We’ve talked about food storage and water storage and a few other things this month. Every day we’ve talked about a useful tip to help us all be prepared for emergencies. We have been talking about preparedness all month because September is National Preparedness Month. One of the things that is so important and we made a section for in our Preparedness Binder is having a first aid kit.

First aid kits come in many shapes and sizes, it is easy to buy or make a first aid kit to fit your needs. You can purchase a first aid kit from your local discount store or your local drug store may sell them. You can also make your own first aid kit. Some first aid kits are designed for specific activities or locations like camping, home or car. There are so many different first aid kits but all have one basic thing in common – if we don’t check the contents the kit could be useless in some first aid emergencies.

Years ago I bought a small first aid kit for my car and tossed it under a seat. I thought very little about it and knew I was good because there was a first aid kit in the car. A couple years later I looked at it and realized many of the contents were expired and some things were damaged. A first aid kit is only complete if you check the contents to make sure it is in date and contains all of the needed items. If you buy one or make one, make sure it has the basic items you will need. Need to get your kit ready and updated? Wondering where to start? The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following:

2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)

25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)

1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)

5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)

5 antiseptic wipe packets

2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)

1 blanket (space blanket)

1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)

1 instant cold compress

2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)

2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)

Scissors

1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)

1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)

5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)

5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)

Oral thermoameter (non-mercury/nonglass)

2 triangular bandages

Tweezers

First aid instruction booklet

Do you have any tips or tricks for buying or assembling a first aid kit? If so, share them with us. We love hearing from you. Maybe your tips or tricks will end up in one of our future blogs.