When a carpenter reaches into the toolbox and can't find the appropriate tool, he may have a momentary setback. Perhaps some time is wasted looking for the tool; maybe the carpenter gets frustrated, but nothing too tragic occurs.
If a first aider gets into his or her first aid kit and can't find certain supplies, there are more serious implications - lives could be lost. Having access to needed items ensures rapid first aid for injured and suddenly ill victims.The following is a breakdown of first aid supplies. It is NOT an all-inclusive list but a highlight of essential items.
- Personal protection equipment (PPE). Several pairs of vinyl or latex disposable gloves (various sizes) should be found in every first aid kit. Fear of AIDS should be enough to motivate everyone to have disposable gloves readily available for use. Though you probably won't carry it in first aid kit, you should have available water and bleach for cleaning up blood spills.
- Rescue breathing equipment. A variety of splinting devices are available to stabilize fractures such as padded boards, air splints, cardboard and SAM splints. While you can improvise splints by using boards, cardboard or newspapers, there is one commercial splint that is reusable, lightweight and small, yet can splint most body parts - that is the SAM splint. One and, even better, two SAM splints are recommended for the serious first aider.
- Wound supplies. A wide range of supplies is used to cover wounds, including sterile gauze dressings. First-aid kits should always have an ample supply of adhesive strips (Band-Aids). A non-sticking type of sterile pad is advantageous for weeping injuries associated with burns and abrasions.
Dressings can be held on with a triangular bandage, roller bandage or adhesive tape.
Open wounds should always be irrigated with water under pressure. Normally a faucet is available for such a procedure. However, such may not always be the case, and an irrigation syringe can provide pressurized water to clean out a wound. A bulb syringe does not apply sufficient pressure for it to be recommended.
- Poisoning supplies. Supplies must be available to treat poisoning. Such supplies would include activated charcoal in a premixed container, syrup of ipecac (not recommended unless a poison control center advises). If in venomous snake country, carry a snake bite kit known as the Extractor. This device does not require the skin to be cut and if applied within the first three minutes has sufficient suction to remove up to 30 percent of the venom.
- Diabetic emergency. Even if you nor your family members are diabetic, this condition is becoming more prevalent. You may not know if the person is experiencing a diabetic coma or insulin shock, but in either case during an emergency give a form of sugar. Sugar in the form of glucose gel (looks like a tube of toothpaste) makes a source of sugar available.
- Other equipment. Many other items can prove useful. Examples include: scissors, tweezers, plastic bags, cotton-tipped swabs, emergency blanket, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion. This is not all-inclusive.
- The container. A kit permits needed equipment to be carried to the victim. The kit should be lightweight, durable, waterproof, quick to open and easy to secure. A fishing tackle box or a tool box work well for carrying first aid supplies. A hard-shell box such as the preceding have been the standard and are in wide use. Recently, soft-side tote bag with zippers and Velcro tabs have become popular.
You should check the kit to be sure everything is in place and available. Supplies and equipment should be replaced as necessary. A kit's supplies should be customized to include those items likely to be used on a regular basis. For example, a kit for a home will be different than one at a workplace or one found on a boat.