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It is prudent for every family to stock up on basic medical supplies. This is especially so if the family unit includes young children or elderly folk. Some basic medical supplies can go a long way in allaying anxieties. Coupled with some basic first aid knowledge, a lot of minor aliments can be taken care of adequately in the home. What medical supplies you will need depend very much on your family members. For example, families with small children will probably need extra bandages and items for scrapes and cuts. You should also keep a basic First-Aid book in your home and be familiar with its contents before an emergency. In addition, you may also want to join up some classes on First Aid and CPR.
Putting together your home First-Aid Kit
The first thing to do is to select a suitable container. The container should be sturdy and easily identifiable e.g. with a red cross. An example of a suitable container would be a plastic tool kit box. Put a red-cross label on it. The box should be made child-proof. Children should never be allowed access to medicines without adult supervision. The location of the container should be made known to everyone in the family and the contents of the container should be displayed and labelled on the exterior. There are also commercially available pre-assembled first aid kits. Such kits contain the necessary items required in rendering basic first aid. You can then customise the kit to meet your family needs. The following is a list of common equipment and supplies. The list is not exhaustive, and you should feel free to include any items that your family might need. Remember that it is important to check the supplies in the medical kit from time to time to ensure that they are not expired. Contents of a good First-Aid Kit 1.Thermometer glass type or the newer electronic kind The thermometer is used to detect and monitor fever. In the event that fever is not lowered with paracetamol or cold compress, do consult a physician. 2. Small flashlight The flashlight can help when small foreign bodies are embedded in the ear or the nostrils. It can also help you see the back of the throat. A bigger flashlight should also be made easily available in the event of a blackout. - Cotton swabs and a bottle of antiseptic solution
- Antibiotic/antiseptic ointment for wounds eg chlorhexidine cream
Simple wound care measures can be done easily to wash the wound. The wound is first washed under running water and then cleansed with antiseptic lotion. If the wound is just a small laceration or abrasion, an antibiotic/antiseptic ointment can be applied onto the wound. - Rolls or gauze or cling gauze bandages
- Adhesive tape to secure bandages
- Bandage scissors
Crepe bandages can be used to wrap up a wound or to support an injured joint such as a sprained ankle. Instant hot and cold compressesHot compresses can help relief pain in aches and pains. Cold compresses can help bring down a fever as well as reduce swelling in acutely injured joints. - Normal saline solution for rinsing eyes and wounds
- Tweezers
The above can help remove small foreign bodies from the skin eg splinters. Simple medicine These should include: 1.Simple painkillers such as paracematol 2.Charcoal pills for abdominal discomfort 3.Antacids for indigestion Anti-histamines such as piriton and calamine lotion for allergies and runny nose 1.Anti-motion sickness medicine eg. Prochloperazine
2.ough mixtures
3.omotil for diarrhoea
4.elephone numbers of emergency rooms, eg, police, fire departments, ambulance
5.atex or vinyl gloves
6.nsulating blanket
7.aper & pencil
8.rinking cup
9.afety pins In addition to the above, you will need to customize such kits with any additional medication needed by your family members, e.g. ventolin inhalers for asthmatic sufferers. 2012-01-01
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