What To Include in a First Aid Kit

Your health and well-being is something that you don't want to risk, which is why it's important to always be prepared with first-aid supplies. No matter how hard you try to prevent it, accidents are going to occur. It's just an inevitable part of life. While there's no way to prevent 100% of accidents from happening, you can prepare yourself to better deal with them. Having plenty of first-aid kits on hand can make treating injuries easier, quicker and more convenient.

First Aid Kit Benefits and Uses

First-aid kits are useful in a number of situations. If you are a parent, you are probably well aware of just how common it is for children to fall and scrape themselves. This usually won't cause any serious problems, but you still need to treat it properly to prevent an infection. A quality first-aid kit should have bandages, hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ointment to treat minor scraps and cuts.

A lesser-known benefit to having a first-aid kit handy is that it allows you to treat insect bites. If you spend any length of time outdoors, you are certain to get bit by some pesky mosquitoes. When a mosquito lands on your skin and begins to pull blood from your body, it also releases a chemical that numbs the puncture location so you don't feel it. Afterwords, however, you'll likely experience itching, swelling and minor pain. First-aid kits contain medicine designed specifically for treating insect and bug bites.

Items To Include in a First Aid Kit

You really have one of two different options when it comes to first aid kits: you can either buy a pre-made kit (prices range anywhere from $10 to $150), or you can create your own from scratch. Building your own kit offers a greater level of freedom over what exactly it contains, but it also takes time and work. If you're interested in building your own first aid kit, see below for a list of items to include.

• Bandages (variety of sizes)
• Antibiotic ointment
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Burn ointment/cream
• Cotton swabs
• Tweezers
• Thermometer
• Aspirin
• Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• Sterile gauze pads (variety of sizes)
• 2 pairs of non-latex gloves
• Antiseptic wipes
• Space blanket

These are just a few essential items that every first aid kit should contain. Furthermore, try to get into the habit of checking your kit on a regular basis, resupplying missing or depleted items when necessary.