Accidents in the home are unfortunately unavoidable and can happen for all kinds of different reasons. If you live with young children, then it will be all the more important to be aware of how to keep everyone safe. This is because young children will not always be able to be accountable for their own safety.
Although you cannot prevent accidents from happening, you can prepare yourself for them by purchasing simple medical supplies. You may find that large periods of time pass during which you do not have to open your first aid kit, but it will surely be a comfort to know that it is always there.
Home Medical Supplies
Having an adequate supply of the most basic medical items at home is a good idea. However, that does not mean you have to forego buying a more advanced supply. You never know what you might need in an emergency situation, and there is certainly no harm in being as prepared as possible.
Keeping a comprehensive first aid kit in the home is always a sensible idea.It is also wise to have a first aid kit refill system so that you never run out of anything. This does not have to be complicated and can simply involve replacing each item as soon as it has been used.
To prevent the risk of running out of an item, you may also wish to purchase your medical supplies in bulk. This is a very effective and efficient way to always have an adequate store of these helpful items. You might also find that you save money when you buy in bulk.
Your First Aid Kit
When considering what to keep in your first aid kit, you will definitely not want to exclude the following items:
- Band-aids
- Cotton buds
- Medical tape
- Medical gloves
- Gauze
- Bandages
- Safety pins
- Thermometer
- Permanent marker
- Waterproof paper
- Pain relief medication
- Anti-allergy medication
For the majority of incidents at home that require medical attention, these supplies should suffice.
Advanced Medical Supplies
If you wish to be equipped to deal with more serious accidents and emergencies, then you will want to buy additional items for your first aid kit.
A more advanced first aid kit may contain the following items:
- Stethoscope
- Gauze dressings of various sizes
- Elastoplast dressings
- Steri-Strips
- Roller bandages
- Eye patches
- Resuscitation face mask
- Endotracheal tube
- Torch
- Tourniquet
- Splints
There are also many other supplies that could feature on this list, depending on the level of emergency you want to be prepared for.
Preparing Yourself for an Incident
Some people are much better at dealing with emergencies than others. If you know that you do not react well under pressure, then it is important to try and overcome this.
Your inability to provide care to a family memberin an emergency could have serious long-term consequences. Therefore, it is essential that you prepare yourself as best as you can to be able to remain calm and to offer the appropriate treatment.
Role-playing certain emergency situations can help you to know how to respond should they arise in real life. This can be a fun activity for the whole family and can improve everyone’s sense of safety in the home.
