A first aid kit is a basic container in which medications and medical supplies for first aid are stored. The basic supplies in a first aid kit are used to treat minor ailments, mild pain, and small cuts that may occur in any setting. However, if you run a medical centre, the ideal solution would be to have everything in a treatment trolley. The vast majority of people understand what a first aid kit is for, but very few actually know what should be inside it to make it a truly useful and efficient kit in every situation.
A first aid kit should be kept in places such as schools, offices, and homes, and it is important that everyone in those settings knows where it is located. It should be stored in a place with adequate temperature and lighting. Not only the conditions in which the first aid kit is kept are important, but also the contents inside it.
A common mistake people tend to make is leaving it in the bathroom, as this is a very damp environment and causes the medications inside to deteriorate quickly. All products must be clearly labelled and properly stored — in many cases it will be necessary to write the name of the product and how to use it. Another mistake is leaving it in a drawer, as this allows everyone to access it, including children. It is important to remember that it should be kept out of reach of young children.
Basic Contents of a First Aid Kit
Antiseptics
These help combat or prevent possible infections caused by bacteria or viruses. They are normally applied to the affected, burned, wounded, or open area. The most important ones are:
- Neutral soap: Its function is to clean wounds.
- Alcohol: Used to clean first aid instruments.
- Hydrogen peroxide: For disinfecting all types of wounds.
Wound Care Materials
These first aid supplies are intended for cleaning, disinfecting, covering wounds, and stopping bleeding. They also help reduce the severity of burns, insect stings, or animal bites, preventing infection or contamination. The most common ones are:
- Gauze and bandages: For cleaning wounds and stopping bleeding.
- Adhesive tape: Used to keep gauze and bandages in place.
- Cotton: With the help of hydrogen peroxide, it is used to clean wounds. It is a very important element of a first aid kit’s basic supplies.
- Compresses: For stopping bleeding and cleaning wounds.
Medical Instruments
These are tools needed to ensure that the person providing emergency care has all the safety and protection required.
- Latex gloves: Used to prevent contaminating wounds and to protect the person attending to the injured individual.
- Face mask: Worn by the person attending to the injured individual, for the same purpose as the latex gloves — to avoid contaminating or infecting the wound.
- Scissors: For cutting bandages, gauze, or the victim’s clothing if necessary.
- Thread and needle: Used to suture a wound if it is deep.
- Torch: For examining the victim in detail.
Medications
They should be kept in their original packaging so that the expiry date is clearly visible, and medications should never be mixed together to save space. A first aid kit should contain the following medications: Analgesics — these are medications used to relieve or eliminate pain, such as headache or muscle pain.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs: Used to prevent or reduce inflammation that may occur in tissues.
- Ointments: These are various creams used for different purposes. They are applied to the skin to produce some type of benefit for the person being treated.
- Digestive medications: Medications intended to perform various functions in the digestive system.
At Salvador Navarro, we stock all the basic supplies for a first aid kit and all the equipment you need for your centre or practice.