Understanding First Aid Kit

FIRST AID KIT

First Aid Kit is an essential component for home and office.This would help tackle common household injuries most especially with basic first aid training.

Many drug stores, hospital equipment stores and pharmaceutical outlets have already made first aid boxes or kits.

Below is a checklists of some important items in a domestic first aid kit.

1.     Scissors

2.     Forceps

3.     Eye pad

4.     Crepe bandage

5.     Gauze

6.     First aid pamphlet

Other important items in a domestic first aid include

Ø 1% hydrocortisone cream for inflammation and itching from a sting

Ø Antibiotic cream for minor cut

Ø Hand sanitizer

Ø Mild Analgesic drugs like paracetamol. Don’t give aspirin to less than 18years

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First Aid: Snake Bite

SAFETY FIRST

• Get away from snake
• Don't try to capture the snake

BITE AREA

• Don,t elevate the bitten site above the heart level
• Remove the constricting clothing and jewelry from the extremity
• Cover the area with a clean, cool compressor moist dressing/elastic bandage to minimize swelling and discomfort. While wrapping the bite,start from the point closest to the heart and wrap towards the fingers or toes
• Apply a loose splint to reduce movement of the affect area,but make sure it is loose enough that won't restrict blood flow.
• Try to get the patient to the hospital in thirty minutes.The last stated activity is particularly important if you can't reach the nearest hospital in thirty minutes.

DON'T

• Don't cut the bite site
• Don't apply tourniquet
• Don't apply ice to bite site
• Don't try to remove the venom
• Don't waste time getting to the nearest medical attention

Cobra Source: By H. Krisp (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons