Safety First!

Accidents happen…and they don’t always happen in the most convenient places or at the most convenient times. First, let’s talk about where you should keep first aid kits. The first place would be in all the vehicles. If you have a boat or other recreation vehicle another should be there. In addition, a first aid kit should be in your garage.

You can easily find first aid kits available in stores, but if you are putting a few kits together at one time it will be far less expensive to make your own. In addition to being less expensive, when you put your own kit together, you can tailor make it to fit your particular situation by stocking it while considering the possible injuries you could encounter.

Following is my suggestion for a well-stocked basic kit. Please edit the list to fit your needs. Many of the items below would not necessarily need to be in the kit for your garage, and you may want to add to the list for the kit for your cars and/or RV.

Container:

• Plastic with sealing lid making sure that First Aid Kit is clearly marked

Contents

• Band aids- various sizes
• Rubbing Alcohol Wipes
• Adhesive Waterproof Tape
• Gauze
• Small pair of scissors
• Small flashlight
• Cotton swabs
• Cotton balls
• Baby Wipes
• Insect Repellant
• Sunscreen
• Thermometer
• Tweezers
• Small bottle of water
• Sugar candy (or glucose solution)
• Space Blanket
• Rubbing Alcohol
• First Aid Guide
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Matches
• Power Bar
• Activated Charcoal (for poisoning accident)
• Chemical Ice Pack
• Antibacterial soap
• Disposable gloves
• Hydrocortisone Cream
• Antibiotic Cream

Consider purchasing some individually wrapped medications including:

• Asprin
• Tylenol
• Antacid
• Decongestant/Antihistamine
• Diarrhea medication

NOTE: The above list is an example of items to consider including in a first aid kit. Consult your pediatrician about any items that you include to make sure they are appropriate for your family.

P.S. Clever Parents Editor’s Note: We’re partial to the Medibag, by Me4Kidz (me4kidz.com)