Having a first aid kit, be it for a disaster or just life in general is always a good idea. Life is full of unexpected accidents. If you are anything like me, I need bandages on what seems like a daily routine. It is not that I am extremely accident prone, it's just that things happen. Having a well stocked first aid kit really saves me time and money.
As you begin to prepare your first aid kit, keep in mind that this is not only for you, but also for your family. Your first aid kit is just one more piece of your disaster supplies. If it has been given a little thought, this component should fit perfectly into your 72 hour kit.
Basics
Probably the most basic component of any kit is band-aid strips. As you begin assembling an assortment of strips, remember that large ones can cover small cuts but small ones can not cover large cuts. If larger bandages will work for small, medium and large cuts, just take large bandages. They will adapt to more situations and by omitting the smaller ones, you can include a better assortment of types, like the knuckle type.
Before any cut or scrape is covered, it should be thoroughly cleaned. The addition of a topical antibiotic will help prevent infection and also speed in the healing. Instead of a large tube of antibiotic cream, I like to include several smaller, individual packages that can be used as needed. These one time antibiotic creams take almost no room since they are flat and can be dispersed between packs if needed.
Additional Items
Tweezers – used to remove splinters, stingers and other items that penetrate the skin.
Gauze - can cover very large cuts and be used in more ways than just a band-aid.
Tape – used to hold all types of bandages in place. Especially useful when securing bandages to hands and other flexible locations.
Scissors/Knife/Scalpel – something that can be used to cut tape, bandages, dig out splinters or even open commercially sealed packages.
Tongue Depressors – can be used as small splints, spreaders for ointments or actual tongue depressors.
This is by no means a complete list. Think about items that can be used in various ways. Having multiple use items allows us to do more with less. Just another way of keeping our disaster supplies minimal but extremely useful.
What else would you include in a first aid kit?
