Comments on: Making a family first aid kit

By: Linkworthy - 4/12/09 | MattCleaver.com

Linkworthy - 4/12/09 | MattCleaver.com — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:05:37 +0000

[...] Making a first aid kit – Though this is meant for families, it might be a good starting point for your youth ministry first aid kit if you are making your own or restocking a used kit. [...]

By: Christine Q

Christine Q — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:18:18 +0000

Love this idea! However, I’m a little overwhelmed as to how to organize and store this long list of potentially useful stuff. What has worked for others?

By: Another Deb

Another Deb — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:14:24 +0000

I have several Ziploc Baggies in the kit. It is helpful to have a container for ice if you need to make an ice pack. You can also use them for containing things like teeth that may have been knocked out, or to contain the contaminated material used from the kit.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:02:56 +0000

One thing we also keep in our kit is Oragel or a similar canker sore/teething gel. Not so much for using in the mouth, especially for babies for whom Tylenol is much better for teething pain, but to use topically when getting a splinter out. It really makes a difference, especially for little ones.

By: Maike

Maike — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:49:18 +0000

Geralin,
Excellent ideas! I agree with the oral and topical antihistamines, however do not use both at the same time, one or the other. Saline eye wash may also come in handy. Aspirin for adult emergencies is also a good idea. Small single dose packets are available at most drug stores.
Now the nurse in me will come out and also recomend a set of small laminated cards with CPR and choking instructions. In an emergency we all get rattled and may forget how to proceed. There are also disposable mouth covers with pre made openings that are used for mouth to mouth resusitation. One brand is Microshield, Clear Mouth Barrier made by Medical Device International.
I have a kit with all the above in my car and we carry a seperate kit with on all hikes. In the summer I also keep a few bottles of water and protein bars just in case.

By: Gryphon

Gryphon — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:48:41 +0000

My family was always big on keeping an eye wash solution kit in with other first aid supplies. A wrist and ankle brace to deal with sprains can also be very handy.

By: April from Garner

April from Garner — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:06:05 +0000

Liquid Benadryl (or its generic) is an absolute MUST in case of an allergic reaction. It can also be used if someone gets sick and can also be used topically if you have nothing else. I second the recommendation on Coconut oil – it helped soothe and heal breastfeeding related thrush. Is stays a semi-solid in the jar until it hits warmth. Can be used topically or taken internally.

By: Taylor at Household Management 101

Taylor at Household Management 101 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:26:27 +0000

I like your list. I recently created a similar list, a checklist for your first aid kit, if you want to compare. (Click my name as the link)

In my research for that checklist I learned that you should no longer have syrup of ipecac in your first aid kit, which I did not know. I notice you do not have it on your list, so that is good. I just don’t think some people are aware that they no longer recommend this.

I also learned, however, that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend to have activated charcoal in your first kit either. I provided the link to their website explaining their reasoning in my article. Again, it was something I did not know before doing the research.

Finally, I also think it is a great idea to have a paper in the first aid kit with the information on it you suggest. I would also suggest putting poison control’s number on the card. The Poison Help hotline number is 1-800-222-1222.

By: Ari Lestariono

Ari Lestariono — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:45:06 +0000

Very useful information and the kind of first aid requires in our environment.Should put a campaign on this to every family members

By: hragape

hragape — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:29:53 +0000

We keep a tube of super glue for emergency fixes to cuts that won’t stop bleeding.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:09:49 +0000

As usual, Geralin has a wealth of information. I feel inspired and think she would perform another miracle in my home if she came over to work on our bathroom cabinets!

By: Geralin Thomas

Geralin Thomas — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:46:39 +0000

@ Melissa, I am a fan of non-latex gloves too. Love them as a matter of fact.

@ Dia, I’m having a a pina colada craving reading your post.
Really? Seriously? Coconut oil? I’ve never heard of that but I’m going to investigate it and thank you for posting.

@ JenK, yes a small knife is a good thing too. I have a pink Swiss Army knife

@Sue, You are correct. A whistle is a very smart thing to add to an “evacuation” kit as it’s very handy in floods.

Many thanks for all the comments and suggestions. Much appreciated!

By: another sue

another sue — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:02:38 +0000

I have been trying to get it all together as we head into yet another tornado season. Our emergency preparedness people advise us to take these things to the basement with us and another item they list that I had never thought of before is a whistle!

By: JenK

JenK — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:18:24 +0000

I have a small kit with band-aids, moleskin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, allergy pills, and inhaler in my bag. I also have a small penknife with attached scissors for cutting the moleskin.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:21:03 +0000

Posted too soon. I would add a topical antihistamine cream and antihistamine pills/liquid. We keep adult Benadryl pills, children’s Benadryl liquid and Benadryl cream on hand in case of possible allergic reactions.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:16:41 +0000

That’s a great list! While we don’t have a ‘kit’ per se, we have just about everything on that list. I grew up in a home where a bandaid was hard to find…and my mom’s a registered nurse! (We had bandaids and aspirin and Tums, but not all three at the same time!) I think I’ve compensated by having everything one might possibly need. We still tease my mom about her lack of supplies…

By: Dia

Dia — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:16:44 +0000

Nice list!
I’d add coconut oil!!
It’s great for anything to do with the skin (inc sunburn) & with a shelf life of a couple of years! It’s anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal; killing bad buggies that have a lipid coat (inc staph, strep, Herpes, hep C, HIV, etc) downright amazing stuff!
Last weekend I was out & about with friends & noticed a slightly inflammed cut on my finger. I had a small vial of coconut oil along, & applied it (no bandage) when I thought of it. By the time we were home, it was barely pink, well on the way to healing.
It is great for us too (medium chain fatty acids, lowers ‘bad’ cholesterol & doesn’t deposit in the body as fat!) Great stuff!! Best is Virgin Organic Coconut oil.

By: Melissa (oddharmonic)

Melissa (oddharmonic) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:10:55 +0000

We keep nitrile, not latex, gloves in our jump bags in case of allergy. They are sold next to the latex gloves at many retailers.

By: Geralin Thomas

Geralin Thomas — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:43:15 +0000

@ Celeste, Brilliant! I love the idea of keeping a pair of “readers’ in there. I’m adding it to my list. Thanks for that safety-tip!

@ Aaron, I check mine once a year (when the school year ends) and it’s a fairly quick, pain-free, examination of the contents. I’m going for “good enough” not perfect. Plus, did I mention I’m not really a “wilderness mom” so the chances of me being too far from civilization are slim.

Geralin

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:40:31 +0000

I like the list and the idea of a first aid kit, but I am curious about how people maintain these in an uncluttered way. Do you use a rotate stock method? How do you remember? It would seem to be a constant mental nag every time I went to the store.