first aid manual

First Aid Can Save Lives

Administering first aid to a victim who is injured or ill can be the first step to saving that person’s life. It is important for everyone to have some basic first aid knowledge, since you never know when you might need to use it. The initial minutes after an injury or accident are often the most crucial. Since it can take some time for emergency services to reach a victim, those on the scene first can begin treatment while waiting for the professionals to arrive. Whether there is a need for CPR, shock treatment or immobilization of a potentially broken limb, the help that you can offer in the minutes directly following an accident can have a huge impact on a victim’s recovery.

First Aid Means Being Prepared

It is wise to always be prepared. First aid courses can train you to handle many emergencies that you could possible encounter. A first aid manual can be an invaluable resource when you are faced with a stressful situation and need some additional guidance. And first aid kits kept in your home and car can provide the tools and medications necessary for treating many injuries and illnesses on the spot. It doesn’t take that much time and money to prepare yourself for the bad situations that can arise, and once you have done your homework you can rest in the assurance that you will be able to handle any emergency that might come your way.

A first aid kit can be purchased as a complete set, or you can assemble one yourself with a waterproof box and a few essentials. A selection of bandages, antibiotic ointments and antiseptic towelettes can be used for most cuts and abrasions. Pain relievers, hot/cold compresses and roller bandages can be used for injuries to joints and muscle pain.

Thermometers, tweezers and first aid scissors are handy tools for a multitude of purposes. And for those weak stomachs, antidiarrheals, antacids and motion sickness medications are a must. Latex gloves, towels and ice packs are also good items to keep in stock, as are first aid remedies for outdoor ailments such as insect stings and sunburn. Keep a first aid kit wherever your family tends to spend a significant amount of time: at home, in the car and with your camping supplies. You can even purchase the most compact first aid kit to keep with your bicycle or in your briefcase.

While you may never need to use the first aid training you receive or the first aid supplies that you pack, the knowledge that you are prepared should an emergency arise can give you tremendous piece of mind – and might even help you save a life.

How To Stock Your Home First Aid Kit

Everyone should have a well-stocked first aid kit handy for the home as well as the car. You never know when you will need it, and it is always better to be prepared for an emergency. First aid kits should also be checked once or twice a year to ensure that the supplies have not expired, and refill any items that have been used. There are ready-made kits available at many retailers, but you can also stock your own to ensure that the products you have on hand are good quality items. A plastic shoebox with a snap-top lid can make an effective first aid kit, and fits nicely on a shelf or under a seat in your car. You can also fill a smaller box with some bare essentials to create a first aid kit for the park or soccer games. No matter where you are, it is always a good idea to have some band-aids and a few other supplies available.

The Necessities

Bandages are usually the first basic that people think of when they begin stocking a first aid kit. Bandages of assorted shapes and sizes are a good idea, so you are prepared for a variety of cuts and scrapes. Butterfly bandages should be included to hold cuts closed, and gauze pads can come in handy to help stop bleeding. Include a roll of hypoallergenic adhesive tape to help hold your gauze pads in place. A roller bandage is also a good choice in your first aid kit, to give support to a sore ankle or other joint. Other supplies that you will need to have on hand to treat cuts and abrasions will be antibiotic ointment and latex gloves. A bottle of water and antiseptic towelettes are a smart addition for cleaning and rinsing wounds out before dressing them.

There are a number of medications that your first aid kit should include. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen and allergy medication are both good choices. You can add eye drops, and stomach medications for indigestion and antidiarrheals to round out your medicine inventory. Syrup of Ipecac is also important to have on hand, but never administer it without checking with your poison control center first. Make sure before taking any medication from your first aid kit that the medicine is not expired and check dosage information every time you use it – especially when administering medicines to children.

Last but definitely not least, a first aid manual should be a top priority for your first aid kits, along with emergency numbers for your doctor, pharmacy and poison control. A first aid kit filled with supplies is only useful if the owner knows how to use the items! Don’t wait until an emergency to wish you had a first aid kit on hand; stock it now and rest assured that you will be prepared if an urgent situation comes along.

Never Camp With A Camping First Aid Kit

Camping is a great outdoor activity for both families and friends. As soon as summer arrives, the camping parks and other specially designed places are assaulted by nature lovers. It is absolutely great to spend time amidst nature and leave behind the busy hustle and bustle of the city.

