FEATURE

Generic First Aid Kit

Build your own first aid kit.

Used particularly in emergencies, a first aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment for use in giving first aid. Your first aid kit should be fashioned to take care of disorders likely to afflict your person/family. For example if a person with hay fever is likely to go to a pollen area, then antihistamines should be included. Or a first aid kit for hikers should have treatment for muscle injury, giddiness etc.

Otherwise the following may be adequate:

1. Dressings – Adhesive bandages for e.g. band-aid. Also include gauze pads and non-adhesive gauze strips to tie up injuries. A handy idea to keep a small pair of scissors and tweezers with the dressings.

2. Medicine for:
Fever, aches and pain
Sprain, muscle ache etc
Cough and cold
Loose motions
Stomach pain
Nasal and eye drops
Nausea and vomiting (in adults only)

3. Thermometer

4. Antiseptic solution/ointment/spray like Dettol, Savlon etc

5. Torch or a flashlight.

Location

It is widely recommended that all households and workplaces have a first aid kit. The first aid kit should be kept in a clearly marked bag or container in an easily accessible location.

Another good place is in your family vehicle with the size and nature of the kit in proportion to the vehicle's range and potential distance from help.

Improvisation

Under certain circumstances, first aid can be performed without a first aid kit. Chances of infection are higher but if you are not prepared with a first aid kit its best to make do with what is available.

1. Any cloth (preferably as clean as possible) can be used as a bandage. If you are at home, duct tape could also be used to secure a dressing.

2. Common household items such as a magazine or even sticks can be used for splints.

3. Direct pressure to stop bleeding can be applied with a hand if nothing else presents itself.

Obviously it is better to have proper equipment, but it’s a fact that improvised equipment has saved many lives. So if you don’t have a first aid kit around you, maybe now is the time to fix one up!