Must Have Products for Your First Aid Kit

Many people keep some medical supplies around the house. Out of all these supplies a person keeps most people do not keep the proper amount of first aid supplies in their first aid kit. Every first aid kit should be stocked with all of the following supplies. Also a person should be familiar with how to use the supplies and a sense of basic first aid treatments. Make sure that you always keep your first aid kit well stocked and have spent time to be familiar with everything in your kit. You never know when an accident will happen.

Band-Aids in all sizes ranging from small to large:

Keep plenty of these in your kit to cover most minor scrapes and cuts. A lot of people do not use band-aids on minor scrapes and cuts but they should. Even a very minor skin abrasion can allow for bacteria to enter the body. So make sure to cover all scrapes and cuts with a band-aid, no matter how minor the scrape or cut is.

Anti-bacterial cream or spray:

Neosporin or any off brand of anti-bacterial cream or spray will do. Before placing a band-aid on a scrape or cut make sure to wash it really good and place an anti-bacterial cream or spray on to it. This will help to kill any bacteria that has already gotten onto the scrape or cut.

Non-Aspirin pain reliever:

Keep a good non-out-dated supply of a non-aspirin pain reliever in your first aid kit. Bee stings, cuts and bruising from a fall can cause some discomfort. Make sure though that you have child safe pain relievers in your first aid kit as well for treating your child's discomfort.

Sting Out:

Sting Out is a great product to have in your first aid kit. Sting Out instantly relieves the pain at the site of the sting. This product can be picked up at most pharmacies and even Wal-Mart carries it. So make sure to have some on hand during the summer months.

Before putting Sting Out on the site of the sting , make sure that the stinger has been removed. To remove the stinger the most efficient and safest way, take a credit card and scrape the stinger out. When trying to pull the stinger out with tweezers or your fingers you can actually release more poison into the body.

Ace Bandages:

Ace Bandages are a must have for wrapping any sprains or to hold any splints into place. Make sure to have at least two of these in your first aid kit.

Benadryl:

Benadryl will help to relieve any allergic reactions that may result from a bee sting or any other type of allergic reactions. Benadryl will also help to relieve the itching associated with a rash.

Sterile Gauze:

Everyone should have a decent supply of sterile gauze in their first aid kit. Sterile gauze can be used to make an eye patch temporarily. Also instead of using your fingers to apply anti-bacterial cream, use a piece of sterile gauze.

Popsicle sticks:

Clean popsicle sticks are a must have for use as a splint for a broken finger or toe. Place a popsicle stick on the top and one on the bottom of the broken finger or toe and secure with adhesive tape. This will hold the broken bone in place until you can reach an emergency room for proper treatment.

Adhesive tape:

Keep a roll of adhesive tape on hand for use in securing an eye patch or a temporary splint.

Clean Safety pins:

Safety pins that are kept in the first aid kit are for use in removing splinters. It use to be recommended that before use the safety pins should be heated to sterilize them. Now that is no longer believed to be necessary since most people who use a safety pin to remove a splinter will use one that is clean and the risk of infection are minimal.