How to assemble a first aid kit

To assemble the first aid kit, you must first choose the appropriate container, which must be transparent, easy to transport and large enough for all the materials, and then you must make a list of the basic materials that must be present in any kit.

Having a first aid kit is a great way to ensure that you are prepared to quickly help with various types of accidents, such as bites, blows, falls, burns and even bleeding, for example.

The first aid kit can be purchased ready-made in pharmacies, but it can also be prepared at home and adapted to each person’s needs, as a kit to help with domestic accidents, traffic accidents or minor situations when going on vacation.

List of required materials

The contents of the first aid kit can be very varied, however, the basic products and materials include:

• 1 pack of saline solution at 0.9%: to clean the wound;
• 1 antiseptic solution for woundssuch as iodinated alcohol or chlorhexidine: to disinfect wounds;
• Sterile gauze of various sizes: to cover wounds;
• 2 sterile dressings for the eyes;
• 3 bandages and 1 roll of adhesive: help to immobilize limbs or to hold compresses at the site of a wound;
• Disposable glovesideally latex-free: to protect from direct contact with blood and other body fluids;
• 1 pack of cotton: facilitates the application of products to the edges of the wound;
• 1 blunt scissors: to cut adhesive tape, gauze or bandages, for example;
• Tweezers and pins of security;
• 1 pack of band-aid dressing of different sizes to cover cuts and small wounds;
• 1 thermometer to measure at body temperature;
• 1 bottle of lubricating eye drops: allows you to wash your eyes in case of contact with irritating substances, for example;
• Burn ointmentsuch as Nebacetin or Bepantol: moisturize the skin while relieving the burning sensation of the burn;
• Paracetamol, ibuprofen or cetirizine: They are generic medicines that can be used for various types of common symptoms and problems.

The kit with these materials can be used in almost all homes, schools and workplaces, as it contains the necessary materials to deal with the most common emergency situations in these types of environments. Learn what to do in the 8 most common types of domestic accidents.

However, the kit can still be adapted according to the needs of each situation. For example, in the case of sports such as football or running, you can also add an anti-inflammatory or cold spray to reduce inflammation caused by muscle or joint injuries. See what to do in case of accidents in sport.

When you are going on vacation, it is also important to include an extra pack of all the medicines used. In addition, medicine for diarrhea, nausea or stomach problems, and even an ointment for insect bites, can be useful.

How to choose the container

The first step in preparing the first aid kit is to correctly choose the container that will contain all the material. Ideally, it should be large enough but easy to carry, transparent and made of hard plastic, to allow you to quickly observe what is inside and also protect materials from damage.

However, any bag or box can be used, as long as it is correctly marked on the outside with letters indicating \”First Aid Kit\” or a red cross, so that anyone can identify the correct container during emergency situations.

How to keep the kit updated

While placing all the materials inside the container, it is advisable to make a list with the quantity and expiration date of each component. This way, it is easier to ensure that all material is replaced as soon as it is used, in addition to allowing you to assess whether there is any product that needs to be replaced because it is out of date.