If you have children at home, you know how often they find themselves with bumps, bruises, cuts, and scrapes! That’s why every family needs a well-stocked first aid kit in easy reach. IS yours fully stocked? If not, you can pick up everything you need at your local pharmacy in Powell, TN. Let’s take a closer look at what you need to include in your first aid kit.
What is a First Aid Kit?
Most people will know what a first aid kit is for, but it’s never a bad time for a brief refresher. A first aid kit is intended to help you treat minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, burns, bruises, and sprains. You can also supplement it with additional supplies such as sunscreen, bug spray, pain relief, and cold medicine. In short, when we say first aid kit, we generally mean supplies to treat minor injuries and ailments that most people can handle at home. It won’t typically contain emergency items for larger, life-threatening injuries that need immediate medical attention! You can purchase a first aid kit complete from your local pharmacy in Powell, TN, or you can put together your own kit with individual supplies.
Checking Off the Basics
A few basic supplies need to be included in every family first aid kit to handle common injuries. You can easily purchase these items from your local pharmacy in Powell, TN. According to the American Red Cross, the average family of 4 should keep a first aid kit stocked with the following basic supplies:
- Absorbent compress dressings
- An assortment of adhesive bandages in various sizes
- Adhesive cloth tape
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic wipes
- Aspirin
- Instant cold compress
- Gloves
- Gauze bandages
- Sterile gauze pads in assortment sizes
- Thermometer
- Tweezers
- Triangular Bandages
- Emergency blanket
- Scissors
You may want to add Tylenol, a tourniquet, additional bandages, eyewash, sterile saline, hydrogen peroxide, hand sanitizer, and a felt-tipped pen.
Personalizing Your First Aid Kit
Aside from the basic supplies, you may also want to personalize your family first aid kit with items that specifically relate to the challenges your family members face with their health. For example, if anyone suffers from allergies, you might include an epi-pen or antihistamines in your kit. Similarly, if anyone has a heart condition, you may want a small supply of their medication for emergencies. You can also add a spare inhaler if you have a person living with asthma in the family. Talk to your local pharmacy in Powell, TN, for advice on securing spare prescription items for emergency use.
Maintaining Your First Aid Kit
Your first aid kit is not something that you can just put together and forget about until it is needed. It requires regular maintenance. It is good practice to check your supplies every six months. Look at expiry dates and replace any that have expired. You will also want to replace items you have used up to be there whenever you need them. It is also worth evaluating any changes in health for your family and updating any personal medications you have added to your first aid kits, such as a spare asthma inhaler, epi-pen, or antihistamines.
First Aid to Go!
Your home first aid kit can be reasonably large and contain lots of items to cover a range of injuries and ailments. However, what about all those scrapped knees, insect bites, and sprained ankles that seem to happen on days out with the kids? It is a good idea to put together a small, portable version of your first aid kit to take with you on days out. It should be compact enough to throw into your bag but still contain some of the essentials. The items we would recommend purchasing from your local pharmacy in Powell, TN, include:
- Bandaids
- Adhesive bandages
- Antiseptic Wipes
- Bug Bite Ointment
- Sunscreen
- Sterile Gauze
- Gloves
- Instant Cold Compress
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Hand Sanitizer
This should give you a great starting point for creating your own first aid kit for your family. It may be a good idea to include some additional items. Some people add medications like diarrhea relief, rehydration powders, Tylenol, and Benadryl. If you need any advice putting together your own kit, stop by Vaughn Pharmacy and talk to a pharmacy team member. We are always happy to share advice.
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