Make Your Own First Aid Kit

To take a break from blog posts about the garden, I thought this would be a good time to address a simple preparedness tool- the first aid kit.

As stated in the blog description, "We also recognize that in an emergency, it is better to be prepared than to rely on an outside source for rescue." While any serious health condition should be checked out by a physician, many minor issues can be handled at home. First aid kits should be part of your basic supplies. It is a good idea to keep one at home and one in each of your vehicles.

Most ready-made first aid kits are filled with cheap, limited supplies. You're best bet is to make your own kit. You can find all manner of plastic bins that will work well to hold your first aid supplies. I like to have a mix of allopathic, herbal, and homeopathic supplies. You have to know what to use when, but they make for a comprehensive kit.

Here is a list of useful items to keep in a first aid kit.

• Variety of bandages and band-aids
• Sterile gauze pads
• Cloth tape
• Snips (to cut the tape)
• Hand sanitizer
• Metal tweezers
• Triple-antibiotic ointment
• Hydrocortizone cream
• Calamine lotion
• Alcohol/Antiseptic wipes
• Cotton balls
• Non-latex gloves
• Thermometer
• Breathing/CPR barrier
• Blood pressure cuff & replacement batteries
• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Guiafenesin
• Instant cold compresses
• Ace bandages
• Aloe vera gel
• Lavender essential oil
• Goldenseal Tincture
• Elderberry Tincture
• Arnica gel
• Crystallized ginger
• Kaopectate
• Witch hazel
• Variety of homeopathic tablet remedies

Of course, there are many other things that could be added to a first aid kit. If you have the means to purchase a defibrillator, that would make an incredible addition to your kit. If you have children, then you should add children's formulas of common medications. You could also include any pet medications as well. If you feel the need and have the necessary knowledge, you could also stock up on antibiotics. These can be obtained affordably and without prescription from feed stores.

If you don't have a first aid kit, consider putting one together. While you might not need to use it often, when you do need to use it, you'll be glad that you spent the time building a well-stocked kit.

If you have additional suggestions for items to go into a first aid kit, let's hear them! Post a comment!

Live better, a little every day.