Camping trips are meant to get you in touch with nature, however, you must have the minimum essential to make the trip safe and enjoyable. Here are a few essentials, which you must include on your list in order to have a pleasant and safe trip.

Camping Essentials

Camping is done amidst nature and most of us don’t just go out to camp but also to hike and explore, which also includes a few risks in the process, such as slipping, twisting an ankle, cutting yourself and bites from different bugs and animals that live in the woods.

A camping first aid kit is the most essential item to carry on every camping trip; you may never need it but having a camping first aid kit can save your life.

What Should A Camping First Aid Kit Contain

You can find a ready made camping first aid kit in specialized stores and just keep replenishing the items as they get used, however, if you want to put a camping first aid kit together here is what you must include: isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) which will disinfect any cut or bruise, adhesive bandages of all sizes, analgesic cream and spray, cotton balls, pain relievers, thermometer, gloves and a first aid manual.

A first aid manual in your camping first aid kit will help you assist a major injury such as a sprained ankle or even a fracture. It is important that you know how to react first hand should you be faced with such an injury on your hands, the first action can improve or worsen the situation of the patient considerably.

Other Important Camping Essentials

Even if you are very close to civilization when camping situations can get out of hand, if you don’t carry very simple things, which are essential, such as: inspect spray or cream, warm clothes for evenings and sleeping, essentials for heating or building safe camping fires as well as fire extinguishers.

Camping is a fun and adventurous trip that most families and friends enjoy almost every year and there is no reason why a little accident or mishap (which happens on camping all the time) should spoil your trip this year or any year because you were not carrying a camping first aid kit.

First Aid Training Can Help Save Lives

First aid training classes are available in just about every community for a nominal fee. There is hardly an excuse for not taking advantage of one of these courses. Perhaps you will never be faced with a life-threatening emergency, but injuries and illnesses occur daily, and the first aid training that you can receive will help you handle a number of situations that life might throw your way. There are a variety of first aid training courses available that address adult victims, infants and children, and even pets. It is actually wise to enroll in a couple of these different first aid training courses, since techniques can differ for different types of victims.

First Aid Training Teaches You To Be Prepared

Preparation is the first key to effective first aid training. Once you have run through a training course or two, you can invest in a good first aid manual and assemble your own first aid kits to keep in your home, car and camper. The course that you take should instruct you on how to stock a good first aid kit with all of the necessities. First aid training will help you prepare for many emergencies. Things like a toddler choking on his food or accidentally ingesting something poisonous requires quick thinking and action. Cuts and abrasions can be treated easily and burns can be handled more effectively.

This knowledge can also help you discern when you can offer home remedies for an injury and when you should call for emergency help. Of course, when in doubt you should always opt for dialing 9-1-1. Even if you determine that professional emergency assistance is necessary, first aid training will teach you what to do to stabilize your victim and make him more comfortable while waiting for help to arrive.

First Aid Training Can Empower You

First aid training can give you confidence in knowing that you are capable of handling the situations that life might throw at you. If you are a parent, knowing first aid assures you that if something happens to one of your children, you will be able to help your child in the most effective way. The knowledge that you are prepared to handle emergencies on your own can give you a feeling of empowerment and self-assuredness. The ability to provide quick help to a victim can even make the difference between life and death. With so many advantages to having first aid training under your belt, why not check into registering for a first aid training course today?

Guide To Putting Together A Basic First Aid Kit

Accidents happen all the time or, better said, when you least expect it, therefore, you have to be ready to handle the situation when it occurs as, at times, your life may depend on it.

A basic first aid kit should be made available at all the locations you spend a considerable amount of time at, such as in your house, car or office. A basic first aid kit may not look like much, but in case of an emergency it can actually save your life.

Basic Items For A Basic First Aid Kit

The first thing to do for a first aid kit is to find a container that is moisture resistant and is clearly marked for all to notice as ‘first aid kit’. First aid kit boxes are available ready made, as well, in all drug and department stores or you can put it together yourself.

Here are the basic items that a basic first aid kit should contain at any given time in order to be able to be of any assistance in case of emergency: first aid manual, this is extremely important because there may be times when you are faced with a situation which you cannot resolve by yourself but you can help once you look up in the manual; gloves will help you keep both yourself and the wound you’re dealing with clean, sharp scissors to cut any cloth involved but with blunt nose so it does not hurt anyone in the process.

