Do you keep a first aid kit at home?
@highflyingxangel (9225)
United States
May 25, 2008 7:33pm CST
Growing up, I don't remember a time where we actually had a full kit of things for an emergency. We always had bandaids and some kind of disinfectant if we got hurt and needed to just clean it up and go about our business. We had gauze if we had more severe injuries and we had wraps for those times we sprained an ankle or something. However, we never had a full out kit. If we needed help my grandfather would improvise with what we had. He was a flight medic and could use anything to help an injury or wound. We had a cat here once that was hit by a vehicle and literally ripped open, with it's insides hanging out. He was able to put them back in and stitch the cat up with regular thread and the cat lived. So I guess that's why we never had a first aid kit around the house.
Today, I had to bath a cat and I got two small but kind of deep scratches on my finger. The first place I went after I thoroughly washed the scratches was too a first aid kit I brought home from school. Then I realized just how much those things come in handy simply because the supplies never get thrown around or lost somewhere about the house.
Do you have a first aid kit at home? Has there ever been a time when that kit turned out to be a lifesaver? If you do not have a first aid kit, are you planning on getting or making one?
5 people like this
18 responses
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
26 May 08
We do have a first aid kit and it drives me mad that people are always raiding it for things and not replacing them or telling me so that I can. I have bought several over the years but the plasters always get raided - largely by my women folk to stick on their heels because their shoes rub!! Grrrrr.
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
28 May 08
That totally reminds me of what we did, we improvised for things we needed, usually it was just peroxide and a band aid was all we had. Wow, the cat lived. wow, he was a amazing guy then with a magical healing touch. I do have more of a First Aid kit then I did growing up because my husband is a carpenter and is forever getting cuts and slices from siding and tins and splinters from wood so we have all that we would need, less one ace bandage which my brother borrowed yesterday. I think they are the handiest things to have and you should have them in your car,purse if you carry one,your garage,boats,house, and carry a few band aids in your pocket or billfold for just in cases. Now days they have so many things to use. We even had a snake bite kit but since my dad walked up in the hills for walks we gave it to him in case he needed since we have alot of snakes around my hubby killed 2 just the other day in my back yard a few feet from my house. We are bad for copperheads here.
1 person likes this
@eagle_f15 (1827)
• Malaysia
26 May 08
We have a 1st aid kit at our home. Not a sophisticated one but one that has the basic stuff like plaster, burnol,medicated oil,cotton, ....etc. We've not hadany situation where there was a need to rush to the box for use. But we still keep and place the 1st aid kit in a place where it is accessible to everyone
1 person likes this
@angel41465 (55)
• United States
26 May 08
Before I had kids I didn't keep a first aid kit. Now I have 3 very active little boys. They are always getting scrapes and scratches. Every month I go through it and restock what I need. There hasn't been any injuries that were too major. So it hasn't been a true lifesaver yet. But you never know.
@darkoutlaw (25)
• United States
26 May 08
hmmm come to think of it... i dont think there is one in my home... thanks for bring that up i'll look into getting one
1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
26 May 08
Well what else goes into the kit apart from the ones you mentioned in your childhood box? We pretty much have the same. Some bandaids, a bottle of Dettol, some cotton-wool, some gauze. And yes for the foodie in me, some antacids and digestive pills. A strip of painkillers is a must though for the occasional headache, we also have a tube of pain-reliever gel so that the little monster can be back at his antics after a particularly painful sprain. And also a soothing gel for the accidental burns in the kitchen (though I prefer ice much more).
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
26 May 08
Some people actually put tampons or women's pads in their first aid kits. They are really great at soaking up a lot of blood. Tampons are great for broken noses or in a pinch can be sliced and used to wrap around wounds on the fingers. My partner had to do that when she cut her finger in an art class.
