First Aid Kits and Medical Supplies

Every home should have a well-stocked first aid or medical kit. First aid kits vary in content depending on what it is intended to be used for.  But all kits should have the basic items:

A First Aid Manual:

·         Instructions on how to apply first aid.

Bandages: Your first aid kit should have an assortment of bandages and pads.

·         Adhesive Bandages: (Band-Aid) used on small cuts and scrapes, comes in different shapes and sizes. Made of fabric, plastic or latex, adhesive bandages usually have absorbent pads, which are sometimes medicated with an antiseptic solution. Adhesive bandages are one of the most common types of bandages for everyday use around the home.

·         Elastic Bandage: (also known as elastic wrap) is stretchable and used to create localized pressure. Constructed from cotton, polyester and latex-free elastic yarns. Elastic bandages are commonly used to treat muscle sprains and strains. By varying the ratio of cotton, polyester, and the elastic yarns within a bandage, manufacturers are able to offer various grades of compression and durability in their wraps.

·         Triangular Bandage: is a cloth cut into a right angle triangle can be used for a sling or folded into a square and used as a regular bandage or for specialized applications, as on the head.

·         Gauze Bandage: The gauze bandage is a simple woven strip of material which can come in any number of widths and lengths. A gauze bandage can be used for almost any bandage application. Gauze bandages can come with adhesive and absorbent pads.

·         Gauze pads:  Gauze pads is a piece of gauze fabric used to guard and cushion a wound, to absorb blood or other fluids, to apply ointments, or to rub cleansing fluids, such as rubbing alcohol or iodine, to a wound or site of incision. Gauze pads can be wet or dry.

·         Gauze Sponges: These are most often used for securing bandages to wounds, providing extra absorbency and protection from bacteria.

·         Fingertip Bandages: is a butterfly shaped bandage with an adhesive and an absorbent pad used to protect wounds on the tip of your finger.

·         A self-adhering bandage: is a type of bandage or wrap that adheres to itself, but does not adhere well to other surfaces.

·         Trauma Pads: These sterile, absorbent trauma pads helps stop the bleeding associated with deep lacerations, abrasions, burns, penetration wounds and fractures.

To complete your basic first aid kit you should include vinyl gloves, adhesive tape, tweezers, scissors, first aid cream, burn cream, alcohol pads, sting relief pads, cotton tip applicators, CPR barrier, filtration masks, instant cold packs, antiseptic towelettes, and finger splints.