The First Aid Kit Checklist That You’ve Always Wanted

Are you a concerned parent who wants to be prepared for any situation that might happen? Are you an avid outdoors person who enjoys long hikes with little to no crowds?

If you’re worried about what to do in case of an accident or trauma, then you need to brush up on your first aid skills. Being able to handle any situation goes beyond putting on a band-aid and kissing a boo-boo.

You want to know that you can take care of any accident or injury that comes your way. And a first aid kit checklist to help ensure you’re prepared for any situation can give you peace of mind.

From a witnessed heart attack at a public event to an accidental sunburn while on vacation, a well-stocked first aid kit can come in very handy.

If being ill-prepared has you concerned, don’t worry we’ve got you covered. Read on to see exactly how you can best handle an emergent situation. And of course, as promised we have the checklist you’ve always wanted to prepare you for any situation.

The Importance of First Aid

Emergencies don’t seem to come when we’re the most prepared. So, whether you’re having a few friends over for a backyard bar-be-que or you’re heading out to the wilderness for a week-long hike in nature, be prepared for anything.

Sunburns can happen even on an overcast afternoon in your backyard. They can also happen when you’re miles away from help or relief. It will feel good to be able to reach into your camping first aid kit and know that you can fix the problem.

From heatstroke to frostbite and from bee stings to snakebites, you need to have everything you need for any accident or trauma that might occur.

The Golden Rule of First Aid

The first golden rule of first aid is to keep calm. During any traumatic event, it can be difficult to stay calm and keep a level head. But whoever is affected by the accident or traumatic event happening needs you to stay calm and assess the situation.

Don’t run around in a panic. Look around and see what resources you have at your disposal. Is there another person who can run and find help? Do you have a phone you can use to call for more professional medical care?

Once you have assessed the situation and taken the proper steps to notify the professionals, grab your first aid kit, and assess the injured party. Are they in water and need to be dragged to a dry spot? Are they bleeding and need a tourniquet?

Or, are they simply in shock from the traumatic event and need comforting? Sometimes, a simple blanket and reassurance are enough until the proper professionals can arrive.

Types of First Aid

Depending on the type of accident that has happened, you might need differing first aid kits. Some first aid kits will come equipped with a defibrillator. If you witness someone having what looks like a heart attack, find out if this type of first aid kit is available. Most airports, gyms, and swimming pools keep these on their premises.

From dressing a wound to cooling a burn, there are several different types of accidents that you will need to stock your first aid kit to be fully prepared. Different types of kits you should prepare for include:

• Scrapes and cuts
• Burns
• Stings
• Strains and sprains
• Anaphylactic shock

From the weekend warrior who has strained or pulled a muscle to your child who falls off their bike and scrapes their elbow, your first aid kit needs to be prepared to handle any situation.

What Items Should Be in a First Aid Kit?

There are several different types of traumatic events that could happen. A good first aid kit should be able to respond to any of these different types of injury or accident.

You should stock the basic bandages and gauze as well as Neosporin and another antibacterial cream. You should also keep any medications everyone in your family regularly uses including rarely used items such as inhalers and anything that might help if you have an allergic reaction.

This could include an over-the-counter cortisone cream or an epinephrine pen to help your body react to the allergic response.

Emergencies happen when we least expect them. So we need to prepare for the unexpected. Use the first aid kit contents checklist below to prepare for anything.

Your First Aid Kit Checklist

You’ve always wished you could have an easy checklist you could print so you can create your own first aid kit. While it might be impossible to prepare for every situation possible, it is wise to prepare for the basics.

Here are our top 20 items you should include in your first aid kit:

• Bandages and band-aids
• Gauze pads
• Ace wrap
• Adhesive tape
• Antibiotic creams
• Cortisone cream
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Soap or cleaning agent
• Allergy pills
• Eye drops
• Protective pocket mask for giving CPR
• Protective gloves
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Emergency phone numbers
• Medications that are taken by your family
• Ibuprofen or Tylenol
• Sunburn spray
• Sunscreen
• Blanket

You know that first aid kits can help you when you find yourself in a scary situation. Knowing that you’ve planned ahead and that you have the basics in your first aid kit, you can stay calm as discussed earlier.

Stay calm in times of crisis or during a scary accident. Those affected will thank you and you’ll feel great knowing you were prepared.

If You Can’t Do Anything Else

Remember, any help is better than nothing at all. Even if you don’t have the perfect first aid kit at your disposal, you can still help those around you. The top three things that could save a person’s life can be remembered as the ABCs of first aid.

• A – Airway
• B – Breathing
• C – Circulation

First and foremost, ensuring that the airway is open and air can get to the person’s lungs is your first priority. If the person is choking or has thrown up, do a finger sweep and to see if you can remove the blockage. If not, proceed with the Heimlich maneuver.

Second, once the airway has been confirmed open, be sure the person is breathing. If they aren’t breathing but you know there isn’t a blockage in their airway, proceed to give life-saving breaths to the victim.

Lastly, once the airway and breathing have been confirmed, check the person’s circulation. Feel on their neck or wrist for a pulse. If they don’t have a pulse begin chest compressions. If they have circulation but are bleeding, use what you can to stop the bleeding.

While bleeding is scary and might be the first danger you notice, not breathing or having a pulse will kill the victim even if you stop the bleeding. So check your ABCs before moving on the rest of your assessment.

If you’re concerned about not being prepared for a true emergency, you can find first aid classes at your local Red Cross or maybe even your fire department.

Be Prepared for Anything

Whether you’re camping or just want to be prepared at home, having a well-stocked first-aid kit can help you in any situation you might find yourself in. From the trunk of your car to your office or gym, being prepared isn’t just for the boy scouts anymore.

There is nothing worse than feeling helpless or wondering if you could have done more. Take the time now to create your first aid kit and then go over the necessary steps to assess any situation or trauma. If an emergency does happen you will be glad you took a few minutes now to prepare ahead of time.

Use the first aid kit checklist above to ensure that you’re prepared in any situation. Be sure to bookmark this article so you can come back to it again. We have given you not only a list of the physical supplies you’ll need but we’ve also given you tips to handle any accident or traumatic event.

From minor burns to cuts and scrapes you can be prepared for all those incidents that don’t require a trip to the emergency room. And if you find yourself far from any professional medical help, use the tips in this article to assess the situation and provide the life-saving help that might be needed.

For more information on this and other helpful tips, check out more articles on our website today.