For protecting your hands, there is an excellent guideline that says to always have at least one pair of thin leather gloves for every situation.
This sounds like a lot, but they are very cost-effective if you buy them online or from any kind of department store. They can usually be found for around $8-10 per pair!
Thick leather gloves are also useful as they protect your skin better than thinner ones. This is important because even slight exposure to blood can sometimes cause irritation or allergic reactions.
Leather bands (also called “first aid bracelets”) are another helpful item to keep in your glove drawer. These are long strips of leather cut into small circles that you put over wounds to help prevent fluid and bacteria from getting inside the sleeve of your shirt.
Healing time will depend on the type and severity of the wound, so never hesitate to use anything in this category until it feels dry and solid. Luckily, most people know what these look like!
If your clothes got soaked, don’t worry about ruining them — wash them separately using appropriate chemicals. Never use water, as this could make the material more porous and expose the surface to additional contamination. Read our article here to learn how to clean dirty clothing.
As mentioned before, do not apply direct pressure to reduce bleeding unless otherwise instructed. Instead, get some adequate protection such as a plastic bag or piece of cloth, and place it directly onto the injured area.
Common First Aid Kit Items and Their Uses
First aid kits are essential tools in any home, office, or vehicle, providing a range of items to help in the event of an accident, injury, or medical emergency. While the exact contents of a first aid kit can vary depending on the situation and location, there are some common items that every first aid kit should contain. Knowing the different uses of these items can save your life in an emergency situation.
CPR Pocket Mask
The most basic item in any first aid kit is definitely the pocket mask or larynx tube bag. This should be included in every home safety kit, student kit, and work safety gear. A pocket mask comes with two pieces of plastic sheeting that can be stuck together to make one piece. You roll this up like a bandage and put it in your mouth to preserve your airway while also protecting yourself from fluid and blood.
It is important to know how to use these properly so if you get hit in the head, chest, or neck don’t hesitate to start using them! In fact, the national organization that designs these masks recommends people learn how to do rescue breathing through practice. Rescue breathing means doing quick breath-to-breath actions to ensure oxygen gets into their lungs.
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is an over-the-counter medication often used to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and reduce fever. It is also commonly used to treat headaches, muscle aches, backaches, and menstrual cramps. Ibuprofen is available as both a tablet and a liquid, and it is important to follow the instructions on the package for the appropriate dosage and form.
Antibiotic Ointment
Antibiotic ointment is a topical medication used to treat infections of the skin. It usually contains an antibiotic and a moisturizing agent, and it can be used to treat minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Antibiotic ointment should not be used on deep or puncture wounds, and it should not be used on the eyes, mouth, or nose.
Scissor
Scissors are a vital tool for home health care, as they can help you trim bandages, remove splinters, and even clip fingernails. Choose scissors that are sharp and sturdy, and be sure to use caution when handling them.
Glove
Gloves are important for protecting your hands when providing home health care. Gloves should be worn when cleaning wounds, giving injections, and when handling potentially hazardous materials. Disposable gloves are most often used, and they should be changed between patients.
Band-aids
Band-aids come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, and they are an essential tool for home health care. Band-aids are used to protect minor cuts and scrapes, as well as to hold dressings in place.
Cold Compress
Cold compresses can help reduce swelling, relieve pain, and reduce inflammation. Cold compresses are especially useful for reducing the pain and swelling associated with bumps, bruises, and sprains. Cold compresses can be made with a damp cloth or an ice pack, and they should be applied for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
Having the right home health care supplies on hand can help you manage minor injuries and illnesses quickly and easily. Whether you are using ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, scissors, gloves, band-aids, or cold compresses, having the right supplies nearby can make a world of difference!
Tourniquet
A tourniquet is an item that works to stop bleeding by applying pressure around the injured area. Because it works by cutting off blood flow, it can only be used for small injuries or wounds that do not require much medical attention!
You should never use a tourniquet as treatment if there is ever a risk of serious injury or death. Only use one as a last resort!
Tourniquets come in many shapes and sizes depending on how long you have before help arrives and what kind of wound you need to treat. Use whatever size tourniquet feels comfortable and does the best job!
There are some types of tourniquets that cannot be reused and must be disposed of properly.
Roller Gauze
Another item you will want to have in your first aid kit is roller gauze, also known as wound dressing material or triangle bandage. This can be used for many things, including cleaning wounds, protecting cuts and scrapes, and applying pressure to reduce bleeding.
