Accidents and injuries can happen anywhere. The Centers for Disease Control report that in the years 2002-2004, injuries accounted for nearly 40 million visits to emergency departments. Because it can take the form of a simple paper cut or a more serious bone break, virtually any form of injury can be handled with a first aid kit. Different kits are useful for addressing different injuries. Having a well-stocked first aid kit is truly the best way to correctly handle an injury as a first step before more extensive medical aid can be sought out or obtained.

There are multiple ways to stock your first-aid kits. A basic kit you can keep in your kitchen cupboard or perhaps a purse or backpack, should include a minimum of the following items:

Alcohol prep pads or alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Aspirin

Adhesive bandages (straight and butterfly)

Antibiotic ointment

Easy-tear medical tape

Pain reliever

Having a more fleshed out kit to deal with more intermediate injuries should include the same contents of a basic kit, but with more bandages, perhaps even the type with antibiotic ointment built in. Self-adhesive wraps or a sturdy roll of gauze to temporarily support a sprain or strained joint.

Other items to include:

Antibiotic ointment

Anti-septic wipes

Basic first-aid booklet

Benadryl

Burn cream

Calamine lotion

Epi-Pen or epinepharine shot for allergic reactions

Forceps or tweezers

Rubber gloves

Self-activating hot/cold pack

Thermometer

The most important thing to remember about assembling your first aid kit, is that it should be well-stocked enough to treat some basic injuries. Secondly, you must know how to use the kit or have taken a practical course in first-aid administration. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or intensive, just the basics will do.

The last step in treating any accident or injury is to follow up with a visit to the emergency room or urgent care facility to make sure that the injury has been properly treated and can heal as well as possible. Placing a call to your family's health care practitioner should also be done. Every year emergency rooms see millions of common injuries that fall into basically five categories. Fractures, open wounds, internal injuries, superficial injuries and contusions, sprains and strains. Superficial, non-fatal injuries and contusions make up the lion's share of injuriesnearly 6.1 million visits per yearto emergency departments. When prevention fails, first aid fills in the gaps and can help keep your family healthy and safe.

Learn more about this author, Lauren Beyenhof.
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