Sterile gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic cream, hydrocortisone cream, rubbing alcohol and pain killers are must haves in a basic first aid kit. There are more things you can add to it in order to make it complete for your needs such as your prescription medications and any other instructions that you think may help save your life in case of emergency.

Educate Yourself

When you have some time on your hands, and/or if there is anyone in your home with a specific medical condition, try and educate yourself in the area in case of any emergency. First aid in an emergency situation can save a life and can make you feel good to be the one responsible for such a good deed.

When you are not sure of a procedure, it’s better that you check rather than perform it the wrong way, especially if you are doing something really important such as CPR, which, when done wrong, can easily cost someone’s life or serious complications.

Basic first aid kits are meant to provide the basic help until professional assistance arrives, so, get your kit together and learn how to use it in case of emergency, you never know whose life you may have in your hands tomorrow or who may save your life with your well stocked basic first aid kit.

The Importance Of An Emergency First Aid Kit

Our health is the most important factor that we have to deal with everyday and, in order to do so, we ensure a clean environment at work and in our house. There are, however, many other factors that we don’t take into consideration everyday but for which we must be prepared such as an accident at work or in traffic. Anything can happen, therefore, you must always have an emergency first aid kit handy.

Prepare For The Worst

Prevention is better than cure they say and this is what an emergency first aid kit is designed to do. An emergency first aid kit should be placed in your home, car and place of work as well. If you have a serious medical conditions which will put your life at risk, in case of an accident and in lack of some medication, that is the first thing to include and mention in your emergency first aid kit.

The emergency first aid kits contain standard supplies of bandages, rubbing alcohol, pain killers, antihistamine tables, adhesive bandages of all sizes, disinfectant cream or spray, thermometer, scissors, gloves, safety pins and, if possible, a torch as well.

Where To Buy A Ready Made Emergency First Aid Kit

You can find emergency first aid kits in all major drug and department stores with all the required items included. There are different sizes of emergency first aid kits available as well to fit in your car, office drawer, handbag or bathroom closet.

You can also put together your own first aid kit or simply add to the existent one with other necessary items, which you feel you may need in case of emergency.

Helpful Tips

An emergency first aid kit can save your life or those of others who may be in need, therefore, take the time to put one together for all the places where you spend considerable amounts of time.

It is also essential you keep a first aid manual close by, as well, in case you may come across certain emergencies that you don’t know how to handle. All first aid manuals will have first aid help described for almost all types of emergencies.

In case you should be faced with a real emergency which you don’t know how to handle, the first and most important thing to remember is not to panic and then try to call for help should you not be able to figure how to help the person in need.

Meanwhile, if you ever have the chance and have free time on your hands, try and go through some of the basic first aid procedures which will come extremely handy in case you are faced with an emergency.

Understanding How To Administer First Aid For Burn Treatment

Burns are not an unusual injury in households, particularly in bathroom and kitchen accidents. The key to effective first aid burn treatment is the ability to assess how severe the burn is, and then taking appropriate action. There are three degrees of burns, and first aid treatment varies depending on which degree you are dealing with. If the burn is extremely severe or covers a large area, immediate medical assistance may be required. For minor burns and many burns that are no larger than an inch or two in diameter, first aid burn treatment at home may be all that is required. The differences between the various degrees of burns are the size of the area that has been affected and the extent of the damage to body tissues.

First Aid Treatment For First Degree Burns

First degree burns only affect the top layer of skin, and are the easiest to treat at home. The first step in the first aid treatment of a first degree burn is to cool the burned area by holding it under cold water or applying a cold compress until the pain subsides. Use cold water only – never use ice. Cooling the area right away will help reduce swelling. The next step is to cover the burned area by loosely placing a gauze wrap over it. This will protect the affected area and alleviate the pain of the burn. Finally, you can administer a pain reliever like acetaminophen if necessary. It is not necessary to rub anything on the burn itself.

First Aid Treatment Of More Serious Burns

Large second degree burns and all third degree burns will probably require immediate medical attention. If the burn is severe, the first step is to call for emergency help. You can then assess the victim to determine if there is any first aid burn treatment that you can use while waiting for help. Never put cold water on a major burn, since this could put your victim into shock. Do not remove any burnt clothing from the burn victim. Cover the area with a clean gauze bandage or moist towels, and check the person for signs of circulation. If there is no sign of breathing, begin CPR immediately.

