Be Prepared For An Emergency With A First Aid Kit

By Eric Holm

A first aid cabinet is something that every household needs to have access to in case of an emergency. These cabinets should be stocked with some basic items that can be used to treat minor scrapes and cuts on the spot. Accidents are common in the average household and there are some people who seem to be involved in more than their fair share of incidents. No matter how careful you and your family are, the chances are good that an injury will occur at some time. Having a well stocked first aid kit in a convenient location and knowing what to do in an emergency can help you avoid a visit to a local medical station.

Every medical cabinet should include an assortment of band-aids in various shapes and sizes. Plastic strips are thinner and will stretch easily when placed over a cut on a joint like the knuckle or knee. These can be left in place until the injury has completely healed and will allow the joint to bend. Woven strips are thicker and more durable. They can be used on wounds located on other areas of the body.

Gauze pads can be used for larger wounds that occur on the arm, knee or leg areas. Depending on the size of the wound or injury will determine what size gauze pads to use. Of course, before you put on the pad, you will need to put some antibiotic on the affected area. The antibiotic will help the affected area to heal.

Sometimes, an unknown substance can get into the eye and cause it to burn. You will need eye wash to flush it out in addition to water. This may have to be done several times until the person feels that their eye is OK. Even after that, it is probably advisable that they see a physician to make sure everything is fine with their eye. You definitely need to have a first aid book so that you can follow the instructions. There will be different things in the first aid kit that you may not know what to do with them. So this book will be able to help you use the right thing for the appropriate injury or minor illness.

Consider mounting an emergency cabinet somewhere in a high traffic area in your house. The garage, kitchen and bathroom are common locations for household injuries. Stock the cabinet with miscellaneous supplies and place it in a place that is easy to access and make sure everyone knows exactly where it is and how to use the various items. A portable kit will come in handy for road trips and family vacations.

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Have a quick look at our review on first aid kits and their importance now for more info on how and where to find affordable first aid supplies on the Internet.