31 Essential Items for a Good First Aid Kit

A medical emergency, as we all know, can occur anywhere and at any time. Therefore, being minimally prepared is essential.

Having a well-equipped first-aid kit at home, whether at home or in the car, can make a huge difference in the most critical moments.

And, although these kits are sold in different establishments, such as pharmacies and even car equipment stores, it may be more effective to create a personalized box, taking into account any specific needs of family members or, for example, a specific kit for a outdoor activity, such as a walk in the woods or fishing.

O incredible.club created a simple and practical guide to creating your own first aid kit, with the items you should have in them. Oh, and don’t miss the bonus at the end of the post.

Choosing a good box: The most recommended container is large, translucent, water-resistant plastic boxes that are easy to open and close. You can find them in pharmacies, different product websites, haberdashery stores and even office supplies stores, often already with the indication of first aid. This box must be easy to transport; so it is useful that it has a handle. In case you have a large amount of products, there are boxes that have internal divisions by trays. In this case, it is worth labeling the divisions with the products that will be placed in them. In the case of a first aid kit for short trails in the woods or fishing, for example, the box can be more compact. In that case, a good option is a water-resistant Tupperware pot that guarantees the integrity of the medications. Whichever box you choose, it’s important to clearly identify its function. As we said, it is possible to purchase boxes already marked with the description “First Aid”. But if that’s not the case, write on the box with a water-resistant pen or stick a sturdy sticker. So, in an emergency, not only you, but other people will be able to use the kit. Storing the first aid box:

Establish a fixed place for your kit and try not to move it. It is important that everyone knows where it is. Or even your children and other people who eventually live or frequent your home (such as a day laborer) about this.

For younger children it is important to know where the first aid kit is. But they can’t get the box. For these little ones, there is always the risk of inadvertently consuming some medicine.

Try to print and place, together with the kit, a simple and reliable first aid manual.

If any member of your family has any special needs (such as diabetes or allergies to certain types of medication), indicate this with a label or leaflet also inside the box.

Keep your box up to date There’s no use in a first aid box with expired medications, right? Ideally, every 6 months, check the expiration date of all items that make up the kit and, of course, discard what is no longer within the deadline. Try to make a checklist of all the items you have in your kit so that when you replenish the box, you don’t miss essential items.

For those who are already familiar with slightly more complex procedures such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or fracture care, it is worth having a more professional kit. This tip applies especially to environments with large numbers of people, such as commercial establishments and condominiums, for example. In this case, it is important to take a specialized first aid course.

For those who already have this type of training, the first aid box may contain:

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) Instruments

Equipment for Fractures and Torsions

General purpose drugs

burn medicine

wound care products

To store everything inside these more professional kits, follow these instructions:

Divide medications into different categories such as ‘cuts’, ‘breaks’, ‘stings’ and ‘allergies’. Then put everything in separate parts of the box and label. If members of your family (or friends going hiking, for example) have different health needs, an effective way to separate everything is to put them in separate baggies and label them with each person’s name and the indicated dose. .

Band-Aid dressings in various sizes and shapes Sterile gauze pads Mertiolate-type antiseptic solution Nebacetin-type antibacterial ointment

Disposable scalpel bandage

Note: first aid, in the case of snake bites, is very ineffective. In this situation, the only solution is to immediately take the victim to a hospital or call the rescue. Therefore, if you are going to do outdoor activities, such as trails in the woods or fishing, always have a charged cell phone and, if possible, protect it from water.

If you are bitten, try to take a picture of the snake responsible for the bite to facilitate identification and serum determination.

Always have your phone numbers handy Firefighters (193), SAMU (192) and Military Police (190). In Portugal, European Emergency Number (112).

Compact scissors Tweezers Adhesive Vaseline Disposable gloves Thermometer

Small penknife Thermometer Cold compress Aluminized emergency blanket (it is compact and costs less than 10 reais) For outdoor activities, water purifying tablets and charged compact flashlight

Cotton balls and cotton swabs Antacid Diarrhea medication Clearly visible emergency phone numbers

When wrapping using elastic bandages, be sure to make sure that it is not too tight and that you can easily bend your knee or other part of your body.

Overly tight bandages can cause poor circulation and are dangerous to your health.

Oh, and never use a tourniquet unless you have no other option. Only very specialized professionals usually adopt this type of procedure.

The tourniquet, when not done correctly, is life threatening.

Do you have first aid equipment? Have you ever had to use it? In what situation?

Tell us in the comments!