| A
well-stocked family first-aid kit
is crucial in handling a pediatric
emergency. The kit should be stored
in a tote bag so it’s easy
to carry around. The American College
of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recommends
including the following items in
your home’s Family First-Aid
Kit and training everyone to use
them properly:
| • |
A
first-aid manual |
| • |
Emergency
phone numbers, including
those for the family physician
and pediatrician, regional
Poison Control Center, and
emergency services for police,
fire department, and ambulance
(if 911 is not in your area)
|
| • |
List
of allergies for each member
of your family. If a member
of your family has a life-threatening
allergy, carry appropriate
medication with you at all
times. |
| • |
List
of medications for each household
member, which should include
dosage information and any
side effects |
| • |
Acetaminophen,
ibuprofen, and aspirin
tablets to relieve headaches,
pain, fever, and simple sprains
or strains of the body. Use
proper dosages and make sure
the medicine is age appropriate.
(Aspirin should not be given
to children.) |
| • |
Cough
suppressant to relieve
coughing. Use proper dosages
and make sure the medicine
is age appropriate. |
| • |
Decongestant
tablets to relieve nasal
congestion from colds or allergies.
Use proper dosages and make
sure the medicine is age appropriate. |
| • |
Oral
medicine syringe, medicine
dropper, or medicine spoon,
which allows you to give medicine
to small children more easily |
| • |
Rehydration
fluids for infant diarrhea
or prolonged vomiting |
| • |
Sterile
adhesive strips and gauze
pads. Have a variety of different
sizes and shapes on hand,
including butterfly bandages
(both 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch
sizes) and bandage closures
to tape edges of minor cuts
together. |
| • |
A triangular
cloth bandage to wrap
an injury, make an arm sling,
or hold an ice pack in place |
| • |
Elastic
wraps for wrist, ankle,
knee, and elbow injuries |
| • |
Gauze
in rolls and two-inch
and four-inch pads for larger
cuts and scrapes |
| • |
Adhesive
tape to keep gauze in
place |
| • |
Sharp
scissors with rounded
tips to cut tape, bandages,
or clothes |
| • |
Safety
pins to fasten splints
and bandages |
| • |
Antiseptic
wipes to disinfect wounds
or to clean hands |
| • |
Disposable
cold packs for injuries
and burns |
| • |
Angle-tipped
tweezers for removing
small splinters, foreign objects,
bee stingers, and ticks from
the skin |
| • |
Hydrogen
peroxide to disinfect
and clean wounds |
| • |
Rubber
gloves to protect hands
and reduce risk for infection
when treating open wounds |
| • |
Thermometer
(For babies less than a year
old, use a rectal thermometer.) |
| • |
Petroleum
jelly to lubricate a rectal
thermometer |
| • |
Calamine
lotion to relieve itching
and irritation from insect
bites, insect stings, poison
ivy, and other outdoor ailments |
| • |
Hydrocortisone
cream to relieve irritation
from rashes |
| • |
Complete
medical consent forms for
each member of your family:
These forms authorize medical
treatment to be administered
in the event of an emergency
when you cannot give consent.
|
Reference
“Home
First Aid Kit,” ACEP,
2003.
Writer:
Christine Norris
Clinical Reviewer: Deborah Malloy,
DO
Editors: Andrea King, Joanne Poeggel
Date Written: 12/1/03
Date Last Revised: 12/24/03
Source of
Material: Rockhill Communications,
14 Rock Hill Road Bala, Cynwyd,
PA 19004, (610) 667-2040, http://www.rockhillcommunications.com
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