You may need just one piece of roller gauze at times, but it is better to have several because it tends to get lost quickly. It is best to keep these in an easy-to-access place like a pocket or bag that you carry with you at all times.
These types of dressings can sometimes be expensive so make sure to go down a line or two before buying only needed pieces.
4×4 Gauze Pads
Another item you should always have in your first aid kit is small, square gauzy pads or “blanket” cloths. These can be used to cover large wounds or to soak up the liquid that might spill out of the wound.
These are often referred to as 4-by-4 pads because they are four inches by four inches when folded up (the diagonal fold makes it feel like a larger pad). You also may see them labeled as trauma blankets, washcloth squares, or open-cell foam blankets.
They come in various sizes and colors depending on what applications you use them for. It does not matter which color you pick, however, these things will never go bad! They will retain their shape and strength even after being used for a while.
Something important to remember about these types of first-aid bandages is that they need to be either wet or moist to work properly. If the patch gets dry, then it will just push onto the skin instead of soaking up fluid.
Medical Tape
Medical tape is a very important item to have in your first aid kit because it helps prevent fluid from getting stuck in wounds or cracks and holes. It also aids in immobilizing injured areas, helping limit further damage.
Medical tapes come in many forms such as elastic bandages, wound dressing strips, and skin graft adhesive. They all work by holding closed either surface area or whole body parts together.
Elastic Bandage
These can be used to wrap around objects such as heavy bags to hold them shut, or for more serious situations, they can be cut into half-strips to cover long gaps. Their strength comes from the elasticity of the material so they will lose their shape but rewrap or pull apart later.
Dressing Strip
Similar to an elastic bandage, these can be longer or shorter depending on the need and will break down over time. Like the bandage, they will recover but may take some time to do so.
Two Triangular Bandages
Two triangular bandages are one of the most basic first aid supplies you should have in your first aid kit or backpack. These are also referred to as “figure-8” bandages because they look like an eight shaped object.
You can use these bandages for lots of things, but our favorite way to use them is for wounds that need cleaning but do not require suturing. Simply apply a triangle patch over the wound as tightly as possible without causing pain for the patient, then tuck the loose ends into each other to form a seal.
This works well for abrasions (lacerations caused by broken skin) and superficial (beneath the surface layer of skin) wounds. It will pull together any fluid or dirt that may be present, effectively cleansing the area. For more serious injuries, prepping with two triangles would still be appropriate, but adding another strap or knot at the end helps ensure proper closure.
Sam Splint
The next item in your first aid kit should be an easy-to-find, simple-to-use splint for ankle fractures. This is called a “dorsal foot/ankle bracing” or DFAB brace.
A DFAB can help prevent tendon laceration by supporting the fractured bone while also protecting the tendons that move it. Because the tendons emerge from the back of the knee, they are protected here.
This device has you split your feet up with one leg propped up and immobilized. It then fastens together using straps so that you cannot push down on the broken limb without tightening the DFAB as well.
It is important to remember how to apply this tool properly before using it! Only apply if you have received proper training and know what tools go along with it.
Elastic Bandage
An elastic bandage is one of the most important components in your first aid kit because it has many uses. It can be used to close open wounds, wrap or splint injured limbs, make dressings, and help prevent infection.
Elastic bandages come in several sizes and shapes depending on their use. When buying an elastic bandage, make sure it is durable and won’t break down with repeated use.
Many people start gathering supplies for first aid at around this time every year due to the frequent emergencies that occur throughout the summer. By having a basic first aid kit in place, you will be ready when the next medical situation arises.
Trauma & Injury
Trauma and injury are both common experiences that can have a lasting impact on an individual’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Traumatic events or injuries can range from minor scrapes and bruises to life-threatening circumstances. In either case, it is important to understand what trauma and injury are and how to cope with them.
Trauma is defined as an emotional response to a distressing event. It is a normal reaction to a highly stressful situation and can take many forms, such as shock, fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, and guilt. It is important to recognize that trauma is a normal reaction to a traumatic experience and should not be viewed as a sign of weakness or mental illness.
Injuries can range from minor cuts and bruises to broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord injury, and more. Depending on the severity of the injury, medical attention may be necessary. It is important to seek medical attention right away when in doubt.