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First aid kits are can be serious business. Many traffic accidents
require minor first aid, and in some cases being able to stabilize an injured
person's condition until paramedics arrive can mean all the difference. (Please
remember that untrained assistance to a seriously hurt victim can be worse than
no help at all....)
Below are some
suggestions regarding First Aid Kits:
Look for variety
of components
Many first aid
kits attempt to sell a kit comprised of a box of adhesive
bandages and a few tablets. How many different type of injuries
will this kit treat? Not very many! Don't be fooled by quantity
of components, look for variety of components! The idea
is to include components for real life emergencies, not what
might let the kit sell for a few dollars less.
Make sure all basic categories are covered
Any first aid kit should contain at least something from the
following groups: Antiseptics (something to kill
germs to prevent infection), Injury treatment
(items to deal with injuries such as butterlfy closures and cold
compresses), Bandages (a variety of
bandages to dress and cover a variety of wounds), Instruments
(tweezers, barrier gloves), and Medicines
(analgesics at a minimum).
Kit organization
First aid kits are only used in a time of need. If you, or
someone you are near, are injured and need assistance a first
aid kit won't do any good if you can't find what you need. Look
for a kit that has its contents nicely organized so you can
locate supplies readily.
Quality components
Adhesive bandages that don't stick, poorly shaped bandages,
component packaging that falls apart, a case that doesn't stand
up... a poor quality kit is the last thing you need in dealing
with an emergency.
Information
A first aid kit does no good if you don't know what to do
with it. Frankly, most first aid kits include some kind of
guide, but their usefulness can vary widely. Make sure the first
aid guide in your kit is from a credible source, contains the
latest medical advice, and make sure it its laid out in a way
that can be understood when under stress.
We encourage you to make
sure that your family is fully prepared for emergencies. Keep a first aid kit
just in case there is an emergency... around the house, in each car, in backpacks,
and in your RV or boat.
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