First aid kit
From Free net encyclopedia
A first aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment for use in giving first aid, particularly in an emergency. Most first aid kits contain bandages for controlling bleeding, personal protective equipment such as gloves and a barrier for performing rescue breathing and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and sometimes instructions on how to perform first aid.
Contents |
Placement
The American Red Cross recommends that households and workplaces be prepared for emergencies, which includes having a first aid kit. The first aid kit should be kept in a clearly marked bag or container in an easily accessible location. Vehicles should also have first aid kits, with the size and nature of the kit in proportion to the vehicle's range and potential distance from help. In addition, commercial aircraft carry a comprehensive first aid kit often including cardiac drugs.
The size and nature of the workplace dictates the size of its first aid kit. A workplace with heavy machinery will require different first aid supplies than an office setting. Security personnel may know the location of a first aid kit and be trained in first aid. There are usually legal regulations for the standard contents of a first aid kit required in different situations (for example, in the US those set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and in the UK set by the Health and Safety Executive).
The host of any large gathering of people is responsible for responding to any potential medical emergency. This includes making sure that a responsible person has ready access to a first aid kit.
Schools keep a first aid kit in the main office, whether or not there is a designated nurse. Coaches and other athletic trainers should keep a first aid kit handy during sporting events.
Soldiers carry a rudimentary first aid kit attached to their belt or harness. It often contains a field dressing and powders or ointments to stop bleeding or prevent infection. It is a military rule that you always use the injured person's first aid kit, not your own, to tend to their injuries. You may be needing yours later.
Paramedics, EMTs and other prehospital emergency providers such as combat lifesavers usually carry a comprehensive first aid kit. Often called a "jump kit," this is a large duffel bag. Some of the supplies in a jump kit are beyond the skill of a typical first-aid provider, but common first-aid supplies are also carried.
Lifeguards must have quick access to a well-stocked first aid kit at their place of employment. In Canada, they are trained to the level of "Standard First Aid," and can deal with many first aid situations from a stubbed toe to a victim with C-spine injuries and absent vital signs. Obviously, a lifeguard is no replacement for a paramedic or doctor, but if you require care and a lifeguard is nearby, remember that they have training and a duty to act. Generally speaking, you may not use their first aid kit; they will have to provide care, and write a report per the regulations in your geographical area and the workplace.
Contents
A generic first aid kit is better than nothing. However, the contents of a first aid kit should be optimized for local conditions. For example, a kit for hikers in snake country should have a snakebite kit. A kit aboard a boat should have medications for seasickness.
One list of items for a first aid kit are as follows:
Dressings (Sterile, applied directly to wound) Image:Sparadrap 2.jpg
- Dressing pads:
- Sterile eye pads
- Sterile gauze pads
- Sterile nonadherent pads
- Burn dressing (sterile pad soaked in a cooling gel)
- Occlussive dressing (airtight dressing, can be used to treat a 'sucking chest wound', in which air is sucked into the chest cavity, collapsing the lung(pneumothorax). For this use, occlussive dressings should be taped on 3 sides only, to create a 'one-way valve')
- petroleum gauze (also used as non-adherent dressing)
- Half of any gauze wrapper can be used, since the inside is sterile and air-tight
Bandages (sterility is not necessary, used to secure a dressing)
- Gauze Roller bandages - absorbent, breathable, and often elastic
- Elastic bandages- used for sprains, and pressure bandages
- Adhesive, elastic roller bandages -Very effective pressure bandages or durable, waterproof bandaging
- Triangular bandages - used as slings, tourniquets, to tie splints, and many other uses
Sometimes dressings and bandages are combined, in which case it must be sterile.
- Adhesive bandages (band-aids, sticking plasters)
- straight adhesive bandages
- Butterfly (knuckle)bandages
Image:Disposable nitrile glove.jpg Instruments
- Adhesive tape, hypoallergenic
- Scissors:
- "Trauma Shears", for cutting clothing and general use
- Tweezers
- Bulb syringe
- Irrigation syringe, for cleaning wounds
- rubber suction bulb, for clearing the airway of an unconscious patient
Equipment
Image:Flashlight 450x190.JPG
- Splint(s)
- SAM Splint - Versatile splint made of malleable aluminum covered with foam
- Air splints - Easy to apply, can also help control bleeding, but bulkier and more expensive
- Wire ladder splint
- Personal Protective Equipment(PPE)
- Batteries for radio and flashlight
- Eye cup or small plastic cup
- Flashlight
- Instant-acting chemical cold packs
- Paper cups
- Radio, battery powered
- Space blanket (lightweight plastic foil blanket)
- Sterile eye wash (commonly saline)
- Sterile saline may also be used for cleaning wounds where clean tap water is not available.
- Swabs, sterile non-woven
- Thermometer
- Penlight
Medication (single use packets of medications, ointments, and antiseptics will prolong shelf life, decrease contamination risk, reduce risk of leakage(usually), and save space(for small quantities). If large amounts of a medication are needed, a multi-use container can be used in addition, but keep single-use packets as a backup. For general household use(not in first aid kits), single use packets can be wasteful and bad for the environment
- Antiseptics/antimicrobial
- Povidone iodine wipes - very effective and painless, but messy. Can also be used to purify water
- Benzalkonium Chloride - painless, effective, often includes anesthetic (Bactine brand)
- Alcohol pads - not for use on deep cuts, causes tissue damage and delays healing.
- Antibiotic ointment - single, double, or triple antibiotic ointment in petroleum jelly base(i.e. Neosporin, Polysporin)
- Antiseptic/anesthetic ointment or spray
- Calamine/antihistamine lotion
- Painkillers, fever reducers(Since moderate fevers are beneficial, avoid unless necessary)
- Acetaminophen/Paracetamol
- Ibuprofin - anti-inflammatory, often more effective that acetaminophen
- naproxin - similar to ibuprofin, but stronger and longer lasting
- Aspirin - one 300mg Aspirin tablet may be given to a patient suffering a heart attack, to be chewed slowly.
- Poison treatments
- Activated charcoal - to be used when directed by poison control.
- Syrup of ipecac - to be used when directed by poison control.
Note that regulations some jurisdictions prohibit the provision of "medication" in a workplace first aid kit. As well, many first-aid organizations explicitly prohibit the use of medication by a non-medical professional, as their can be serious legal reprocussions. (See Good Samaritan Law).
Improvisation
First aid can be performed without a first aid kit. Any cloth (preferably as clean as possible) can be used as a bandage. Duct tape could also be used to secure a dressing. Common household items such as a magazine or even sticks can be used for splints. Direct pressure to stop bleeding can be applied with a hand if nothing else presents itself. Obviously it is better to have proper equipment, but improvised equipment has saved many lives.