With summer more or less here, the kids are spending more & more time outside, which is great but inevitably there's more chance of bumps, scrapes and the need to get the first aid box out. But is your first aid kit up to the job? After checking mine, there's no way we are prepared for anything worse than a paper cut!
What should you have in your first
aid kit at home?
The First Aid kit is a vital tool in the safe care of minor
accidents. Accidents can happen any time and anywhere, however, more accidents
happen at home than anywhere else, so making sure your home is fully prepared
for a medical emergency is imperative.
Every year in the UK, around 2.7 million people visit A&E
following an accident that occurred at home, a lot of which can be prevented by
implementing various safety measures within the household. Most hazard
awareness comes down to common sense and taking more care when performing
activities that may cause harm to you and others.
The 5 most common accidents in the home are:
Falls:
55% of accidental injuries at home involve falls.
To
prevent this: Ensure any obstacles are cleared away from your floor space
and stairways, spills must be cleared up as soon as possible and care needs to
be taken when climbing up and down the stairs.
Strikes:
about 20% of injuries occur when accidentally struck by an inanimate object.
To
prevent this: Make sure any objects suspended on the wall or on shelves are
placed safely and securely.
Cuts:
almost 9% of accidental injuries that happen involve a cut or abrasion being
made to the body.
To
prevent this: Keep any sharp
instruments in designated areas, out of the reach of children and sterile.
Thermal
effects: 3% of home accidents are burns, scalds and heat blisters.
To
prevent this: use a fireguard, place any potentially dangerous hot items
(pans, irons, hair styling devices, etc.) out of reach and check water
temperatures before serving.
Other:
13% of accidents are caused by stings, poisoning and foreign bodies.
To
prevent this: General awareness of risks and hazards in the household will
instil a level of caution when taking out any household tasks.
Unfortunately, no matter how much caution you take, some
accidents are unavoidable, especially with small children. Knowing what to do when this happens could
greatly reduce any further effects that may incur. Having a first aid kit at
hand will provide basic supplies for most minor superficial injuries in the
home, allowing you to react quickly in these situations.
First Aid kits often vary in the items that they include,
however, there are a few essentials that all kits should include. These are:
- 25 adhesive bandages of various sizes
- 6 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
- 2 sterile gauze pads (4 x 3 inches)
- Eye shield or pad
- Roll of adhesive tape
- Elastic bandage , for wrapping wrist, elbow,
ankle and knee injuries (3 to 4 inches wide)
- 4 triangular bandages for wrapping injuries
and making arm slings
- Sterile cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs
- 2 pair latex or non-latex gloves (worn when contact
with blood or body fluid of any type may occur)
- 6 safety pins to easily fasten splints and
bandages
- Scissors for cutting gauze
- First aid manual
- Alcohol-free wipes
By having these items in your home you could prevent a minor
accident from becoming a major injury.
These items are recommended as standard for a first aid kit
and by Imperative Training,
providers of first aid training.
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