One of the most essential medical supplies that every family should have close at hand is a first aid kit. With an adequately stocked kit accidents and injuries can be dealt with quickly and efficiently, often without the need to visit a doctor! The key is having the right items in the kit, and the good news is – everything you need is available to purchase from your local pharmacy.
Let’s take a look at what you need to create your home first aid kit – including a shopping list to bring to the local pharmacy!
Start with a Good Container
The first step to creating a good home first aid kit is having a suitable container to keep it in. It is possible to purchase a dedicated first aid box or case at any pharmacy, but you may already have a suitable container available at home. Ideally, you want a roomy, sturdy container which is also waterproof. It needs to be reasonably portable allowing it to be moved from one room to the next, so a handle is a bonus. Things like lunch boxes or plastic containers with latch-top lids are good options. Whatever you end up choosing, it is crucial that it is clearly marked as a first aid kit. You could use alphabet stickers or even just write on the lid with a permanent marker!
Basic Medical Tools
A home first aid kit should be appropriately equipped to deal with minor injuries, and for that, you will need a few essential medical tools. These are all widely available at the local pharmacy, so there should not be any difficulty in obtaining them. The tools to include in a first aid kit are:
- A Small Pair of Scissors
- Tweezers
- Oral Thermometer
- Cotton Balls/Swabs
- Non-Latex Gloves
- Hand Sanitizer
- Cleansing Wipes
First Aid Supplies
With the basic tools in place, the next thing to consider is the first aid supplies themselves. It is important to have things you will need in the event of minor injuries. Everything on the list is available from a local pharmacy.
- Self-Adhesive Dressings (Various Sizes)
- Band-Aids (Various Sizes)
- Gauze Pads
- Adhesive Medical Tape
- Triangular Bandages
- Roller Bandages
- Elastic Bandage
- Bee Sting Kit
- Eye Wash Kit
Medications
It is also useful to have some basic over the counter medications in the family first aid kit. Again, all of these are available at the local pharmacy, and the pharmacist can offer advice regarding their use. One thing to remember is that medications do expire, so check the dates regularly. Good options to include are:
- Pain Relief (Paracetamol & Ibuprofen)
- Anti-diarrheal Medication
- Anti-Histamines
- Cough & Cold Medicine
- Laxatives
- Calamine Lotion
- Hydrocortisone Cream
First Aid Kit Shopping List
To make building that first aid kit even easier, we have taken all of the items mentioned above and created this hand shopping list to print out and bring to the local pharmacy! You can download it here.
Your Hometown Pharmacy Since 1966
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Vaughn Pharmacy is a local, family-owned pharmacy serving the community in Powell, TN. Specializing in providing personalized and attentive prescription programs to our patients, we believe you are more than just a number – you’re part of our family!
(865) 947-1581