Almost everyone will need to use their first aid kit at one point in life as emergencies can happen at any time, and a well stocked and usable first aid kit can provide relief at an otherwise stressful time.
Off the shelf first aid kits are great, and often have enough space to customise the kit to your needs, but it’s also likely that things you have in your bathroom cabinet or stored at home can come to good use and form part of a simple DIY first aid kit, or be used to top up the kit you already have.
Whilst it is important to have a well-stocked, comprehensive first aid kit at home and in your car, there are many things you can pull together in a smaller bag for on the go! Items like tweezers, sticky tape, Panadol tablets, scissors, safety pins, cold packs, a torch, note pad and antibacterial gel can all come in handy for treating minor injuries, recording information and preventing an injury or condition from worsening.
When it comes to a more comprehensive first aid kit what you need will often depend on your level of first aid training, interests and distance from available medical facilities. For example, if you often go camping in the bush you may require a more complex first aid kit than one in a workplace.
Parents with small children should consider putting in more bandaids (Minion or Frozen bandaids are a hit at the moment with the kids), while those with older children and teenagers should add a few extra compression bandages and instant ice packs for the sprains and strains while playing sports.
If you spend a lot of time on the road, it never hurts to put in a few extra triangular bandages and roller bandages to deal with bleeding should you come upon an accident. In any case a well stocked first aid kit should include as a minimum:
- Emergency first aid information booklet.
- Resuscitation face shield.
- Bandaids.
- Antiseptic alcohol swab.
- Burnaid gel sachet.
- Instant cold pack.
- Gloves.
- Conforming bandage.
- Sterile eye pads.
- Saline.
- Stainless steel forceps.
- Sterile gauze swab.
- Large resealable plastic bag.
- Medium resealable plastic bag.
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- Small resealable plastic bag.
- Non-adherent dressing.
- Notebook with pencil.
- Tape.
- Iodine swabs.
- Rescue thermal blanket.
- Safety pins.
- Scissors.
- Splinter probe.
- Thermometer.
- Triangular bandage.
- Wound closure strips.
- Wound dressing.
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Along with creating a sound first aid kit, is important to ensure your first aid kit is maintained. Small tasks such as the following will help to ensure your first aid kit is always up to date.
- Make sure you know how to utilise all the available tools in your kit.
- Replace items as soon as they are used
- Check the kit every 6 - 12 months
- Ensure the kit has all your current medications (i.e. if you are asthmatic include your preventer and inhaler)
- Check that all items are sterile, sealed and have not passed their expiry date.
You can purchase a comprehensive first aid kit .from our online shop.
How can I improve my first aid knowledge?
The best way to ensure you know how to respond to an emergency and use your first aid kit is to complete a first aid course.
The Royal Life Saving Society of Western Australia offers a range of first aid courses at competitive prices.
Click the link below to find out more.
