammonia inhalants in case anyone should faint.
25. Eye wash if someone should get something in the eye and no water is available.
26. Cold Packs to keep the swelling down, which may occur from bumps and bruises, and of course strains.
27. Syrup of Ipecac in case a child should ingests a poisonous/harmful substance.
28. Fever thermometer
29. A card containing local (or wherever you happen to be) emergency telephone numbers, as well as a doctor’s telephone number and the veterinarian’s telephone number, and also the telephone number of the local hospitals.
Taking a little time beforehand to put such a First Aid Kit together will greatly reduce the anxiety and confusion in any situation when its contents are needed during an emergency.
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