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A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you respond effectively to common injuries and emergencies. Keep at least one first-aid kit in your home and one in your car. Store your kits someplace easy to get to and out of the reach of young children. Make sure children old enough to understand the purpose of the kits know where they're stored.

You can buy first-aid kits at many drugstores or assemble your own. You may want to tailor your kit based on your activities and needs. A first-aid kit might include:

Basic supplies

Adhesive tape

Elastic wrap bandages

Bandage strips and "butterfly" bandages in assorted sizes

Super glue

Rubber tourniquet or 16 French catheter

Nonstick sterile bandages and roller gauze in assorted sizes

Eye shield or pad

Large triangular bandage (may be used as a sling)

Aluminum finger splint

Instant cold packs

Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs

Disposable nonlatex examination gloves, several pairs

Duct tape

Petroleum jelly or other lubricant

Plastic bags, assorted sizes

Safety pins in assorted sizes

Scissors and tweezers

Hand sanitizer

Antibiotic ointment

Antiseptic solution and towelettes

Eyewash solution

Thermometer

Turkey baster or other bulb suction device for flushing wounds

Sterile saline for irrigation, flushing

Breathing barrier (surgical mask)

Syringe, medicine cup or spoon

First-aid manual

Hydrogen peroxide to disinfect

Medications

Aloe vera gel

Calamine lotion

Anti-diarrhea medication

Laxative

Antacids

Antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine

Hydrocortisone cream

Cough and cold medications

Personal medications that don't need refrigeration

Auto-injector of epinephrine, if prescribed by your doctor

Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others)

Consider keeping aspirin in your first-aid kit, as well. Aspirin may be life-saving in an adult with chest pain. If you or someone else has new or unexplained chest pain or may be having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Then chew a regular-strength aspirin. However, don't take aspirin if you are allergic to aspirin, have bleeding problems or take another blood-thinning medication, or if your doctor previously told you not to do so.

Never give aspirin to children.

Emergency items

Emergency phone numbers, including contact information for your family doctor and pediatrician, local emergency services, emergency road service providers, and the poison help line, which in the United States is 800-222-1222 .

. Medical consent forms for each family member

Medical history forms for each family member

Small, waterproof flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries

Waterproof matches

Small notepad and waterproof writing instrument

Emergency space blanket

Cell phone with solar charger

Sunscreen

Insect repellant

Give your kit a checkup

Check your first-aid kits regularly to be sure the flashlight batteries work and to replace supplies that have expired or been used up.

Consider taking a first-aid course through the American Red Cross. Contact your local chapter for information on classes.

Prepare children for medical emergencies in age-appropriate ways. The American Red Cross offers a number of helpful resources, including classes designed to help children understand and use first-aid techniques.



