Adhesive tape, soap and medical history forms; are all items that Mayo Clinic experts recommended items for your first aid kit.
“A first aid kit is made up of a variety of basic health supplies for emergencies,” said Robert Key, family physician. “These kits should be kept in your home as well as your car.”
Mayoclinic.com offers a complete list of recommend first aid kit items. The list includes:
Basic Supplies
- Adhesive tape
- Gauze pads and roller gauze in assorted sizes
- Instant cold packs
- Scissors, tweezers and a needle
- Soap or instant hand sanitizer
- Thermometer
Medications
- Aloe vera gel
- Aspirin and nonaspirin pain relievers (never give aspirin to children)
- Calamine lotion
- Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream
Emergency items
- Emergency phone numbers, including contact information for your family doctor and pediatrician, local emergency services, emergency road service providers and the regional poison control center
- Medical history forms for each family member
- Small, waterproof flashlight and extra batteries
“Just having a first aid kit put together and with you is not enough. It is also important that you are restocking your kit on a regular basis,” said Key.
Items that typically need to be checked and refilled are: batteries, bandages and ice packs. Although, all items should be checked to ensure that they are working properly and are not expired.
For more information about first aid kits, please contact your local healthcare provider.
