A first aid kit isn’t only for when you’re going camping for a week, or for those month-long holidays. It’s something everyone should already have at home in the form of either a store-bought, all inclusive package, or bits and pieces put together as they’ve been needed, with enough stock for another bout of flu, headaches, tummy bugs, grazes or cuts.
My personal belief is that every vehicle on the road should have a comprehensive first-aid kit in the boot (along with a blanket, bottle of water and a few trail bars or snacks). This comes in handy should the car break down, or if your or another vehicle is involved in an accident.
Before you start stocking your kit, pick a sturdy bag or ammo box as your spot to store everything. Below is a guideline for when you want to start creating your own kit (assuming you didn’t get one from Builders Warehouse, or the local pharmacy).
Contents:
- adhesive bandages in several sizes and an elastic bandage
- a splint
- antiseptic wipes
- soap
- sterile gauze pads of different sizes
- antiseptic cream or liquid (like Dettol)
- Hydrocortisone cream (1%)
- Miprodol and Panado
- extra prescription medications (only if you are going on holiday)
- tweezers
- sharp scissors
- disposable cold packs / heating pads
- calamine lotion (for those pesky bugs)
- alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
- thermometer
- plastic non-latex gloves (at least 2 pairs)
- flashlight and extra batteries (should something happen in the dark)
- a blanket
- mouthpiece for administering CPR (or a home-made alternative)
- safety pins
Some things to note:
Don’t forget to check your medicine every few months to ensure the items haven’t expired. Most medicines will still have a shelf-life of six months after the expiry period, (as their potency weakens and the preserving agents start to break down) and it’s better to replace these rather than take a risk.
Let us know what’s in your first-aid kit, and what items you’d never leave home without.
Main image courtesy of Vinni123 (Flickr)
