Be Prepared: Not just a motto for Boy Scouts
Accidents happen. Disasters happen. Usually when you wake up in the morning you have the assumption that 16 hours or so later you will be crawling back under the same covers, relatively unscathed and intact. We don’t anticipate running over a nest of yellow jackets with the lawn mower and angering 200 buzzing, stinging insects, or the rain storm turned tornado, that flattens your house with you in the basement, the pan of boiling water we tip off the stove, or missing the last two steps going down the stairs resulting in skinned knees and a bumped head. But these things happen – unplanned and accidental. While we can’t control the universe, especially when we are out there in it but we can prepare our own little corner of the world, our home, for everything from bumps and bruises to major disasters with a little forethought. These examples all come to mind because, except for the tornado, every one of them has happened to me. I KNOW too well that accidents happen.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog my First Aid kit was non-existent. I’d cleaned out the messy “medicine” closet and thrown away old medications, crumpled and torn bandage packages, stretched out Ace wraps. The closet looked great. What I didn’t think about was what really needed to be restocked for emergencies.
First Aid kits come in a variety of kinds and sizes and are available from the American Red Cross and several other sites on the internet. Some can be expensive for what they contain and most only contain the bare essentials. Your home emergency kit should contain what you would need to treat simple injuries around the house: band-aids and gauze pads for covering wounds, antiseptic wipes, rubbing alcohol, peroxide or witch hazel for cleaning wounds, scissors, tweezers, and an antibiotic ointment, Ace wraps for sprains/strains, a pain reliever such as Motrin or Tylenol, at a very minimum. I’m going to give you an extensive listing of what a complete First Aid kit should contain. You can decide for yourself what your need. Keep in mind that we can’t predict the type of injuries that may occur around our house but the better stocked your kit is the better able you are to handle it. Also remember this is “FIRST AID”. It is not, in anyway, replacing the need for follow up with a Dr or Emergency Room for serious injuries. It is to be used to initially treat and stabilize an injury.
The first 13 items are the most important and should be in EVERY First Aid kit:
Items should be together in a sturdy tote or box.
Assorted sized band-aids (large to small)
Packaged gauze pads( 2×2 and 4×4)
Surgical tape
Kling or gauze wrap
Antiseptic wipes or bottle of rubbing alcohol or peroxide
Small sharp scissors
Tweezer and sewing needle
Thermometer
Ipecac
Benedryl or Aveeno Anti-Itch cream
Antibiotic ointment
Pain reliever ( Tylenol or Motrin) adult and children doses
Ace bandage
Additional items:
Cotton balls or cotton pads
Non-latex gloves
Bee sting kit
Calamine lotion
Antidiarrheal medication
Hydrocortisone cream
Aloe vera gel
Triangle bandage for sling
Medicine cup, syringe or spoon for medication administration
Turkey baster (for flushing wounds)
Hand sanitizer
Insect repellant and sunscreen
Flashlight and extra batteries
Instant Hot/cold gel pack
Sanitary pads
Emergency numbers
Medical consent forms for each member of the family
First Aid handbook
- Check your kit at least 2xyear for expired medications, missing items, old batteries.
- Every member of the family should know where the First Aid kit is located in your home.
- Items should be replaced as soon as possible after use
- Prepare children to do the simplest treatments possible.
- Teach children when and how to dial 911.
- Keep and abbreviated kit in your car but do not keep medication in the car due to temperature changes.
Sometimes a First Aid kit may not be enough. We are already seeing pictures of the tornado damage in the southern states this year. We, in Ohio, have had our share in the past. Hurricanes hit our coasts. Earthquakes tumble buildings into rumble throughout the world. Disaster kits – the kind of kit that would help you survive a disaster for 2-3 days- until help arrives or utilities are restored is the Daddy of all “first aid” kits. To have an adequately stocked disaster kit you will need to designate a storage area, most likely an in a basement or area that would be accessible following a disaster. The following are items to be included according to www.disaster.gov. in addition to the items already in your First Aid kit:
Items listed above as “additional” for First Aid kit should be part of your disaster kit.
Battery powered or hand cranked radio, NOAA weather radio
Bottled water – one gallon per person per day for 3 days
Non- perishable food (enough for three days) – canned or sealed vacuum packed food
Flashlight and extra batteries
Candles and matches
Whistle (use for signaling help)
Dust mask
Plastic sheeting and duct tape ( for constructing shelter if needed)
Wrench or pliers (for turning off interrupted utilities) KNOW WHERE YOUR SHUT OFF VALVES ARE FOR GAS AND WATER ! If you don’t know ASK!
Manual can opener
Cell phone, charger and/or solar charger
Sleeping bag or warm blankets for each person
Change of clothes including long pants, long sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes
Regular bleach (not fragranced) 16 drops can purify 1 gallon of water
Fire extinguisher
Extra eye glasses for anyone in the family who wears glasses
Matches in waterproof container
Personal hygiene items – toilet paper, hand sanitizer, tooth brushes and tooth paste etc)
Large plastic bags with twist ties
Paper plates, cups and utensils
Paper and pencil
Pet food if you have pets
Books/games/puzzles to keep children entertained.
These items can be contained in several large waterproof totes and stored under stairways or in basement storage areas. Again, check at least annually for expired food or other items.
Make sure family members know that these items are to be kept for disaster use ONLY and NOT to be used for anything else.
The list looks daunting. Reading reports of disasters daily reminds us however, that with a little forethought and preparation we can handle just about anything nature throws at us. This could be you or your hometown in the news. Are you prepared?
Think about it.