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Located in the trunk of my vehicle is what us EMTs call a jump bag, or a first aid kit, but even the common person should always have a least a basic first aid kit readily available. But how does anyone know what to or not to stock? And what would be useful and what is not needed?
First aid kits are important to have in the house as well as the car, accidents and emergencies happen everywhere and it great to be prepared for the unexpected. Some drivers will stop on the side of the road to help victims involved in accidents but calling 911 isn’t going to stop someone from bleeding in a life-threatening situation. Having a first aid kit can help in so many ways, and will get basic first aid started before the ambulance gets there. But where can the best first aid kits be found and what should be in them? There are different kinds of kits and can be found in just about any pharmacy or off branded store. With all the types out there is can be confusing which to buy, the best is the basic all-purpose first aid kit. Some first aids kits even come with instructions on how to use what is given in them, giving the owner the proper procedure for using everything. As for the more elaborate EMT’s kit, these supplies can be found at a medical supply warehouse or store or at local fire companies catalogs.
An EMT usually has more elaborate medical belongings than does the average person, but the knowledge that an EMT must have to use this equipment is the main difference between what they carry and what a basic kit should have. Below is a listing of basic supplies that both an EMT and average person own. Gauze and bandages of all shapes and sizes, including triangle bandages have a great variety of uses so the more the better. Although triangle bandages may not readily available to the average person some first aid kits some with them, which are usually a good thing to have. Some of the uses for these can be padded for a splint, or to help control breathing or a triangle bandage can be used for a sling. Blankets are a major necessity because of their many uses but the main use is for people in shock need to have their body heat kept inside them, so the more blankets the better. Cold packs and Hot packs are wonderful! The multitude of uses for this item is great, which makes them a good investment. The best are the ones that have to be squeezed really tight to pop them, so they get cold or hot. Saline solution or some type of wound cleaner is also helpful for someone that has an abrasion. It can be used to clean and sometimes disinfect. Years ago Bactine was the best, so if that is available than go with it! And lastly the most important thing anyone can carry is rubber gloves. This is to protect the helper as well as the one being helped. We can never be too safe!
EMTs shouldn’t carry too much more or different than the average person. Here are some things that are useful to an EMT or someone that has medical training. More people than we know have diabetes and when they go into an attack orange juice is the best thing for them, but most people don’t have orange everywhere, so the back up is called Oral Glucose. It doesn’t have the best of taste and isn’t the prettiest color but is great when someone with diabetes is in shock, and it is cheap and hardly ever goes bad provided it is not open, and it is disposable in a trash can. Oxygen is known as one of the best medicines a person involved in any injury or accident can have, so it makes sense to carry an oxygen tank as well as masks to be able to use the tank. But an unconscious patient can’t have oxygen is their airway is not open so carrying airways, both oral and nasal is almost a must to always be able to use the oxygen tank. But someone that knows how to use them should only use airways; or else it can harm the patient more than help them. A stuffed animal or two are great when dealing with a younger patient. The patient feels more at ease and will typically trust the stuffed animal to help them. Since children are the most difficult patient to deal with emotionally, Sally Bear or Mittens the cat can act as the EMT and the child will usually respond better. Lastly the most important thing an EMT can do is get vital signs, which are like X-ray vision to be able to have an idea as to what is going on inside the patient. The tools necessary are a blood pressure cuff, penlight, watch, and a stethoscope.
All of the above is a way for us to help our fellow neighbors and friends in their time of need. We never know when an emergency is going to come up because usually they are not planned. Remember that activating the EMS system, by calling 911 is always most important to get help there fast, while you are using to the tolls above to help the victim.
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