First-Aid Items Every Home Should Have.
Accidents and illness are a sad reality that sometimes plague our world. Most times they come unannounced without giving prior notice but we have to respond to them regardless.
As a Mum, Dad or single person, you owe it to yourself and those who depend on you to be prepared. You may even be the one to save a life especially in cases of emergencies where a health facility may not readily be available. So it is quite helpful and important to have a first Aid kit/box with some crucial items from which you can quickly give first-aid pending when you can go to a hospital.
The contents of your first aid kit may vary depending on your unique life situation. For instance a mum with kids has to have certain things that a single person may not need. Also if you have a person with a particular illness living with you for example, you have a parent with diabetes or Hypertension living with you, then certain things are needed in your kit.
For a home with kids, the following items are necessary:
Paracetamol or Acetaminophen tablets or suspensions : if a child is having a fever especially if high, as a first-Aid, it is helpful to give paracetamol suspension or tablets (depending on the age) before going to the hospital. In some children, uncontrolled fever can lead to a convulsion.
photocredit:Stock photos: sterile Gauze.
Ointments : such as zinc oxide ointment is helpful when a baby has a diaper rash. Antifungal ointments can help in case of fungal skin infection and bacterial ointments like penicillin ointment can help to dress a cut and keep it from infections. Also steroid ointment can help if child has itching on the skin with redness and marks suggesting allergies. You can just get a triple action ointment containing antifungal, anti-bacteria and steriod elements all in one cream and apply pending a visit to the doctor.
Finally, your family's ideal situation may warrant you to add things not specified here. If for instance there is someone with asthma in the family, get a nebuliser or inhaler. If there's a diabetic or hypertensive get a glucometer or digital Blood pressure reader. Also include personal medications and emergency phone numbers.
As a Mum, Dad or single person, you owe it to yourself and those who depend on you to be prepared. You may even be the one to save a life especially in cases of emergencies where a health facility may not readily be available. So it is quite helpful and important to have a first Aid kit/box with some crucial items from which you can quickly give first-aid pending when you can go to a hospital.
The contents of your first aid kit may vary depending on your unique life situation. For instance a mum with kids has to have certain things that a single person may not need. Also if you have a person with a particular illness living with you for example, you have a parent with diabetes or Hypertension living with you, then certain things are needed in your kit.
For a home with kids, the following items are necessary:
- Thermometer: This is quite important particularly if you have a baby, toddlers or young children. It's always good to know if a child is having a fever and how high the fever is.
Photo credit: Stock photos
Photo credit: Imanila
- Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS). Diarrhoea is a leading cause of death in children. Most times death is due to severe dehydration as a result of losing so much water and electrolytes while stooling frequently. So as a parent, you can quickly make an ORS solution for your child and even yourself. You put 1 sachet of ORS Into 1 L of water and let the child drink as much as s/he can.
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photocredit:Stock photos: sterile Gauze.- Sterile gauze pads, adhesive bandage and cotton wool: in case of cuts, punctures and lacerations with bleeding. You can use the gauze pad to stop bleeding when you apply pressure. You also need them to cover an injury to protect from infection. They should come in different sizes.
- Adhesive tape (plaster or sticker): this will help keep the gauze, cotton wool in place.
Ointments : such as zinc oxide ointment is helpful when a baby has a diaper rash. Antifungal ointments can help in case of fungal skin infection and bacterial ointments like penicillin ointment can help to dress a cut and keep it from infections. Also steroid ointment can help if child has itching on the skin with redness and marks suggesting allergies. You can just get a triple action ointment containing antifungal, anti-bacteria and steriod elements all in one cream and apply pending a visit to the doctor.
Photo credit: Kaiser permanente
Photo credit: Web MD.
- Anti-histamine syrups like piriton syrup are helpful in case of flu and common cold for children.
- Ice-packs: in case a child or adult suffers a fall or has an injury with swelling, an ice-pack can help keep down swelling. Ice-packs may also help in high fever or to cool a person down in heat exhaustion.You can prepare an Ice-pack yourself by putting water in a nylon bag and freezing or buy already prepared Ice-packs which are preserved by chemicals and so do not need to be refrigerated.
- Methylated Spirit/ Alcohol rubs : good for sterilising wounds or equipment or hands.
photo credit: Matson's Malaysia
- Scissors/tweezers.
- Safety pin
- Latex gloves : to protect yourself from infection.
- Basic first aid manual or instruction: In emergencies you may be too nervous to know what to do. A first aid instruction booklet may just direct you. You can also go through the book from time to time.
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Till my next post, do stay beautiful, well and healthy-pink.
Dr. Anire Oduko.
References.
- First Aid Items Every Home should Have. Available online at https://www.familyeducation.com/life/first-aid-kit/21-first-aid-items-every-home-should-have
- Anatomy of a First Aid Kit. http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit/anatomy
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