The First Aid Kit
Jacqueline Todorov
You can buy a fairly complete first-aid kit at a pharmacy or department store, but prepared kits tend to be expensive and usually aren't necessary. Your own medicine cabinet may already have most of the items you need. It is a good idea to always keep your supplies together in some kind of 'kit' or box, so you won't have to hunt for them in an emergency. Check them on a regular basis to see if they need to be replenished.
Never keep it locked because you don't want to be looking for a key in an emergency.[Editor's Note: Dangerous medications such as sedatives, or anti-depressants should be kept in a separate locked cabinet. See Teen Depression] You may want to store the supplies in a moisture proof container so they can be taken along on family outings. Better yet, keep a duplicate kit in the family car. There should be a kit at the cottage, on the boat, and recreational vehicle.
Stocking the First Aid Kit
A good basic first aid kit should contain the following items. The starred items are optional -suitable for a camping first aid kit when medical attention is more than an hour away.
| Quantity | Item |
| 1 | First-aid instruction book |
| 20 | Paper or plastic cups, for giving fluids. |
| 1 | Flashlight with extra batteries. |
| 1 | Blanket |
| 1 | * Ground sheet, to be used as a splint folded up or to protect a person on cold or wet ground. |
| 1 | * Thermometer |
| 10 of each | Individual adhesive bandages in 3 inch, 2 inch, 1 inch, and round spot sizes. (Band-Aids) |
| Box of 12 | 2x2-inch sterile first aid dressing, individually packaged. |
| Box of 12 | 4x4-inch sterile first aid dressing. |
| Box of 12 | * Non-stick dressings |
| 6 | * Burn dressing - a sterile vaseline or burn ointment impregnated gauze |
| 1 roll | Roller gauze bandage, 1 inch by 5 yards. |
| 1 roll | Roller gauze bandage, 2-inch by 5 yards. |
| 1 roll each | Adhesive tape 1- and 2-inch widths. |
| 1 tube | Antibiotic ointment |
| 1 tube | * Opthalmic ointment |
| 1 roll | * Duct tape |
| 6 | Triangular bandages, for slings, as a bandage, or rolled up like a doughnut to support large implanted foreign objects |
| 25 | Q-tips, removing dust from eyes. |
| 12 | Safety pins, different sizes. |
| 1 | Mild white soap, or liquid soap, for cleaning wounds and scratches, and your hands. |
| 4 pairs | * 'Rubber' gloves |
| 1 pair | Bandage scissors (blunt tip scissors). |
| 1 | * Magnifying glass, for seeing splinters |
| 1 pair | Tweezers, for removing splinters. |
| 1 | * Dental floss |
| 1 bottle | Syrup of ipecac, for suspected poisoning. |
| 1 bottle | Rubbing alcohol. |
| 1 pair | Nail clippers |
| 1 | Soft nail brush, for cleaning hands and removing debris from wounds |
| 1 bottle each | Acetaminophen (one adult, one children's strength). |
| 1 bottle | Insect repellant |
| 1 bottle | Calamine lotion, for insect bites. |
| 1 bottle | Activated charcoal, for use in poisoning. |
| 2 | 2-inch elastic bandage |
| 1 | Razor blade, single
edge. |
| 2 | Boxes of waterproof matches. |
| 3 | Candles |
| 6 | Individually wrapped sanitary pads, can be used as sterile bandage. |
| 1 | * Cough syrup, cough drops |
| 1 bottle | Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) |
| 1 bottle | Benetadine (iodine based cleaning agent) |
| 12 | Zip-lock bags, various sizes. Use for organizing your kit and other uses. |
| Individual | Any prescribed
medications. |
In The Car
In addition to the first aid kit supplies listed above, you should also have in the car:
| Quantity | Item |
| 1 | Flare kit |
| 1 | Shovel |
| 1 pair | Traction pads |
| 1 | Basic tool kit: tire pressure gauge, jack, wrenches, screwdriver |
| 1 set | Jumper cables, and instructions on how to use them. |
| I jug each | Water, Windshield washer fluid,
Oil, Brake fluid, Power steering fluid, Anti-freeze |
| 1 | Ice scraper, snow brush |
| Non-perishable food, and water for 24 hours for full load of people | |
| 1 | Call Police sign |
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