Create a First Aid Kit For Your Family

Accidents and medical emergencies in the home happen frequently. Maybe more frequently than we care to acknowledge. Statistics show a fatal injury occurs every 18 minutes in homes across America and every 4 seconds a disabling injury is likely to occur. Accidents can result in falls,
fire, burns, choking and poisoning. Injuries can happen regardless of how you try to avoid them.
However, the odds are on your side if you keep you body in good shape.  It is unlikely that you
can maintain your athletic body for many years past 40 years old, but you can stay fit.  Fitness
may help you keep a serious injury to a minimum.

Every home should have at least one First Aid Kit that is well stocked and readily available. To be useful in an emergency or in just a routine scrape must be available and you kno where to find it quickly First Aid Kits are used most often for minor injuries such as cuts, sunburns or
bites. Having a well stocked First Aid Kit available can save someone's life in a serious accident.

A First Aid Kit won't be any good to you if you don't know where it is or how to use it.
Make sure you have a guide in your kit from a reliable source. It should have the latest medical
advice and be easy to understand, particularly under stress and confusion. You should also have
a well stocked first aid kit in each of your automobiles.

There are 5 categories that are imperative in your First Aid Kit:

Instruments: Pointed tweezers for removing splinters; disposable latex or non latex gloves; small
rounded-tipped scissors for cutting tape; cloths or bandages; breathing barrier for
performing CPR; thermometer-either digital or mercury; ice bag; eye patches; oral medicine
syringe; bandages that are good quality. One dozen individually wrapped sterile gauze pads 2" X 2; six non-stick gauze bandages; six individually wrapped sterile gauze pads 4" X 4"; one roll 2" gauze bandage; one roll 5" gauze bandage; elastic bandages; triangular bandages; Adhesive Tape.

Antiseptics:  Such as Hydrogen Peroxide to kill germs. Antibacterial cream or ointment. This is good for cuts, scrapes and insect bites.

Medicines: Over the counter medicines such as antihistamine cough suppressant aspirin syrup of ipecac in case someone ingests poison. This should only be used after calling the Poison Control Center first.

Keeping your First Aid Kit Updated: Your First Aid Kit should be checked once a year, possibly the same day you check your smoke detectors, to be sure it is fully stocked and nothing has expired. Make sure you always make a note of anything you use out of your Kit so it can easily be replaced. Check
occasionally to be certain you have a fresh up-to-date well stocked kit.  you never know when you will need it. Just like the lion who had the thorn removed, you will become a hero if you can treat a booboo on the spot.

Storing your First Aid Kit:  Make sure you store your First Aid Kit in a tote bag or
plastic container that will keep your kit clean and dry and easily accessible in your home.
It is recommended to have one on each floor in your home and workshop. Make sure everyone
in your home knows where the kits are and how to use it. It could save your families life.

You can cause joy!