A first-aid kit is a must for the home, and for other locations, as well. This kit should contain the supplies you need to treat a variety of injuries.
Basic supplies
Evaluating your needs
Checking your first-aid kit
Getting a first-aid kit
First-aid training
Basic supplies
Your kit should contain the following products.
- Sterile adhesive bandages (in various sizes)
- Elastic bandages
- Sterile pads
- Fabric adhesive tape
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic towelettes
- Alcohol wipes
- Absorbent cotton pads
- Peroxide
- Tweezers or splinter forceps
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- Safety pins
- Scissors
- Sterile dressings
- Hot-water bottle
- Thermometer
- Sterile latex gloves
- Dry-ice bag
- Sterile gauze rolls and pads
- Over-the-counter medications (analgesics, antacids, laxatives, anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea medications).
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Evaluating your needs
Using the above list, take a few moments to evaluate your needs based on how you plan on using your first aid-kit. Its contents will vary based on its use: for travel, in the car, when cycling or camping, etc. For example, the kit you keep in your car should include a hand disinfectant, flashlight, gloves and a mask. The kit may also vary according to the season. A summer vacation kit might contain sunscreen, insect repellent and antihistamines, for instance.
A first-aid kit is also the perfect place to store specific medications for a family member. If you or someone in your family has a severe allergy, an adrenaline injector (EpiPenTM) must be added to your kit.
Checking your kit
As is the case for your medicine cabinet, first-aid kits must be checked on a regular basis to ensure, among other things, that the medications it contains have not expired. Expired medications must be returned to the pharmacy, where they will be disposed of appropriately.
Getting a first-aid kit
You can put together your own first-aid kit or simply purchase a pre-assembled one at your local Clinique Santé. These generally contain all the basic supplies you need. There are also compact kits, which provide a smaller selection of products and fewer samples.
Clinique Santé offers the Option+ first-aid kit. It’s perfect for the car, at home or when camping. Ask your Clinique Santé pharmacist if this kit is right for you.
First-aid training
We strongly recommend you update your knowledge of first aid by taking a first-aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course.
When an emergency situation arises, it is very important to remain calm and know how to respond to help the victim. To this end, understanding basic first aid is useful.
In Quebec, recognized organizations such as the Red Cross, Saint-John’s Ambulance and the Heart and Stroke Foundation offer first-aid and CPR courses.
If you have any questions about first-aid kits and basic first aid in emergency situations, talk to your Clinique Santé pharmacist.