Necessary Equipment One Should Have In Their First Aid Kits
It’s important to keep a first aid kit readily available in your home, cottage, car, boat, workplace, and recreation area so you can deal with minor accidents and injuries. Store it in a dry place and replace used or outdated contents regularly. Here are some of the common first aid kits, one should have at their home, vehicle and workplace.
First Aid Kit for home, should contain the following:
- Sterile gauze pads (dressings) in small and large squares to place over wounds
- Adhesive tape
- Roller and triangular bandages to hold dressings in place or to make an arm sling
- Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Safety pins
- Instant ice packs
- Disposable non-latex gloves, such as surgical or examination gloves
- Flashlight, with extra batteries in a separate bag
- Antiseptic wipes or soap
- Pencil and pad
- Emergency blanket
- Eye patches
- Thermometer
Other items one may also have at their home:
- Barrier devices, such as a pocket mask or face shield
- Coins for pay phone
- Canadian Red Cross first aid manual
- Emergency telephone numbers for EMS/9–1–1, your local poison control center, and your personal doctors
- Home and office phone numbers for family members, friends, or neighbors who can help
Emergency Supplies Kit for workplace, should contain the following:
- Four litres of water per person per day (use sealed, unbreakable containers and replace the supply every six months)
- Packaged or canned food that won’t go bad, and a can opener (replace the food once a year)
- Walking shoes, rain gear, and a change of clothing
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- A first aid kit and prescription medications (check the medications every six months to make sure they haven’t passed their expiry date)
- Toilet paper and other personal supplies
- An extra pair of glasses
- A battery-powered radio and flashlight, along with extra batteries
- Spare cash
- An extra set of car keys
- A list of your family doctors
- Important family information such as a list of any medical conditions or medical devices, such as pacemakers
- Photocopies of all important identification for you and your family, including health card numbers
- Special items for babies, elderly, or disabled household members
- Cell phone and contact information for family and friends
Have supplies ready for an emergency. Store them in a backpack or a duffle bag so you can take them with you if you have to evacuate the area.
Emergency First Aid Kit for car/vehicles, should contain the following:
- A battery-powered radio and flashlight, with extra batteries
- A blanket
- Booster (jumper) cables
- A fire extinguisher
- Bottled water and high-energy foods that won’t go bad (replace the water every six months and the food once a year)
- Maps of the area
- A shovel
- Flares
- A tire repair kit and pump
- Matches and a “survival” candle in a deep can that will burn for many hours
You can purchase a first aid kit at drugstores or a local Red Cross office, or make one of your own. If you decide to make one, choose containers for your kits that are roomy, durable, easy to carry, and simple to open. Plastic tackle boxes or containers for storing art supplies are ideal, since they’re lightweight, have handles, and offer a lot of space. A first aid training program should be reviewed periodically to ensure your existing first aid kit continues to meet the requirements and that your supplies are fresh and up to date.
Source: The original post published here.
