Tips for creating a useful first-aid kit

At one time or another, most of us have had the unpleasant experience of cutting a finger on the lid of a can and then rushing around the house searching for a bandage. But when such mishaps happen — and they do happen — make sure your home’s first-aid kit is within easy reach.To get more news about ifak kits, you can visit rusuntacmed.com official website.

From scrapes to bruises to headaches, having a well-stocked first-aid kit is a key part of being prepared. Of course, you should always call 911 if you have a medical emergency, but a first-aid kit protects your household by helping you handle common injuries, illnesses and wounds — and even some more serious emergencies — at a moment’s notice. To be prepared for emergencies, the American Red Cross recommends that you keep a first-aid kit in your home and another in your car.

“First-aid kits are important because in some injuries, time is really of the essence,” says Richard Bradley, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “If someone is bleeding, or if someone is not breathing, you want to be able to start treatment right away.”

Think of your first-aid kit as your home’s first responder, and make sure family members — including your children if you think they’re old enough — and caregivers know where to find it and how to use it. For the kit itself, choose a waterproof container that’s large enough to hold all the items you need. Clear plastic works well because everyone knows at a glance that it’s the home’s first-aid kit.

“It can even be a plastic bag, as long as it’s sturdy and you can find it,” says Bradley, who is a member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. “It should be something that you can find quickly and can easily carry to the place that you need it when there’s an emergency.”

Just like the bottled water, batteries and other preparedness supplies you keep on hand for emergencies, check your first-aid kit’s contents every six months and replace any medications — such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen — that have reached their expiration dates, as well as prescriptions that have expired.

“Otherwise, for most of the other things, such as a barrier device for CPR, gloves, dressings and bandages, most of those don’t expire,” Bradley says. “But make sure that the packages are all intact, that nothing has broken down, that packages have not ripped open.”