Situations can and will occasionally go wrong. It could be emergencies such as illnesses, accidents or any other unexpected events. Whenever they happen, crises can leave you with little or no time to act. Being prepared for all kinds of emergencies is a critical move that any health or business professional can make. One way of doing so is by compiling a handy first aid kit in advance. This is equipment or materials kept safely in a box at home office or car when travelling. In case you’re planning to travel for a business trip or camping vacation, then you know that there is no chance for illness or injury on such a special day. Therefore, prepare to pack every essential item in your kit.
What should be in a travel first aid kit?
Preparing a travel First Aid kit is one thing and knowing the contents to include is another. A well-stocked emergency First Aid kit is more than just a box with antiseptic cream and bandages. Some of the critical items you should consider packing include:
Equipment for skin-related problems
Skin rashes and other allergies can be very bothersome. The skin care items to pack in a first aid kit depending on an individual’s skin condition. Bandages, wound care and dressings are essential skincare items to have in an emergency box. Adhesive bandages should be perfectly packaged in a first aid box. These are flexible fabrics that have strong adhesive. It sticks to a wound whether wet or dry. Bandages help during cuts, lacerations, burns and grazes. Such situations require immediate action to prevent excessive loss of blood.
Bandages, dressings and wound care items are necessary especially when travelling to areas with a lot of dust and poor hygiene. This is because infections spread fast in such environments in case you experience a cut or bruise on your skin. If you have a wound, then be sure to use these items to clean, cover and reduce the chances of infections. Other items that are great for addressing skin problems during emergencies include perforated tape, plaster refill kit, plaster spray, finger dressing, blister plasters, detectable blue tape, trauma dressing and wound dressing box and many more. CarePlus Sprays are vital in case you plan to go for a long trek. It helps to relax, refresh and cool down tired muscles.
Burns and Fire-related Injury Protection Equipment
Fire is a necessary evil. When it breaks out, it can be very deadly. It is good to be prepared on how to handle unexpected fire breakouts whether in a car or property. The worst thing about fire is that it breaks out anywhere whether in office, home or away. The burns that fire leaves behind require instant attention. Burn kits and items such as gel, dressings, burn care, freeze spray and petroleum jelly are quite paramount when handling slight fire burns. Burns can also occur when lighting match boxes, cooking and much more.
Burn dressings and burn kits come handy, compact and lightweight. They can also last for up to two or more days which is suitable for better personal treatment. They come with sterile gel that helps to cool and soothe the pain. The gel is also helpful in preventing contamination. Burn dressings and kits should always be kept in one accessible location for immediate treatment.
Defibrillators and Resuscitation Equipment
Cardiac arrest is a dangerous condition that you or your companion can encounter while travelling. The condition requires prompt action to improve chances of survival. Before calling immediate 999 for ambulance help, immediate First Aid can help the cardiac arrest patient. The Resuscitation Council of UK has taken a move of providing defibrillators in prominent public locations where victims can access. However, it is paramount to have yours handy. These cabinets are available in both locked and unlocked states.
What is a Defibrillator?
A defibrillator is a unit that directs electric shock to the heart of an individual through the chest when someone experiences a cardiac arrest. It is essential life-saving equipment. Other accessories that go hand-in-hand with defibrillators and resuscitation equipment include Faceshield, Guedal Airway, Pocket face mask and Ventaid mouth to mouth.
Medical Equipment
Basic medical equipment is a necessity in times of crisis. Depending on your preference, you can have various types of medical equipment preassembled in your kit. These items could be tweezers, medical tapes, pain relievers and hot and cold therapy.
Tweezers are ideal when removing glass, splinters or dirt or any other debris from a wound. They are also great when removing stings left by bees. Tweezers help you pick up small items that cannot be handled with bare hands. Tweezers are also necessary in case you’ll be working on small electronic parts.
