What is the First aid box and What are the purpose to keep at home or at workplace?
Everybody is well familiar about the first aid kits around the world. First aid kits are very important kits to manage different injuries immediately, even minor to emergency situations. These kits are available in all pharmacy where some are completely ready made with all vital items and some are only box where need the help of pharmacist to fill up the first aid box with essential kits.
Though, usually people are accustomed to keep this box at home or in the car or workplaces to take preventive action promptly, but this box is required for every fields because no one knows about the unexpected injuries. All items for first aid kits are readily managed from pharmacy, although, these items can vary according to the place and purpose of using.
Most importantly, all should have a training on how to use the first aid kits and handle common issues as well as urgency. Along with this, select a convenient location to reach easily in case of any injuries but always be careful about kids that they can not reach the box by any means as inside the box have many risky items for children.
Basically, the quantities of the box contents depend on the number of persons present in any place. An entire first aid box contains the following items -
a. Basic Items:
- Different types and sizes of Bandages (Roller/ Triangular/ Tubular Bandages)
- Adhesive cloth tape or plaster of different sizes
- Absorbent Pads in assorted sizes
- Sterile or absorbent Gauze Pads
- Sterile eye patch or pad
- Tourniquet to prevent bleeding
- Antiseptic/Disinfectant solution or spray (either Surgical Spirit or hydrogen peroxide) Wipe packets
- Calamine lotion
- Instant Hot and Cold Gel pack
- Alcohol pad or swab
- Latex free gloves
- Surgical mask
- Hand sanitizer
- Thermometer
- Sterile saline for flushing or irrigation of the affected areas
- Safety pins or clips for holding tightly the ends of bandages.
- Surgical Scissors
- Tweezers
- Solution for washing eyes
- Absorbent Cotton wool
- Rescue Breather
- An emergency Aluminum blanket
- First Aid instruction book
- Variety of antibiotic creams or ointments that are available in pharmacy as over the counter medicines, for example, Creams/Gel/Ointments are used according to the purpose of injuries (Cuts, burns, abrasions, stings, strains, splinters etc.) which made up of some active ingredients such as Beta-sitosterol or fusidic acid or Hydrocortisone or silver sulfadiazine etc.
- Painkillers such as Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Aspirin and so on.
- Pain reliever sprays or gels or creams
- Nasal decongestant drops or spray or medicines for common cold
- Cough medicine or syrup
- Allergic medicines
- Medicines for gastrointestinal problems
- Sore throat lozenge or drugs
- Ensure the availability of all items
- Check on daily or weekly basis if possible
- Check Expiry dates of all items
- Check every items is in good and proper position
- Also, ensure right location that is out of reach of children
- Close the opening perfectly if any semisolid items or liquid used.
- Clean properly If scissor or any washable items used