First Aid Kit Posts

quidsinquentin

Hope this is ok and does not break thread rules.

I was wondering if anyone has suggetions/experience of first aid kits for MSE'ers.

Thinking of what goes in them, what to keep them in, etc.

We have a shoe box full of odds and ends, but it never seems to fit the bill when something happens. The only practical thing I have is for camping, and its a plastic soap dish (waterproof) held together by a strong elastic band, and whatever I can get in is my kit for camping/walking.

Any suggestions anyone??

Savvy_Sue

I personally think you have to make a distinction between a First Aid Kit (for which there are restrictions on what should / should not be in it if you're using it on other people) and a Household Medical Kit.

If you look at the St Johns or Red Cross sites I am sure they sell First Aid Kits and they list what's in each one. As a good MSE person you'll then see if you can get what's appropriate for you cheaper elsewhere.

But you would not, for example, find painkillers or antihistamine or throat lozenges in a First Aid Kit, yet I wouldn't go camping without them! And at home I keep those things in a little basket on top of the biscuit tin that's got a few bandages in (which I have never had to use in 18 years of motherhood). And also in that tin is a £10 note for emergencies (which again I have never had to call on, and if I did need it I'd probably forget it was there :rotfl: and I'm quite sure the boys wouldn't think to look there although I do remind them it's there whenever we go away!)

quidsinquentin

I've never, ever thought of the money bit - but what a good idea! Thats something I'll do straight away. Cheers already.

As for the St. J and RC, as good as they are (and I've worked with them in the past), I sometimes wonder if they're a bit restricted by law, medical training, etc, as to what they recommend to go in?

Savvy_Sue

quidsinquentin wrote:

As for the St. J and RC, as good as they are (and I've worked with them in the past), I sometimes wonder if they're a bit restricted by law, medical training, etc, as to what they recommend to go in?

I'm sure that's the case. EG I believe in a works First Aid kit, certainly at one point you weren't supposed to have plasters, because people might be allergic to them. And I think you used to put antiseptic washes in, but they came out for the same reason.

In a home 'kit' the first thing I put in is plasters and antiseptic cream. It's about the only thing I've ever had to use. Oh, and on a 'going out and about' kit I usually have Waspeze as well. But I wouldn't necessarily use them on a visiting child ... I always have tweezers and needles in what passes for my make-up bag ...

pavlovs_dog

sue..the money is a great idea, not sure i would have thought of that.

right, well in no particular order, sensible inclusions (IMHO would include)

plasters
antiseptic wipes/cream
sterile dressings in a few different sizes
micropore tape
bandages
eye dressing
eye wash
cotton buds
tweezers
scissors
first aid booklet/guide
painkillers - paracetamol and asprin
throat sweets
soluble stomach settlers - eg andrews
latex gloves
bonjela
deep heat muscle spray
witchhazel cream - for taking sting/itch out of bites etc
safety pins
tissues
and an ice pack/bag of peas in the freezer

muddled_midget

I'd have the above, plus:

anti-diarrhoeals
oral rehydration sachets
antihistamines
maybe cold relief tablets
arnica cream
thermometer
calpol type medicine for children
zinc oxide tape and dressing pads for putting dressings on awkard places like tips of fingers and knuckles that you can't get a plaster to stay on.

I think that would do me!
MM