by Daniel Cloud

Created on: July 06, 2011

Keeping your family safe is one of the most important duties you have in life. Your family means everything to you. They are the people in your life you care about the most. You want to protect your family from the most minor of situations to life-threatening situations that may possibly occur. An emergency first aid kit is a vital tool to have at all times in case of an emergency. You can make your own kit, buy one from a store, or even online.

A complete kit should contain certain items and an instruction manual for what to do in various emergencies. A well-stocked kit should be kept with you at all times. You never know when a dire emergency may occur. According to the Red Cross, a complete kit should contain all of the following items for a family of four, for multiple types of medical emergencies.

Several absorbent compress dressings Dozens of adhesive bandages of various sizes 10 yards minimum of adhesive cloth tape At least 5 antibiotic ointment packets Several packets of aspirin for pain Acetamenophin for pain and fever A space blanket A breathing barrier with a one way valve An instant cold press for swelling and pain Several pairs of large non-latex gloves Several hydrocortisone packets for allergic reactions A pair of scissors to cut adhesive cloth Roller bandages Sterile gauze pads of various sizes Oral thermometer Several triangular bandages Pair of tweezers First aid manual Flashlight and batteries

You should keep an emergency first aid kit in your home, in your car, and on family vacations or trips. There are several emergencies that make a kit an invaluable possession to have when something goes wrong. Snake bites, insect stings, or animal attacks will require immediate first aid until you can get the injured person to the hospital. Your kit has medication for allergic reactions to insect stings. If your family is on a camping trip, then you never know what may happen, so it is important to keep a kit with you.

If you are on a road trip with your family and there is a car wreck, then you have the tools you need to help the injured. Bleeding injuries require sterilization with antibiotics and gauze pads to cover up the bleeding. You can then apply cloth to wrap around the bleeding. You have everything you need until emergency services arrive.

At your home, your family will always be safe. If a medical emergency occurs, your first aid kit may save a life if an accident occurs such as a fall, broken bone, or an injury in a child. Using the kit may be the difference between life and death until emergency technicians and police arrive to an injury that requires hospitalization. An emergency first aid kit is a life-saving product that you should have at all times.

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