Is your first aid kit ready?

Summer is almost here, and it is the perfect time to check your first aid kit. Having a first aid kit handy, with everything you need in one place can be a lifesaver.

 

There are a number of pre-made first aid kits available to purchase. You can buy one or more of these and keep them in strategic locations (car, bathroom, office), or you can make your own.

At a minimum, your kit should contain:

Optional extras: Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, Rolaids, Pepto, Important extras: Whether you buy a pre-made kit or make your own, we recommend adding the following:

Contact Information: it’s a great idea to keep your full contact information, as well as a second set of information for an adult relative, including mobile numbers. If there’s an emergency and you are unconscious or away from home, the babysitter or EMTs can find you or someone who can act for you faster.

Equally important is a list of allergies, health conditions, especially if you or your family members don’t wear emergency alert jewelry, and regular medications. Treatment can be different depending on these factors, so having this information readily available will help caregivers.

Emergency numbers: We all know you should call 9-1-1 if there in a life threatening emergency, but frequently, other services can be helpful, and searching around frantically for numbers is not what you want to do. Why not print out a list of numbers and keep them handy in your first aid kit? We recommend keeping the number for your local Poison Control Center, your family doctor and family dentist as well.

Prescription drugs for each family member. If this is a travel kit, add small doses of prescription meds regularly taken by family members – remember – these need to be in properly labeled containers. Also, kits with ANY medications need to be kept out of the reach of children.