What Medical Supplies Make Up a Basic First Aid Kit?

Kids are great. They provide that ray of innocent sunshine into our lives that can make the most curmudgeonly person smile with delight. As any parent knows, they are also little terrors who get into all kinds of situations both safe and dangerous. It is their job, after all, to learn and explore their surroundings. Unfortunately, this means children are going to get hurt and every mother knows the importance of having the right medical supplies on hand in the event of an emergency.

Do not worry – babies bounce' How many expecting or new parents have heard that line? Testing this axiom is strongly not recommended but, if babies bounce then toddlers bruise. As children get older and they can better manipulate their surroundings, they are going to discover things that hurt. While there are developmental advantages to these discoveries, a parent need to have the appropriate supplies on hand. It is time to put together a quality family first aid kit.

There are going to be the run of the mill nicks, scrapes and cuts which will need to be treated. We have all been there as children and most of use will remember the emotional trauma of that boo-boo. Fortunately, that boo-boo can be made better with some antibiotic cream, a band-aid and a kiss. If a mother is lucky, these are going to be the only medical supplies she will need. However, every parent needs to be prepared for any eventuality.

A good first aid kit is going to have various types of dressings. These may be gauze pads or some of the more modern varieties available. Not only can these be used to dress a wound, they can be used to apply disinfectants and the like. A good quality medical tape is also needed. Children tend to move around a lot and pick at things so it is important to have a tape that can handle these high energy situations. Certain types of medical tapes used in sports situations or in swimming can be effective.

Cotton balls and cotton swabs are another needed item. They are quite effective in applying creams and disinfectants. The one main disinfectant every first aid kit needs is denatured alcohol. While kids may not want you to put it on a cut because it stings, it helps in removing stubborn tapes and band-aids. Also, one may want a tincture of iodine on hand as well. This does not sting when applied and it helps keep the area around a wound clean. Of course, a good sterile saline solution would be a nice addition to help clean cuts.

In the event of bruises, a good first aid kit could have a chemical cold pack, a freezer cold pack or, the old standby – the medicine bottle. The medicine bottle is a great addition because it can be used for both cold and warm applications. With a bruise, one fills it with ice and water, wraps it in a damp towel and applies it. For muscle cramps, one fills it with warm water.

Few things are a traumatic for a child as a broken bone. It is important to have slings and splints available. However, do not use them if you are unaware on how to effectively treat a broken bone. While you would be taking the child to the hospital, the chances of causing greater damage is possible if you mishandle a broken bone. It is very good advise to take a basic first aid course to educate yourself about this and other situations you might encounter as a parent.

As you can see, the types of medical supplies a mother needs are not all that great. It should be pointed out that the greatest tool at your disposal is between your ears. If your child is injured, do not panic because it will make the situation worse. If you have taken a first aid course or have the appropriate knowledge or training, you will know what to do and you can treat them appropriately. If you are in doubt, get them to a hospital.