First Aid Kits

There are two choices to make when buying a first aid kit. The first is whether you want the kit for home use or for travel. The needs aren't the same and may warrant some extra precautions on either side of the fence. Also keep in mind that you don't have to buy a kit. You can make your own if you wish. Whichever type you decide on, below are some very important points to remember.

• Keep an eye on expiration dates: Make sure that anything with an expiration date, like antibiotic ointment  or sunscreen  is kept current.
• Know how to use the items in the kit: Familiarize yourself with a first aid manual  and keep it with the first aid kit at all times. This then assures that you will have a decent grasp of the material in the case of an emergency and that in case you forget any of the details, you can easily access the instructions.

• Help others hep you: Keep a list of emergency contacts in the kit as well as important personal medical details.
• Local police and fire departments phone numbers.
• Names and numbers of family doctors, pediatricians and possibly the family veterinarian or animal hospital.
• The names and birth dates of every family member with information about any food or medical allergies, required medications or other medical needs.
• Be prepared: Learn CPR and take a first aid course if you can. These skills are invaluable and could help you save someones life -- possibly even your own.
• Know before you go: If you are bringing along a travel first aid kit with you somewhere, familiarize yourself with your destination. Some areas may have dangerous or venomous wildlife, while others are notorious for having polluted water. Be sure you know what to avoid and take what you need as a safety precaution. This is also important when traveling to places where they don't speak English.

First Aid Kit Basics

For the home first aid kit, The Red Cross and the American College of Emergency Physicians suggest the following:

Topical Treatments Antibiotic ointment : Prevents infection of minor cuts, burns or scrapes. Antifungal cream : Helps treat jock itch, athlete's foot or a yeast infection. Antiseptic wipes : These help prevent infection from occurring on minor cuts. Hand cleaner : Before treating any condition, it's important to get the hands clean and bacteria-free. Hydrocortisone cream : Used to counteract itching. Hydrogen peroxide : A basic disinfectant with multiple uses.	Oral Treatments Activated charcoal : Helps relieve bloating, gas and indigestion. Antihistamine : A common treatment for allergies. Cough suppressant : Calms a cough. Expectorant : Relieves chest congestion. Decongestant tablets : Used for clearing a stuffy nose or sinus. Pain reliever tablets : Treats muscle pains, headaches, cramps and fever. Aspirin : Best for aches, pains, injuries, arthritis, hangovers and fever. Acetaminophen : Used for minor aches and pains. Syrup of ipecac : Induces vomiting in the case that a poison is swallowed.	Essentials for Cuts, Scrapes, Burns Adhesive bandages : Assorted sizes make patching up a cut or scrape a cinch. Adhesive tape : Can be used for bandaging a wound or for holding a bandage in place. Elastic wraps : Ideal for setting muscles in the case of a strain or sprain. Gauze pads  and roller gauze : These lightweight bandages are good for using on burns or when the skin needs to breathe. Triangular bandage : This is essentially a sling, used for supporting a broken, fractured or sprained arm.	General Safety Blanket : Use in case of hypothermia. Hot/Cold Therapy: For treating aches, pains, sprains, strains and more. Disposable gloves  Plastic bags : Multiple uses. Safety pins : You'll never know when one of these comes in hand. Scissors : All around useful for a variety of needs. Tweezers : A must-have for removing splinters and slivers. Small flashlight and extra batteries: Just in case the power goes out. Water bottles : For washing, drinking, taking medications, etc. If anyone in your family has life-threatening allergies, keep an epinephrine kit  or an EpiPen  in every first aid kit. A roll of duct tape  is always a good addition to any emergency kit and it cures warts too.

Travel First Aid

Beyond the basics, consider when traveling how long you plan to travel (overnight, a week, longer?). Know how dangerous the area you are visiting is (backcountry vs. foreign country). Perhaps even think about how many people of different ages you will be traveling with. These are all important considerations when building a travel first aid kit. You may also want to look into Outdoor Emergency Equipment.

Digestive Support Laxatives : For constipation. Anti-diarrheal medicine : Self-explanatory and very useful when traveling to places where clean water is limited. Antacids /heartburn medication : Bring these if you have a history of heartburn. Bismuth liquid : All-purpose indigestion medicine that is a must-have for many situations. Rehydration packets : Useful when diarrhea occurs in the elderly or young. They consist of salts, sugars and potassium chloride and must be mixed with purified water to drink.	General Travel Sunblock: Sun protection is crucial for preventing burns, skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. Insect repellent : In countries where malaria is frequent, insect repellant may help prevent contraction of the disease from mosquitoes. Motion sickness remedies : A must-have if you suffer from motion sickness in a car, boat or airplane.	Travel to Developing Nations Water purification tablets : A must-have for hikers or those traveling to countries with polluted water. Sterile syringes,  needles  and scalpels : These can be useful when going off the beaten track. Bringing your own condoms  ensures that they are of good quality and have not expired.	Backcountry Hiking Water purification tablets : A must-have for hikers or those traveling to countries with polluted water. Snakebite kit : These are only necessary if the location to which you are traveling has venomous snakes. Blister remedies : If you're walking, touring or doing physical activity, these can make or break your tripe. Moleskin : Helps protect chafed skin. Cigarette lighter : Use it to disinfect. Knife : A multipurpose must-have tool that serves a hundred and one uses.

Car First Aid Kits

The stuff you need for a car first aid kit is basically the same as any other travel kit. It should contain many of the things you find in your home kit, but in smaller quantities and packages. There are a few additional things specific to a roadside emergency that should be in there as well. Here are some basics. For the details, see Emergency Road Kits.

• Cash -- at least $20 -- and several quarters for phone calls.
• Emergency whistle 
• Roadside flares 
• More than one emergency blanket 
• Extra winter gloves 
• Pencil and paper

EHow has a lot of helpful suggestions as well.

Pet First Aid Kits

Most of the things you keep for yourself -- bandages, antiseptics, etc. -- will also be helpful for your pet. Don't administer human medications to a pet unless you have been instructed to do so by your vet since many medications can be harmful to animals.

• In addition to the usual supplies, keep a muzzle, leash and other restraining devices with the kit.
• Another useful item is an Elizabethan collar  to keep your pet from licking or chewing an injury until you can get him or her to the vet.

External Links

Home/General

• TheRedCross.org: Suggestions for the home first aid kit.
• ACEP.org: The American College of Emergency Physicians talks about home kit suggestions.
• BabyCenter.com: First aid kit info particularly geared for families with babies and young children.
• LearningHerbs.com: A homeopathic first aid kit.

Travel/Car

• Travel
• BBC.co.uk: General travel advice.
• FamilyFun.Go.com: Checklist for the travel first aid kit for families.
• TravelDoctor.co.uk: Another checklist -- this one includes vinegar for jellyfish stings.
• NetDoctor.co.uk: Suggestions for medications in particular.
• eMedicineHealth.com: List including brand names.
• EHow.com: Suggestions for a car first aid kit.

• Outdoor/Hiking
• REI.com: Outdoor supplier with useful info about buying first aid kits.
• WildMed.com: Extensive information particularly suited to backcountry expeditions.

Pets

• HealthyPet.com: What you should have on hand if your pet requires medical attention.
• eHow.com: EHow's suggestions for an animal first aid kit.
• CanisMajor.com: First aid kit suggestions for dogs.
• Cats.About.com: First aid kit for cats.
• ThePetCenter.com: Specific first aid information for pets; at the bottom is a list of what to have in a kits for dogs and cats.