ESSENTIAL FIRST AID ITEMS YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR CAR
Having a well stocked first aid kit is one of the best ways you can prepare for an emergency. Even the best drivers can get into an emergency, which is why it’s a must to carry an emergency kit filled with essential first aid items in your car. You may be at your child’s football game when your child suffers a sports injury; your family may get into a car accident, or you may need to hunker down in your car to wait out a blizzard. You can find first aid kits for your car already packaged, but it will probably cost you less to pack one yourself, and this way, you can customize it to meet your family’s specific needs.
In this article, we cover what to put in a first aid kit that you keep in your car. The next time you get a free moment, begin pondering about how you will organize your car’s first aid kit, and keep these essentials in mind:
A HARD CONTAINER TO HOLD YOUR FIRST AID ITEMS.
Look for a hard container rather than a pliable bag, since bags can easily get squished when inside your car. When shopping for your first aid container, look for one that is transparant so you have a clear view of the items inside. Tackle box with handles are also great for your car’s first aid kit.
FILL YOUR KIT WITH ESSENTIAL FIRST AID ITEMS.
Your first aid kit should be stocked with everything you need to address an emergency situation. Here is a list of all the first aid items a well prepared person should always keep well-stocked in their First Aid car kit:
- Adhesive Band-Aids for treating cuts
- Adhesive tape
- Gauze pads for treating wounds
- Safety pins for fastening bandages
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic and hydrocortisone cream for skin inflammation and rashes
- Antihistamine for allergic reactions
- Antiseptic wipes to sanitize your hands
- Aspirin, Ibuprofen, or other pain relieving medication
- Aloe Vera to treat mild burns
- Curved scissors—You will need the medical kind that doesn’t have a pointy edge, and is used for cutting clothing away from an injury
- Sunscreen
- Insect bite relief pads
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs
- Vaseline
- Digital thermometer
- Tweezers
- A needle
- Hand sanitizer
- Saline solution for eye washing or cleaning wounds
INCLUDE CHILD AND INFANT VERSIONS OF ANY OF THE ITEMS WE MENTIONED
If you have children or watch over children, include child and infant pain relievers, any prescriptions, child & infant sunscreen, Benadry, baby wipes, and a medicine cup for administering medications.
DON’T FORGET ITEMS FOR SERIOUS INJURIES AND EMERGENCIES.
These are the items that you may need to use in severe emergencies like cardiac arrest, choking, drowning, severe allergic reactions, and car accidents.
- Hot and cold packs
- Gloves for bleeding wounds and other bodily fluids
- A CPR pocket mask for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
- An Epi-Pen for severe allergic reactions
- Trash bags for disposing used items
INCLUDE A CPR AND FIRST AID MANUAL YOU CAN USE TO HELP GUIDE YOU THROUGH EMERGENCIES.
With all the CPR and First Aid training in the world, you never know what you will recall and what might you forget during an intense emergency. You can register for our CPR and First Aid certification class to receive hands-on CPR training and a student manual. You can also include a written guide of the lessons you learned in the class inside your First Aid kit so you remember what to do in the middle of an emergency.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS YOU MAY WANT TO INCLUDE IF YOU HAVE ROOM ARE:
- Water
- Personal items like baby products, allergy, and asthma prescriptions, and anti-nausea medication.
- A blanket, or more depending on the size of your family
- A glow stick or a flashlight with extra batteries
- Hats and gloves
- Diapers, bottles, or cups
- Non-perishable food like granola bars
TIPS FOR USING YOUR FIRST AID KIT
Always disinfect. Open wounds and skin-to-skin contact can lead to infections and the spread of illness. If you have the time, always try to disinfect your hands and the area of injury before attending to a wound.
Stop the bleeding. Apply pressure to any bleeding wound to stop the bleeding before wrapping it or applying a bandage.
Immobilize the injured area. For trauma and broken bones, make sure that the injured area is immobilized without pressure on top of it. DO NOT try to reset or stint the bone yourself.
Perform CPR for nonresponsive persons who aren’t breathing. If a person isn’t breathing and is unresponsive, perform CPR. You can learn how in our hands only CPR Guide.
When in doubt, call for help. For nonresponsive victims in need of CPR, call 911 as soon as you determine that CPR is needed. For those with serious injuries — or for anyone you believe needs extra treatment — call 911.
Restock your first aid kit. After using some of your essential first aid items to address any injuries, it’s important to replace used items. The last thing you want to happen is another emergency to strike while you have an empty first aid kit.
Take a first aid or CPR course. The best way to learn how to use your first aid kit in the event of any emergency is to take a Basic First Aid and CPR certification course that teaches you essential lifesaving skills like CPR, choking relief and AED use.
Take the Next Step With Save A Life CPR And Register Today.
You searched for “what to put in a car emergency kit” and you’ve found your solution. Now that you’ve got some great options for your car’s first aid kit, it’s time to make sure you know exactly how to use it. Take a look at our CPR and Basic First Aid certification class from our excellent team here at Save A Life CPR. Look into our classes offered all over Southern California and choose a date and time that fits into your schedule. Or take your CPR class online.