People often do not see the difference between home first aid kit and a set of medicines in case of a zombie apocalypse. When the world collapses, collect everything indiscriminately. First aid kit should contain such things so that you can provide first aid, stop bleeding and handle small wounds that will heal themselves, cope with simple conditions that don’t require medical professional’s help, for example, mild food poisoning or high fever.
Universal first-aid kit should be organized according to the principle "which medicine for a particular disease." On the boxes of medicines or on the piece of paper (attached to the medicine with an elastic band) write the name of the medicine, for what illness and the method of application. This will make life much easier for you in an emergency situation. So if you are wandering: “what should I keep in my first aid kit?” keep reading this article.
The general rule is to keep medications in a dark, cool place, away from children and animals. When stored, each drug should have its name and the expiration date printed on the package, and it is highly desirable that it says in its own packaging and along with the instruction.
Once in about half a year, it is necessary to look through all medicines in the medicine cabinet, buy mew drugs if necessary and throw out those that expired.
Now, let’s make a list of medicines for first aid kit: what exactly should be in each home? Naturally, the list of medicines will be generalized. If you or your family members have chronic diseases, it is necessary to include specific medications in the first aid kit.
1. Medicines for the treatment of cuts, wounds, burns and bleeding
Hydrogen peroxide, 3%, a set of bandages (it is better to have several sizes), band aids, cotton swabs, tweezers, gloves. People not always have these basic necessities at hand. But, when they are urgently needed, they cannot be found. And if you can find cotton discs in a cosmetic bag, then it’s not so simple with a bandage and sterile napkins. When you get hurt, you do not have time to look for these things all around your house. You need to quickly take dressings and stop the blood, so ensure that the first aid kit is stocked with the right tools.
2. Medical devices
Even people with perfect health should have a thermometer and a tonometer. Body temperature and fluctuations in blood pressure happen to everyone, and treatment depends on the indications of these devices.
3. Pain meds and antipyretic agents
Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Nimesulide are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medicines are known for their very quick action and because they have anti-inflammatory abilities. Practice shows that if the temperature does not decrease from Paracetamol, then Ibuprofen helps; if Ibuprofen failed, take Nimesulide. As medications for headache and toothache they work in different ways, depending on individual tolerability. It is important not to get carried away and do not use all medications one after another, and follow the instructions your doctor and dosage.
4. Medicines for spasms
If you decided to make a first aid kit, make sure that you put antispasmodic drugs in it. A sharp attack of aching pain can be a symptom of a spasm of smooth muscles. Most often we feel spasms in our head (with vascular tension) and stomach (with spasm of the abdominal organs). Modern spasmolytic drugs are safe and effective. But it is necessary to avoid uncontrolled reception of them to suppress pain instead of curing the reason of its occurrence.
5. Antiseptics
What are they needed for? Well, first of all, to treat the wounds and make sure that there are no bacteria. Antiseptics have many uses. In the summer, you can treat feet and armpits so that there is no unpleasant odor of sweat. Treat mucous membrane (even with sore throat). Treat surfaces and various items if you need to disinfect them. Unlike hydrogen peroxide, special antiseptics do not dry your skin. They do not stop bleeding, but wounds that do not require medical intervention will heal by themselves (with the help of a dense bandage). They are among the most common items for first aid kits.
6. Wound healing drugs
First of all — Panthenol or other medicines for the treatment of burns. Burns are one of the most dangerous injuries, which are very difficult to heal. We should say thank you to modern developments in medicine that will cope with minor burns and will help wait for a doctor if the trauma requires doctor’s supervision.
Wound healing drugs in the form of ointments and gels will cope with minor domestic injuries, cuts, abrasions. Even better, if they are combined with an antiseptic in the composition.
7. A set of drugs for flu and colds
Most often, we get sick like this: we have a runny nose, sore throat, cough, high fever. To reduce the temperature, NSAIDs help (they were written about above), for the remaining manifestations of ARVI symptomatic treatment is used. You need to keep these medications at home in the personal first aid kit so you do not have to run to the pharmacy, when you just want to lie under the blanket and sleep. So, what do you need most in the period of epidemics?
Interferon. Many drugs that end with "-feron" help the body to produce antibodies faster to fight the virus.
Vasoconstrictor nose drops.
Meds for a sore throat with antiseptics. Pills and lozenges are taken to tame the pain and ease swallowing. Some contain antibiotics that cannot be used without a doctor’s supervision. Read the instructions and do not eat for two hours after you took medications so that the medicinal substances have time to act.
8. Allergy medications
They are used not only to combat allergic reactions. They also help to remove the edema if you have a cold and get rid of itching after insect bites (if you apply ointment with the drug in place of the bite). See, you really need these items when you’re preparing your first aid kit. Now there is a mass of meds that do not cause drowsiness, based on suprastin, dimethindene, cetirizine, in convenient forms and different dosages for children and adults.
9. Sorbents
They help when you have eaten something spoiled or picked up an intestinal infection. Now there are intestinal sorbents which are easy to apply and which help very effectively.
10. Drugs for constipation
Constipation greatly worsens our life. The problem is solved elementary. You need to choose a cure for constipation with your doctor and store it in the medicine cabinet. These can be tablets, syrups or rectal suppositories. Note also that the medications for constipation for children may differ from such medications for adults.
11. Medications for oral rehydration
They are true friends of sorbents and antipyretic agents. When you have a food poisoning, diarrhea, vomiting, or a very high temperature, your body needs restoration of the water-salt balance. Problems begin when you do not feel like drinking in this state. It is much easier to make an effort and drink one glass of special solution, which will restore strength, than trying to drink a liter of juice or water.
12. Medicines for high blood pressure
This is perhaps the most dangerous medicine among those that we discussed today, but nevertheless they are necessary. If you do not have problems with blood pressure and blood vessels, you should still have such medications in your home medicine cabinet: these are medicines that can be given to a patient in case of hypertensive crisis (one of the most common causes of death in the world) before the arrival of an ambulance.
Important: tell the ambulance what you gave to the patient.
This is practically all that is needed in first aid kits. Of course, here you can add something else, for example combat application tourniquet and protective facial mask for artificial ventilation. We hope that we answered your question: “what to put in a first aid kit?” We also hope that our advice on what should be part of the home medicine kit will help you and you will be prepared for any situation.