With some quick thinking and fast first aid burn treatment, you can help a victim of a burn until emergency services arrive. Keep bandages in your house for an emergency involving burns and a first aid manual that can guide you through first aid burn treatment.

The Importance Of Having A First Aid Manual Around The Home

Imagine that it is about eight o’clock in the evening and your little boy is experiencing abdominal pain. Nothing can be more heart-wrenching than to see your child suffering. Would you know the difference between a possible appendicitis attack, constipation or simply something he ate that did not agree with him. Or, if your husband became dizzy. Would you know how to tell the difference between something minor that was affecting his equilibrium or if the dizziness was a symptom of something more serious?

Having a first aid manual available is certainly not a substitute for treating an illness. Nor should consulting a first aid manual cause any delay in seeking medical attention.

However, having a first aid manual available around the home can help you to determine how to treat minor injuries in addition to be an invaluable educational resource.

How To Manual

First of all, it is important to reiterate that a first aid manual is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. However, a first aid manual can be a tremendous resource by being a how to manual.

This how to instruction can help to identify what to do when injuries are obvious. Some of these injuries could include a nosebleed, what to do when a loved one may be choking on a piece of food or what to do in the event of a minor burn. If summoning medical help, any actions taken prior to their arrival may provide the necessary life saving moments required until help arrives.

A good first aid manual will inform you step-by-step as to what first aid measures you can take. A quality manual will also provide illustrations that depict the various levels of the injury; an example would be burns, and what can be done right away if professional medical help needs to be sought.

It is also important to remember that not all accidents happen conveniently near a medical facility. For example, a vacation or camping trip could be the scene of a medical emergency. Having a first aid manual available during these times could be the difference between saving a life or preventing even further damage.

Educational Resource

A first aid manual will also serve as an educational resource for your entire family. Medical emergencies are unexpected and as such are not planned. Therefore, it is important that the family is prepared at all times to respond to medical emergencies within the home.

Simply teaching your children the importance of dialing 911 can be a basic life saving lesson. Also, it would be prudent for the adults in the home to become acquainted with the first aid manual.

A good idea may include the anticipation of certain emergencies that may occur around the home. Some of these emergencies could include a child being burned, falling and hitting their head, getting their fingers jammed in a door, ingesting a poison, animal bites, etc. Preparing and practicing in advance is an excellent strategy in providing for your family’s safety.

First Aid Bags For Additional Convenience And Organization

A first aid kit is essential for home and car use. You can assemble your own kit by collecting assorted supplies and placing them in a plastic shoebox or other container. If you are the ultra-organized type however, you might want to look into the variety of first aid bags on the market today. These first aid bags were originally manufactured for early response teams, but are now available in individual sizes for use in the home.

The really attractive feature of these first aid bags is the ease with which you can find items quickly. Instead of the jumble of a typical box, these first aid bags are set up in a binder style, with supplies contained in individual compartments of “pages”. There is a wide variety of sizes, shapes and uses for these first aid bags – from the smallest for the car and bicycle, to the larger sizes that are handy for camping and marine use. The kits are fully stocked, and you can buy refills as supplies are used.

What Is Included?

Depending on the style of first aid bag that you choose, everything is included! Even the smallest size contains supplies for almost any kind of cut or abrasion, pain and fever medications and a first aid manual. The larger kits include tools such as tweezers, scissors and thermometers, as well as burn treatments and hot and cold packs.

Because the first aid bags are stocked in such a compact manner, you can fit a plentiful supply into a smaller space. How convenient for fitting under car seats and into backpacks! You can also buy first aid bags designed specifically for the outdoors, which are perfect take-alongs for hiking and camping. There are also kits created for household use and smaller kits for car and office. Since the first aid bags are fairly inexpensive, it is a wise idea to keep a bag wherever you or your family might be spending a significant amount of time.

All first aid kits should be stocked with the essentials: plenty of bandages of assorted sizes and shapes, and antibiotic ointment for cuts and abrasions. A thermometer and tweezers are always good to have on hand, and anti-itch cream and hot/cold compresses also come in very handy. Medications should include pain relievers, decongestants, antihistamines and stomach medications. Of course, a first aid manual is also an essential. Being prepared for an emergency, by having a first aid bag easily accessible, can help keep your family safe while they are enjoying activities together.