A first aid kit is just what the name implies a pack of supplies so you are prepared to respond rapidly to an injury or other emergency. But you need not run out and buy an expensive pre-packaged kit, when all of the essential supplies for a good first aid kit can be assembled on your own.

The most important thing to have in your basic home first aid kit is a good quick reference guide. These can be as simple chart for what to do with choking and how to handle certain kinds of poisoning, or as extensive as a Red Cross First Aid Field Manual. The Field Manual is meant for rapid use in stressful situations, so do not let the name daunt you. Be sure that local contact numbers for poison control and emergency services are in the kit, as well as those of your doctors.

The most common injuries are cuts and abrasions. You need to be prepared to close a wound, at least temporarily. Essential supplies for these types of injuries include cotton balls/swabs, gauze pads, a roll of gauze, surgical tape, an elastic wrap, scissors, bandages, and isopropyl alcohol as a topical antiseptic. Good additions in the first aid kit for this type of wound are a bottle of witch hazel to ease the pain as well as clean the wound, and for deeper wounds, a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to replace the hydrogen peroxide regularly, it loses its effectiveness in just a few short months.

The next most common injuries are sprains and bruises. Keep a "quick cold" pack in your first aid kit. Another effective tool for applying cold to a sprained joint is a package of frozen peas, corn, or beans. The cold pack and the frozen veggies are easily shifted to conform to the shape of the joint. In a pinch, ice cubes in a zipper plastic bag wrapped in a thin towel will work.

Make sure there is a good elastic bandage in the kit you can use it to: a) wrap a sprained joint to keep it from moving; or, b) or use it as a means to secure a splint; or, c) use it to secure a covering over a severe wound.

Other essentials for a basic home first aid kit include gloves. If you have a family member who is allergic to latex, use vinyl or nitrile gloves. A small flash light is a good addition, since the wound could be small or lighting the area difficult. A pair of one foot long, 1x2 boards are good to have in the kit, in case a splint is necessary.

The most important thing that belongs in a basic first aid kit is your knowledge. Take a Red Cross sponsored first aid class so you are prepared to deal with the most common injuries you are likely to encounter.

Learn more about this author, W Thomas Payne.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Essential first aid kit supplies for your home?
We want to hear your view. Write now!