Life is full of surprises. Unfortunately, not all of them are pleasant! That’s the case when you or someone in your life is injured. Whether it’s an annoying little scrape or a major wound, it’s always best to be prepared beforehand so you can quickly and efficiently react in whatever way the situation calls for, no matter where you are. 

Why You Need a First Aid Kit at Home

Many of us see our homes as a place of safety, and that’s how it should be. However, that doesn’t mean that you’re automatically protected from all harm when you walk through the door. An injury can easily happen at home. Whether you accidentally cut yourself in the kitchen or you fall off a ladder, you need to make sure you’re prepared for the possibility.

In addition to utilizing caution around the house, you should also make sure you have a first aid kit on hand and ready for emergencies. You also need to be sure it's stored in an easily accessible location that’s also out of children’s reach and everyone in your family knows where it’s located. 

If you’ve never had anyone get hurt at home, that’s amazing! However, you’ll still want to keep a first aid kit on hand in case something does happen, but also in case a natural disaster occurs. When there’s a natural disaster, first responders are often spread thin, and if you’re severely injured, that can be lethal. With a first aid kit on hand, you will likely be able to prolong the victim’s life until medical professionals can arrive on the scene. 

Why You Need a First Aid Kit at Work

While your workplace is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to have a first aid kit on hand, if your place of work is designated as low risk, it may not have basic, life-saving supplies such as: tourniquets, pressure bandages, or chest seals. Even if it does contain these supplies, how many employees know where the first aid kit is stored or if its supplies are expired or not? 

In short, it’s best to take your safety into your own hands and make sure that you as an individual are prepared. What this means is that you need to make sure you have a fully stocked first aid kit that you can reach within a reasonable amount of time from wherever you are working, and that you know how to use the equipment. On top of keeping you prepared, it will also give you peace of mind while you’re on the job. 

What You Need in a First Aid Kit

The specific contents will vary depending on your specific needs, such as allergies, but you can create a good, basic first aid kit with the following materials.

Life-Saving Equipment

• Chest Seal
• CPR Shield
• Hemostatic Gauze
• NPA Tube
• Pressure Bandage
• Space Blanket
• Tourniquet

Basic Everyday Supplies

• Allergy Medication / EpiPen 
• Antibiotic Ointment
• Antiseptic Wipes
  
• Aspirin
• Bandages
• Burn Gel
• Elastic Bandages
• EMT Shears
• Gauze & Non-Adhesive Gauze Pads
• Gloves
• Ibuprofen
• Instant Cold Pack
• Saline Solution
• Splint
• Triangle Bandage
• ZZIPS, Liquid Bandage, or Wound Closure Strips