Everyone should have a first aid kit readily available and properly stocked in multiple locations, but especially at home, in their car, and at work. These are places people spend most of their time in and as a result, places where emergencies are most likely to occur. First aid kits should always be easy to find and retrieve. Otherwise, this defeats the purpose of having one!
In this article, we stress the importance of a first aid kit and outline the equipment considered first aid kit essentials, so you can be sure you’re prepared for the most common emergencies (medical wise) from choking, burns, and bleeding.
What should a first aid kit have?
First aid kit contents may vary depending on where you’re located (rural versus urban area, for example), but for the most part, a standard kit is incomplete without
- Thermal blanket (at least one)
- Instant cold compress (at least one)
- Absorbent compress dressings (at least two)
- Adhesive cloth tape (at least one)
- Tweezers
- Pair of scissors
- A few non-latex disposable gloves
- Antibiotic wipe packets (at least five)
- Antibiotic ointment packets (at least five)
- Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes, at least 25)
- Triangular bandages (at least two)
- Oral thermometer
- Gauze roll bandage
- Sterile gauze pads (at least five)
- Disposable face masks
- CPR breathing barrier with one-way valve
- Flashlight (with batteries)
- Aloe vera gel (for minor burn first aid)
- Cotton swabs
- Plastic bags
- Safety pins
- Eyewash solution
- Hand sanitizer
- Turkey baster or other bulb suction device for flushing wounds
- First aid booklet with instructions
It’s important to continually check the contents of your first aid kit and restock whenever anything is running low. Your kit should have the equipment necessary for first aid for burns, first aid choking, and first aid for bleeding—all of which are the most common emergencies.
What are the 7 steps of first aid?
It’s difficult to prepare or expect to know how to act during an emergency. Nevertheless, knowing how to use your first aid kit and being aware of the 7 steps of first aid is a great start.
Step One: Ensure Safety
Step Two: Call for Help (Call 911)
Step Three: Assess the Situation
Step Four: Provide Basic First Aid Procedures if Necessary
Step Five: Provide Comfort and Reassurance
Step Six: Hand Over to Professional Medical Help
Step Seven (the most important): Complete a First Aid Training Course
Before administering any first aid or tending to someone, you must make sure the situation at hand is under control and safe. You must ensure your safety before you can help someone else.
Next, call for help. This includes calling for attention and assistance from the people around you and calling 911 for emergency dispatch. Listen to what the 911 operator says and follow any instructions they may give you.
Evaluating a person’s condition is necessary before taking any action. Stay calm and focused as best you can. If you are unsure of how to proceed, make sure the injured person is as safe and comfortable as possible while you wait for professional help. Don’t forget to provide comfort and reassurance to the injured person to reduce their panic and anxiety. This will make it easier for them to cooperate if you are tending to their injuries.
If you’ve taken a first aid training course and are confident in your skills, you may perform basic first aid procedures such as CPR, AED, the Heimlich Maneuver, and more. A 911 operator can guide you through this process over the phone.
When emergency services arrive, communicate with them clearly and effectively so that the professionals have as much information to take over the situation confidently.
Finally, the most important step is to receive a first aid training certification. While you should ideally already have this training before any sort of emergency happens, we know that’s not always the case. Experiencing an emergency firsthand should prove to you the importance of knowing how to react and recognize the equipment and skills needed to immediately keep someone safe and alive.
If you already have a first aid certification, it’s always recommended to refresh your training at least once a year, especially for AED and CPR, because skills can quickly deteriorate without consistent practice. Anything can happen when you least expect it. You should also be able to adapt your approach accordingly whether you’re dealing with young children or the elderly.
What are the 5 first aid techniques?
In the face of an emergency where you must administer first aid, there are five objectives to keep in mind.
- Preserve life
- Prevent the escalation of illness or injury
- Promote recovery
- Provide pain relief
- Protect the unconscious
Each objective may not be relevant to every emergency, but together, they define the purpose and necessity of first aid.
Performing CPR and saving a person from choking are examples of preserving life. Attending to wounds and stopping the bleeding is how you can prevent the escalation of an injury. Promoting recovery can involve washing, disinfecting, and bandaging a person. While medical experts do not recommend giving a person pain relief medication, especially if they are actively bleeding, you can provide thermal blankets or ice packs as pain relievers. If someone is unconscious, you must safely remove them from a dangerous environment, whether it be a busy street or fire. Position an unconscious person so that their breathing airways aren’t obstructed and stay close and watch them until medical help arrives.
What is the first aid protocol for choking, burns, bleeding, and bleeding burns?
There are multiple techniques to perform first aid on a choking victim, whether they be conscious or unconscious.
The most common first aid technique for choking (and the one that we would recommend) is the Heimlich Maneuver.
- Stand behind the person choking and place one foot ahead of the other for balance.
- If the choking victim is a child, crouch or kneel behind them and keep your head on their shoulder blades.
- Put your arms around the person’s waist. Make a fist with one hand and grab your fist with the other hand. Keep your hands rested slightly above the person’s navel (belly button).
- Note: If the person is overweight or pregnant, position your hands higher, around their breastbone.
- Next, make quick upward and inward chest thrusts, as if you were trying to lift the person.
- Perform 6-10 thrusts, or until the blockage is cleared.
Burns
For minor burns, cool the burn with cool (not cold) running water for a few minutes. Remove any jewelry or clothing if necessary. Apply aloe vera gel and cover the burn with a clean bandage.
For major burns, call 911 immediately. For electrical burns, make sure the power source is completely turned off. Remove jewelry and other tight items. Cover the burn with gauze or a clean cloth, raise the burned area above heart level, and observe for symptoms of shock. This includes clammy skin, weak pulse, and shallow breathing.
Bleeding
If someone is bleeding, you should know how to stop it. Call 911 if the bleeding is severe.
- Apply pressure to a wound with clean gauze, cloth, or tissue.
- Elevate the wound above the heart level if possible.
- Don’t remove the gauze, cloth, or tissue even if the blood soaks through, add more layers of bandages to contain the flow.
- Keep the injured person as still as possible.
Bleeding Burns
If someone’s burn is bleeding, combine the two protocols listed directly above.
- Stop the bleeding by applying pressure with cloth or gauze.
- Cool the burn by running cool water for a few minutes. You can use a cold compress if running water isn’t available.
- Cover the burn with a non-adhesive, sterile bandage and fasten it with a safety pin.
- Elevate the person’s legs and keep them calm.
Being aware of this is how we can all help keep each other safe and healthy, especially when one of us is in pain and in need of medical attention.