First Aid Kit for the Home
A well-stocked first-aid kit is a necessity in every home. Having supplies
gathered ahead of time will help handle an emergency at a moment’s
notice. Health experts suggest that there be a first-aid kit in the home and
one in each car. A first-aid kit should be available for family vacations.
Include the following in each kit: two pairs of plastic gloves, sterile
gauze, cleansing agent, antibiotic ointment, burn ointment, adhesive bandages,
eyewash, and a thermometer. Also include prescription medications
taken every day such as insulin, and heart medicine. Periodically
rotate medicines to account for expiration dates. Scissors, tweezers, and
aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever may also be useful additions to the kit.
At one time, ipecac syrup was considered a must-have for every kit, but
there is no evidence that it helps children who have swallowed a poison.
Parents should not use ipecac. Instead, they should call the Poison Control
Center at (800) 222-1222 or 911 emergency. Store first-aid kits in places
that are out of children’s reach but accessible to adults. Check the kits
regularly. Replace missing items or medicines that may have recently
expired.