Residential First Aid Kits
First Aid Kits are not required for your home. They are certainly useful, whether it’s because you have children, are accident prone, or want to carry one around while you drive around/work around the house.
Although, we do not sell First Aid Kits, most First Aid Kits are sold fairly cheaply by a lot of websites, and stores. We are still here to help, so in order to ensure that you know what you are purchasing, make sure to check out the list of items included. Normally these are listed on the back of the kit, or in the ‘info’ section on the website. If it does not tell you, we highly suggest looking for a different kit. Below are some of the most likely items to be included, and some descriptions.
Small adhesive backed bandages (most commonly referred to as ‘Band-Aids®’, which is a brand by Johnson & Johnson) come in many different sizes. These are going to be the most used item, and are made of different materials. They make ‘Woven Fabric’, ‘PVC’, ‘Polyethylene’, ‘Polyurethane’, and ‘Latex’. The cotton pad is what is used to soak up, and stop the blood flow. These can be medicated, or non-medicated. Band-Aids® have recently announced they will be creating different shades of their famous strips in order to blend in to the skin of the user. Companies also make a bright blue color in order to help find them if you lose one, considering they are technically a hazardous material due to the blood. The bandages are also made to be waterproof, or include a piece of metal to be detectable by metal detectors for food production.
Butterfly Closures, or Butterfly Stitches are used for wounds and lacerations that are deeper than what the small adhesive bandages are used for. These help pull the skin together in order to speed up healing, and blood clotting.
Emergency Blanket, these are used to reflect body heat back to the user. They are usually made with a reflective interior, and a bright colored exterior in case it’s used outside, or to signal someone in a dark area. Usually waterproof, and wind resistant as well.
Absorbent Compress Dressings or Trauma Pads, these are used for larger wounds that have severe bleeding. They come in different sizes, but most woulds can be covered with a 5” to 9” x to 5” - 9” pad. They are usually very absorbent, and able to help stop the bleeding.
Antiseptic (wipes, or aerosol) are used for cleaning the skin that need to be sterilized. Sometimes known as Alcohol pads, or an aerosol spray, due to the alcohol used to sterilize, they have some made of Benzalkonium Chloride, which does not sting like alcohol.
Antibiotic Ointment is used to supplement the bandage used to cover a would, or laceration which can help speed up healing, and some companies claim theirs minimizes scaring.
Instant Cold Compresses have the ability to become cold nearly immediately after ‘breaking’ the divider between the two chemicals inside the packaging. They are used for providing a dry, cool comfort for things like swelling, bruising, toothaches, headaches, and insect bites.
Cloth Tape is a sterile tape used to secure absorbent pads, and coverings for wounds and lacerations by contouring to the curves of the body. Usually breathable, and can be pulled off without pain.
Aspirin is used to treat minor aches and pains, and reduce fever and inflammation.
Latex, or Non-Latex Gloves depending on if you are allergic to latex, you might need to ensure that these are the correct type for you and your loved ones.
Hydrocortisone ointment reduces the swelling, itching, and redness. It is also a mild corticosteroid.
Gauze Roll is used to hold bandages in place, conform to large joints, and can be used to help sprained joints. Usually breathable, and made of woven fabric.
Sterile Gauze Pads usually smaller than the trauma pads, and non-adherent, can absorb fluids and permit wounds to drain while allowing air in.
Thermometer can be either oral, rectal, or even non-contact. Used to determine fevers, and other related symptoms.
Triangular Bandages can be used as a bandage or tourniquet, and to create a sling that reduces tension and pressure on arms, elbows or shoulders.
Tweezers usually made of plastic in the lower tier kits, sometimes made of metal. Used to remove splinters, or other debris from wounds. Plastic ones are usually not as precise.