Hot and cold therapy items such as Instant ice pack, savlon antiseptic creams and hot/cold packs are worth including in travel first aid kit. Icepacks help to prevent swelling and are recommended by most health care professionals. They are easy to use. All you need to do is to break the packaging for the material inside to become activated. Ice packs are crucial first aid kit items because they don’t require any refrigeration.
Antiseptic creams are great for scrapes and cuts. They contain penicillin antibiotics or streptomycin that help to kill disease-causing bacteria. They also include mild anaesthetic that helps to relieve pain and soothe skin thus promoting quick healing. Antiseptic creams are easy to use. It can be applied topically to prevent contact with infection-causing microorganisms.
Medical Essentials
Right from easy care to survival items, a well-stocked first aid kit should be equipped with essential medical supplies. Some of the must-have medical essentials include:
Gauze Swabs
In cases where adhesive bandages are small, gauze pads can help cover large wounds. Gauze pads are small patches of fabric that seal wounds. They are available in various sizes and shapes including square and rectangular. They can also be twisted into bandages and used to absorb blood.
Microporous tapes
These are breathable paper tapes that are used to dress wounds and secure medical tubes. The good thing about these tapes is that they are breathable implying that the skin underneath has a better chance of healing. It is also gentle on the skin and is excellent when managing wounds that require frequent dressing and treatment.
Microporous tapes can also be used to hold bandages and dressings and keep them in place. They can also hold gauze pads on small wounds. If you have fragile or mild skin, then these materials are beneficial to you in case of an injury.
Foil Blankets
These are other First Aid essentials that are designed to help the body to retain heat. They are disposable and are paramount during treatment of shock and injury. During hot conditions, foil blankets help to keep the body cool by reflecting away all the heat from the sun. Foil blankets are made of soft skin-friendly materials such as fleece or wool. They are adequately packaged to keep them clean.
Perforated tapes
These are transparent surgical tapes that can be torn quickly in any direction. It is hypoallergenic and latex-free. The ability to shred in any direction means there are no wastages. Perforated tapes are secure and safe for use. They are also stretchable and flexible.
Medical Zinc Oxide Tape
Zinc oxide is beneficial for the skin. Besides, it is an FDA-approved product that is available in various forms including creams and ointments. It helps to prevent minor skin irritations and burns. It also cures skin wounds and bruises. The other impressive benefit of zinc oxide is that it protects the skin from sunburns and other infections. It also possesses natural anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties that make it ideal for multi-purpose use when doing First Aid.
Wound Cleaners
Wound cleaners are vital for removing foreign debris, exudate, and other contaminants from a wound. You can also use a wound cleaner to dampen a deep cavity wound. The cleaner is gentle on the wound and doesn’t cause any irritation. Wound cleansers help to reduce wound odour thus promoting quick recovery.
Medical Emergency Handbook
This is a book that provides easy-to-follow guidelines on how to prevent, care and treat illnesses and injuries when you are away and can’t access immediate medical response. A medical handbook is paramount regardless of where you’re travelling. It packs helpful information that helps you handle emergencies. However, you should always seek medical consultation from a qualified health care provider before treating severe conditions.
Accident book DPA Compliant is another must-have First Aid item. The book contains 50 pages that help you to comply with RIDDOR requirements and Health and Safety regulations.
Personal Protection Equipment
A travel First Aid kit isn’t complete without personal protection equipment. Items such as latex gloves, nitrile gloves and vinyl gloves are very critical. Disposable gloves help reduce disease transmission when providing care to accident victims or other emergency care. They are often wrapped in pairs for added portability.
Bottom Line
If you’ll be travelling away from home, whether, for business, holiday vacation or camping trip, a travel First Aid kit should be the first thing that to pre-arrange. There are several pre-packaged travel First Aid kits you can find on firstaidstop.co.uk. You can also customise your equipment depending on your individual needs. The above is a checklist of the essential items that should not miss in your travel First Aid kit.
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