People who realize that they need a first aid kit, will usually go down
to their local store and buy one and mark it off their list. However,
shopping for a first aid kit will reveal a few surprises for the general
kit shopper. First off, many of the kits don't contain some of the most
essential items that will see a lot of use, instead they will have
items that you will probably never use. If you decide to buy one of the
larger mega kits you will get an abundance of some items and again many
items that you will probably never ever use.
People who realize that they need a first aid kit, will usually go down to their local store and buy one and mark it off their list. However, shopping for a first aid kit will reveal a few surprises for the general kit shopper. First off, many of the kits don't contain some of the most essential items that will see a lot of use, instead they will have items that you will probably never use. If you decide to buy one of the larger mega kits you will get an abundance of some items and again many items that you will probably never ever use.
The best first aid kits are those that individuals create themselves because they tend to be smaller and more condensed with only those items you are likely to really need. Of course, putting together a first aid kit isn't cheap but if you build one from scratch you are likely to have more of the items you will need and can fill it with items that are worth their weight in a gold during an emergency.
Bandages are core items in every first aid kit and yours should be no exception, preferably several sizes along with a gauze roll and a long ace bandage with clasps. The flexibility of these items make them very useful for a variety of things. Other essentials should include blood coagulant, a ice pack, Neosporin, as well as some antiseptic for cleaning a wound, bottled water, baking soda and smelling salts. The salts are kind of the icing on the cake so to speak but are just as important as a mouthpiece and a first aid procedure manual. Well stocked first aid kits will include, when available, a rescue inhaler and epinephrine pen that the garden variety first aid kits don't usually have.
Creating your own first aid kit allows you to get creative and this is very true in protecting your kit contents. If you keep the kit within a short distance of your whereabouts it can get damage by the elements such as water, dust and etc.. A remedy for this is a resealable plastic container or you can simply use a Ziploc bag that is both easy to get and very inexpensive and does a great job at protecting.
Trained professionals, are not exempt from forgetting some important keys in an emergency. Just having a emergency manual within arms reach will get you back to what you already know and assist in any crisis situation. Other keys to making an impact is staying calm and calling for help ASAP. Just implementing these little things can have huge impacts on the ones in need of help.
