I look in my car and I notice that I have no First Aid Kit on board.  I find it amusing because I do carry jumper cables. I know what I will do if my car battery dies, but what is my plan if I get injured or if one of my passengers is injured?    So I am off to the drug store to stock up a First Aid Kit for my car.  I will be checking to see if our Town Meeting Place is equipped as well.  I encourage us to continue to do our part as contributing citizens in our community. Let’s make sure we are prepared to help our family, our friends, and our neighbors in the case of a First Aid emergency.

The American Red Cross recommends these items:

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
  • Control bleeding (this can also be controlled effectively with roller bandages below)
• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
  • Cover cuts
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
  • Secure bandages (bandages can also be tied off)
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
  • Some folks cannot take asprin (administering drugs should be left toEMS)
• 1 blanket (space blanket)
  • Good for the winter and to help treat for shock
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
• Protection against contracting germs
• 1 instant cold compress
  • Reduce swelling
• 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
  • Protection against contracting germs
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
  •  insect bites, poison oak/ivy
• Scissors
• helpful if tape is included in your kit
• 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
  • For bleeding and for splints
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
  • Open wounds
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
• Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
  • Care can be given without knowing the victims exact temperature
• 2 triangular bandages
  • Very useful for splinting
• Tweezers
  • Splinters and the like
• First aid instruction booklet

Use your judgment and your knowledge of first aid to determine how your first aid kit is supplied.  Many of these items are inexpensive.  Having them at hand can prove very useful.

Marcos Levy
The New Learning Project