A first aid kit can help you respond effectively to common injuries (bumps and falls) and emergencies. Keep at least one first aid kit in your home and one in your car. Store your kits in easy-to-reach locations that are out of the reach of young children. Check your first aid kits regularly, at least every three months, to be sure the flashlight batteries work and to replace supplies that have expired. Children old enough to understand the purpose of the kits should know where they are stored. Everyone (including children) should consider taking a first aid course through your local provider, first aid for everyone, St John Red Cross, or HSE. You can purchase first aid kits at many local pharmacies or make your own.
Contents of a first aid kit should include:
Basic supplies
- Adhesive tape
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic wipes
- Bandages, including a roll of elastic wrap and bandage strips (Band-Aid etc.) in assorted sizes
- Burn gel or spray
- Cotton balls and cotton-buds
- Disposable gloves x 2
- First-aid manual
- Gauze pads
- Instant cold packs
- Instant hand sanitizer
- Petroleum jelly or Vaseline
- Safety pins in different sizes
- Scissors and tweezers
- Sterile eyewash, such as a saline solution and eye patch
- Syringe, medicine cup or spoon
- Thermometer
- Triangular bandage for arm sling
Medications
- Aspirin and no-aspirin pain relievers (never give aspirin to children)
- Aloe vera gel
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Bonjella (teething)
- Calgel (teething)
- Calpol
- Calamine lotion
- Nurofen
- Olbas oil
- Over-the-counter oral antihistamine (prescribed by your doctor)
- Paralink
- Personal medications that don’t need refrigeration
- Saline drops for nasal congestion
- Sunscreen
- If prescribed by your doctor, drugs to treat an allergic attack, such as an auto-injector of epinephrine (EpiPen, others)
Emergency items
- Emergency phone numbers, including contact information for parents, nanny and your family doctor, pediatrician, local emergency services
- Medical consent forms for each family member
- Medical history forms for each family member
- Small flashlight and extra batteries
- Candles and matches
- Sun cream
- Emergency blanket
