Be Prepared: First Aid Kit

photo courtesy of m_bartosh at http://freedigitalphoto.net

Based on the evidence so far, I’d venture a wager that I will see LOTS of bumps, scrapes, sprains, bruises, and other assorted boo-boo’s over the coming years.  Mr. Charm’s other nickname is “Captain Destruction: The Kamikaze Kid”, after all!

I’d also be willing to bet that he’s not alone in that.

So, for Mama’s in general, it’s important to have a good first aid kit around.  

Where you live might make a difference in how comprehensive you make your first aid kit; if you’re miles from help, you’ll want a more extensive array of tools on hand than if an ambulance can get to your house in under 5 minutes.  So, decide for yourself, and start assembling!

*(disclaimer)   Now, I’m not a doctor or first aid specialist, but I’m a Mama and a Flight Attendant, and I’m using my knowledge from those experiences to come up with my advice here.  Please evaluate for yourself what you should put in your first aid kit, and what you should have on hand in an emergency.  I only intend to give you a good starting point and a nudge to actually do it (if you haven’t already)!

Good things for Mama’s to put in a first aid kit:

• alcohol
• peroxide
• neosporin
• assorted band-aids
• sterile gauze (such as 4 inch squares)
• medical adhesive tape
• tweezers
• ACE-style bandages
• bandage scissors
• Calamine Lotion
• Triangular bandages
• Rolls of gauze bandage
• latex gloves (or non-latex, if allergic)
• ice bag
• pain relief spray
• activated charcoal
• ibuprofen
• thermometer
• inspect repellant
• moleskin (for blisters)
• aloe vera
• splint
• maxi-pads (they’re great for absorbing large amounts of blood)

For the FAM, you’ll want to also include:

• electrolyte drink
• benadryl
• need I say it? Epi-pens!

Depending on how severe your child’s allergies are, you may need to get certain medications, like benadryl (dipenhydramine) and ibuprofen compounded to be safe.  These have a shorter life span, so be sure to update your kit regularly!

This series is on how to be prepared for winter, so additional items you’ll want to make sure to have handy are:

• emergency blanket (those thin silver ones)
• flashlight
• instant heat packs
• hot water bottle
• regular blankets

Most importantly, though, is to educate yourself on first aid and know what to do.  Look into buying a small first aid manual that you can keep handy, and for winter, know the signs of hypothermia.

Hypothermia can set in even if indoors, and often is so slow and gradual the victim is unaware that they are in danger.  Look for bright red skin (in infants and children), slurred speech, slow breathing, loss of coordination, fatigue, confusion, and shivering.  If you see these signs, act immediately!

Begin warming the torso, take off any wet clothes, wrap them in blankets, monitor pulse, administer warm beverages if possible.  Do not warm the extremities first, as this can bring on shock.

If you’re stuck at home in a winter storm, it might also be useful to have the following items in your home:

• emergency radio (hand crank or have extra batteries)
• fire extinguisher (chemical, or A-B-C style)
• rock salt/sand/kitty litter
• snow shovel

There wasn’t as much as I thought there would be in assembling a first aid kit that is specific to FAM’s, other than always ensuring you have the correct, safe medications on hand.  But, I still felt it important to include this post in the series because it is so important to be able to take care of what you can in an emergency.

I’d strongly encourage anyone to take a basic first aid course, a CPR course, and to have the tools and confidence to use them.

In bad weather, when emergency services are already taxed to the extreme, it becomes even more important that you can be somewhat self-sufficient.  No one wants to drive through a blizzard and sit in the ER for HOURS when it was something you could have fixed yourself.

Stay tuned for the final part of “Be Prepared for Winter (With Food Allergies): The Car Kit”!
__________

See the rest of the series:
Part I – Be Prepared: Power Outage
Part II – Be Prepared: Food Provisions
Part III – Be Prepared: Food Preparation
Part V – Be Prepared: The Car Kit 

___________

Do you have anything you would suggest for a Mama’s first aid kit?

This post has been shared with Allergy Free Wednesdays and Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways.