Why do I need a First Aid Kit at home?
There’s no place like home is right when it comes to accidents with more people injurying themselves at home than anywhere else. This means that you are more likely to need to treat somebody you know than a complete stranger.
There are a variety of reasons for accidents occurring in the home but the biggest cause of these is human error caused by a combination of impatience, lack of knowledge, carelessness, stress and fatigue.
Accidents can take many forms but among the most common are:
- Falls
- Cuts & bruises
- Burns
- Foreign bodies
- Bumps
By ensuring that you have a First Aid Kit in your home you will be able to treat a large proportion of these conditions using the right products.
What First Aid should I administer?
Burns
To try and take the heat out of a burn the wound should be cooled using tap water. The burn should only be dressed using a non-fluffy dressing.
Epilepsy
Never try and insert anything into a person’s mouth who is having a seizure. Instead try and make the surrounding area safe for the patient and call 999.
Heart Attack
Call 999 immediately. Never give the patient an aspirin as you are not aware of their medical history and therefore do not know if they are allergic to aspirin.
Poisoning
Do not try and induce vomiting as this may cause damage within the airway and cause blockages which may complicate the patients condition.
Sprains & Strains
The injured limb should be rested, elevated if possible, and an ice pack applied wrapped in a cloth or towel. Never apply ice directly to the skin.
