How to stock a first-aid kit
Include info such as websites you can use in an emergency
When you cut your finger while cooking, you don't want to wade through a cluttered drawer stuffed with loose Band-Aids, ointments and cough syrups.
Assembling a basic supply of medicines and treatments in one place — along with instructions for how to use them — will prepare you to care for yourself and others.
But you don't need an entire pharmacy at your house.
“Never underestimate the value of warm soap and water, clean Band-Aids and basic medicines for pain, fever, nasal congestion and cold and flu,” said Alexei Wagner, an emergency medicine physician at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif.
We spoke with four physicians about what should be in your kit. The contents will vary depending on your activities and lifestyle. Here are their general suggestions for creating a well-stocked kit without overbuying.
MEDICATIONS TO TREAT BASIC AILMENTS
John Balmes, professor of medicine at the University of California, suggests stocking such basics as antacids and antidiarrheal medicines, oral antihistamines like Benadryl, hydrocortisone cream for skin reactions, laxatives and cough medicine.
Medications to treat inflammation, relieve pain and reduce fevers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, belong in your kit, too.
CHOOSE FORMULATIONS APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR FAMILY
Dr. Wagner has three children under 6, so he keeps children's dosages and liquid medicines on hand. “I always have liquid acetaminophen, Benadryl and powdered Pedialyte because dehydrated kids are usually unhappy,” he said. In addition to rehydrating kids with stomach or intestinal viruses, Pedialyte can boost liquids in children with fevers or other illnesses.
SUPPLIES FOR INJURIES
Antiseptic solution, alcohol wipes or sterile saline solution are useful to sanitize cuts and scrapes and kill germs, Dr. Balmes said. Saline eye wash can help flush irritants from eyes.
He suggests including tools for various situations. Scissors and tweezers help cut bandages or remove insect stingers and splinters. Cotton balls and swabs cover wounds and apply disinfectants or ointments. Non-latex disposable gloves help keep injured areas and your hands clean. Also useful are padded finger splints plus duct tape, which is especially useful when creating a splint or bandage from scratch, but don't put duct tape directly on skin.
Include supplies specific to your needs. Hikers, for example, should have blister packs, tape and splints to treat sprains.
TREATMENTS FOR CUTS, BURNS, SCRAPES AND BUMPS
Supplies that stop bleeding, such as gauze and Band-Aids in various sizes, and a tourniquet for more extreme situations, are essentials in any kit, said Eileen Bulger, chief of trauma at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and co-founder of Stop the Bleed (stopthebleed.org).
“Bleeding is the No. 1 cause of preventable death after injury,” said Dr. Bulger.
To learn how to staunch bleeding, including how to use a tourniquet properly, her organization offers free online courses. “You shouldn't get things you're not comfortable using,” she said.
ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENTS FOR CUTS OR MILD BURNS
Even minor burns can be debilitating and require medical treatment, Dr. Bulger said. Items don't have to be fancy. A bag of frozen peas helps prevent swelling after a fall, she said.
Include instructions for using your kit and important information in case of emergency.
Gather contact information for physicians. Include instructions for prescriptions and how to use life-saving items, such as an EpiPen. Pre-select trusted websites to turn to for guidance, which could include web pages for your health authorities and medical provider. Dr. Balmes also recommends keeping a first-aid manual at home and in any kit you travel with.
AT-HOME CARE ISN'T A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL CARE
“First aid is either for minor injuries that you don't need to go to the hospital for or for temporizing while you're trying to transport to the hospital,” Dr. Balmes said. Injuries that leave you immobilized or cause severe pain or a change in mental status are urgent and require immediate care. He adds shortness of breath to that list, too, in light of the pandemic.
Carolyn Kaloostian, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Southern California, suggests having a scale, blood pressure cuff and thermometer on hand to gather vital information that can give your doctor a fuller picture of your condition and help pinpoint treatment options.
“Knowing basic information helps your doctor quickly eliminate and tailor possibilities, especially if you're seeking care remotely,” Kaloostian said.
CONSIDER HOW FIRST AID AT HOME RELATES TO THE PANDEMIC
Experts have warned about the challenges of the oncoming flu season colliding with the coronavirus, particularly because many mild virus cases present with flu-like symptoms. Dr. Wagner recommends stocking fever and anti-inflammatory medicines, researching how testing and treatment for the coronavirus works in your area and with your doctor, and getting a flu shot.
“If you do get symptoms, take the recommended precautions until you can see a doctor and get tested,” Wagner said.
The doctors encourage people to get medical care if needed.
They noted that the pandemic has made telemedicine more widely available and that hospitals and care facilities have developed and streamlined safety procedures in the months since the pandemic began.
“People should not be afraid to come to the hospital to seek treatment,” Dr. Bulger said.