@k1tten (2318)
• United States
26 May 08
I do have a first aid kit here at home. Of course you know that and you know I only got it because of our first aid class. It came in bloody handy though. Not a life saver but when I had it at school it really helped when I cut my finger. Blasted evil exacto knife. I'm glad I do have the kit though. Just in case is better than never having it at all.
1 person likes this
@leeesa (884)
• United States
26 May 08
I have a first aid kit at home and in the car. I've never really needed to use the home one since I always have additional bandaids available. (Seems like bandaids are all I ever use!)
However, the one in the car has come in handy a few times. I needed to use to bee sting wipes several times and the tweezer came in handy for removing a splinter.
I definitely recommend keeping one in the car!
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
26 May 08
My husband is a medical provider. His specialty is combat medicine. He has to keep a lot of his gear at home. We could practically do surgery at our house with all the supplies we have!
We have a few stethoscopes and ottoscopes floating around too.
It's no wonder my 2 year old was trying to amputate her doll's arm a week ago. She is following in daddy's footsteps. She walks around listening to her own and our hearts all the time too.
We are ok in the first aid area in our house. 
@kaysue4 (951)
• United States
15 Aug 08
I have a couple of first-aid kits, but always missing the bandaids. My boys, even though are teenagers, will put a band-aids on the smallest cuts.
@vicneedscoffee (1259)
• United States
26 May 08
I don't actually have a kit, but I do have a cabinet with the supplies I need for an emergency. I just refilled my supplies last month. Having a twelve year old, this is a necessity. I took a first aid course when I was younger and now I tend to keep everything on hand. We keep it all in one cabinet so it doesn't get lost. It can be real handy and is a must in my house.
1 person likes this
@v1ctr0 (82)
• Belgium
26 May 08
Do some people not have one ;p
Yes we do, we have 3 boxes full of stuff. What's in it is just the usual: bandages, medical and the rest. Also we have to keep Iodide tablets xD you know for if the reactor nearby would go boom boom. Also my dad knows a great deal of injuries and things like that and hey, i'm studying sciences so I know a bit. So in case of emergency a kit isn't going to do much on his own, knowledge is required. That's why we have a bookshelf filled with medical books containing pretty much all the things you can get. I feel pretty safe. :]
@agihcam (1914)
• Philippines
26 May 08
We have always gauze, betadine and medicine for emergency purposes. Burn and scratches are common accident that could be happen within our house, so I would definitely agree that we should have some first aid kit at home.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
26 May 08
we never keep first aid kit in our house for as long as i remember... we only have a basic medicines for cold and flu and band aids to heal our wounds when we injured ourselves... that's about it... when we are really sick, we go to the doctor and ask for medicines from the doctor... that's about it... me and my hubby also don't have a first aid kit in our house now... just basic medicines... take care and have a nice day...
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
26 May 08
a first aid kit would be a great idea but I do have
bandages and tape and disinfectant in my bath room
shelves. the kit is so handy as everything is there
in neat order and ready to be used. I am seriously
thinking of gettingone just to have on hand as one
never knows when you may need it. allsorts of little
emergencies do happen in ones own home.
@Adelida2233 (1005)
• United States
26 May 08
Oh good lord,yes. I run into and trip over a ridiculous amount of stuff on a daily basis. I have a deluxe version of a first aid kit, that I believe I got at Target. I also keep bactine, hydrocortisone cream, and nearly everything else you can image could go wrong.
I also have a fairly deluxe one in the car for the same reason, i'm apparently incapable of going for a extended period of time without crashing into something(with my body, I can drive).
@fluffnflowers (1594)
• United States
26 May 08
The only place we have an actual first aid kit is in the car. At the house, we've got antiseptics, bandages, bandaids, wraps, styptic, gauze, stitches, etc. I'm very active and verrry clumsy, so it's pretty neccessarry to have that sort of thing around.
Since I damage myself so frequently, a first aid kit would probably be used up within a couple of days. It's cheaper to buy big bottles and packages of the things in it, for me, and easier to replace things.
