Basic first Aid Kit

It is extremely vital to keep a basic first aid kit at home, while travelling in car or in any organization in order to tackle minor accidents or injuries. They are helpful for safely handling wounds, burns, sprains as well as other common accidents that may occur during day to day work or while travelling.

Due to its small size, a basic first aid kit can be kept anywhere in your bathroom or kitchen at home. Similarly while travelling; it can be easily stored in the car glove box.

As far as the contents of first aid kits are concerned, there is a great variation depending upon the particular needs of an area where it is to be used as well as the knowledge of an individual who prepares it.

For their quick identification, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has set a standard for the kits of being green in colour with a white cross. However, a great variety of kits these days do not follow these international standards probably as a result of lack of awareness of an individual or organization who put it together.

A basic first hand kit includes plasters of different shapes and sizes, dressings which includes sterile eye pads, sterile gauze pads, sterile non adherent pads as well as petrolatum gauze pads, bandages of triangular shape for securing dressings, safety pins, disposable single use gloves, tweezers, Antiseptic cream, Sticky tape, nasal spray or Decongestant tablets, digital Thermometer, spray or cream to relieve insect bites and stings, Antihistamine tablets, Skin rash cream, pain killers such as aspirin or paracetamol, Cough syrup or medicine, Distilled water for the purpose of cleaning wounds as well as Scissors which, though, are used rarely however still included in most kits.

In the United States of America, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration has made it obligatory for all the work places to carry a basic first aid kit with them. However, the contents here once again varry from one job to another as each job has its own risks and injuries which specify their particular requirements and needs.

Nevertheless, a first aid kit, either at home, in car or any organization, should always be kept in a cool dry place. Moreover, the medicines should be checked on regular basis to confirm their expiry date.