Supplying Your First Aid Kit - What You Should Need In A Disaster

After a disaster, it may take some time before any rescue workers can get to you -- rest assured that they are on the way but, depending on circumstances, they are unlikely to be able to reach everyone on day one or two. Your best bet, to assure your family stays safe and healthy until you can be reached by professionals, is to have disaster supplies ready. A very important element in that stock of disaster supplies is your first aid kit. If someone gets hurt during the disaster you'll want to have adequate medical supplies on hand to treat the wound or injury and you'll want to know how to use the medical supplies.

Pre-assembled first aid kits that contain at least most of what you need can be purchased at many places but it would be wise to assemble your own list of first aid needs before purchasing a pre-assembled kit, buying a kit that serves most of your needs and then making supplemental purchases that fit your needs.

A good first aid guide is essential! Not many people, unless they work in a medical field, will have a good enough knowledge of emergency first aid to use a first aid kit effectively without instructions. If the guide that comes with the kit leaves asking questions, replace it with a good one.

Here's a list of what you'll need in a complete first aid kit:

first-aid manual

sterile gauze

adhesive tape

adhesive bandages in several sizes

an elastic bandage

antiseptic wipes

antiseptic soap

antibiotic cream

hydrogen peroxide or other antiseptic solution

hydrocortisone cream

aspirin and a non-aspirin product

a cough suppressant

antihistamine

decongestant tablets

an oral medicine syringe for children

activated charcoal and syrup of ipecac (be careful with this, don't use it unless you know how)

extra prescription medications

one tweezers

a sharp scissors

safety pins (medium sized ones)

instant cold packs

calamine lotion

alcohol wipes

a manual or electric thermometer (if electric, extra batteries should be included in your kit)

two pair (or more) of surgical, plastic gloves

a penlight and extra batteries

a mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Cross)

your list of emergency phone numbers

a blanket (it won't fit in the kit but should be kept on it or under it)

Just a start? That's a good start on the contents of your disaster first-aid kit but so much depends on you location and the kinds of hazards you may face. You might, for example, have a factory near your home that deals with toxic substances; a visit to that factory and a short talk with a safety officer will let you know exactly what you might need in case of an industrial accident -- get it and put it in your kit. In an incident like that you will probably be evacuated from your home and be left to camp out. If your camp out takes you somewhere snake- or spider-bite or scorpion-sting is a real possibility, you'll want the proper treatments in your kit; the same goes for bee or wasp stings, especially if someone in your family might have a bad reaction.

That's a good start on the contents of the kit but consider portability. Certain types of disasters may drive you and your family out of your home or even out of your community -- you'll want to be able to grab your kit and run on very short notice. While a big plastic box is convenient for home use, it might be cumbersome in some situations. Everything will fit in a tote bag or even a back pack (except the blanket!) and they are much easier to grab and go.

Your first aid kit will, no doubt, need to be replenished regularly because it will be used for day-to-day cuts, scrapes, scratches, burns, sprains, etc. This is good because it will keep the contents fresh -- but be sure to periodically check the contents of the kit for expiration dates and replace the items that are out of date.

Have a pet? Pets can get hurt in disaster situations just like people and there are first aid kits available for pets. Check with your veterinarian.