First aid or medical kits should be found in every household and automobile. Accidents happen when we least expect them and being prepared can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. The most common types of accidents include cuts, scrapes, burns, and insect bites. A large percentage of accidents happen in and around the home, then out in the great outdoors, and final in and around vehicles.

A kit should be readily available both inside the home and when the family is outdoors. It is also important to keep a kit in your garage for outside emergencies and in your vehicle for emergencies that may occur when you are traveling. A kit should also be a part of every emergency preparedness plan. When preparing for a natural disaster, most experts believe everyone should have emergency supplies for at least the first 72 hours. It is a good idea to include at least a 72 hour supply of any prescription medications as well. First aid or medical kits are a must in households that have children. Children can be very accident prone and it is better to be prepared than caught unaware. It is important that each member of the family be familiar with the contents of your kit and knows how to use them.

Your kit should consider the needs of each individual family member. It is very important to change the medications in the first aid kit periodically. Most medications have an expiration date, which can be written down on a piece of paper and kept inside the first aid kit. Also, include items such as glucose monitors and blood pressure monitors for family members that have diabetes and/or high blood pressure.

Every kit should include the following basic items, a assortment of gauze pads, adhesive tape, various bandages, antibiotic ointment, cotton swabs, eye drops, latex gloves, a tweezer, bottled water for cleaning wounds, and a first aid handbook. All kits should include prescription medications as well as non-prescription medications such as syrup of ipecac used to induce vomiting if instructed by a poison control center, medicines for treating bee stings, antihistamines for itching and allergic reactions, and pain medications such as aspirin.

If you had an emergency in your home or vehicle today, would you be prepared? Most people don’t like to think about emergencies and this often results in not being prepared for household accidents. Don’t leave your family’s safety to chance. Be sure your home and vehicle are properly equipped with a first aid or medical emergency kit today!

The first aid kit may seem like an old-fashioned concept but the truth is that today – just as always – an appropriately assembled, comprehensive first aid kit can save the most amount of time when treating injuries. Also, in the event of an emergency, a well-placed first aid kit can administer front line care until emergency services can arrive.

A thoroughly stocked first aid kit should always be kept in your home as well as in each of your cars. Additionally, you should always keep a travel first aid kit handy to take with you on vacations, family outings, etc.

The properly assembled first aid kit should include a number of important things. First and foremost, a first aid kit should include those items necessary for treating wounds; bandages of all sizes, gauze, tape, and small scissors, alcohol or other antiseptic to clean the wound, bottled water, clean, dry cloths, and antibacterial cream or spray. Those administering the first aid should also have sterile gloves and antibacterial wipes for clean up afterwards.

In addition to these important items, your first aid kit should also include a variety of medicines – pain relievers, aspirin, anti-diarrhea medicines, a fast-acting allergy medication such as Benadryl, and extras of any medications you or your family take on a regular basis.

In the event of accidental poisoning, contact poison control immediately – keep the number handy in your first aid kit – and be prepared to administer Syrup of Ipecac if necessary. There are small containers of this important medicine available in most stores that will fit nicely into a first aid kit.

Also keep numbers of your doctors, pharmacy information, and pertinent health insurance information readily available in your first aid kit. This will save you quite a bit of time should you need information quickly.

You can purchase pre-assembled first aid kits at most drug stores. These are convenient and compact and usually include most of what you need. But in order to assemble the most comprehensive first aid kit it is best to do it yourself. You can find a number of small kits available in drug stores. Make several first aid kits at a time and store then in the appropriate places.

Being prepared can arm you with power. A comprehensive and well thought out first aid kit can be your insurance against sickness and injury no matter where you are.