First Aid

It is never possible to be too prepared. Take the time to prepare a simple first aid kit that will always be at hand. Have one at home, work, and in each vehicle.

Checklist

• Bandages		• Antibiotic ointment		• Hydrogen peroxide
• Non-stick pads		• Oral thermometers		• Cold pack
• Adhesive tape		• Tweezers		• Sun screen (SPF 30)
• Stretch gauze		• Calamine lotion		• Children's acetaminophen
• Wound wipes		• Rubbing Alcohol		• Smelling salts

 

First Aid Procedures

Injury & Illness	Symptoms	Treatment Procedure
Blisters (minor)	Pressure, pain, swelling, redness.	Lightly clean with wound wipe. Cover with bandage to absorb fluids and protect.
Bruises and Sprains	Redness and pain on impact. Discoloration of area. Swelling.	Apply instant ice compress over area per indicated directions. Elevate limb. If pain persists, call doctor.
Burns	Redness, mild swelling, pain, possible blistering.	Treat with burn cream. Depending upon size of area, cover with bandage or large nonstick pad to protect. Secure with tape if necessary. For serious burns, contact doctor immediately.
Cuts & Scrapes, Bites or Minor Punctures	Injuries to skin with bleeding and pain.	Control bleeding with direct pressure. Clean with wound wipe, hydrogen peroxide or soap & water using sterile gauze pad. Apply antibiotic ointment. Cover wound. For deep punctures, call doctor. If animal bite, notify animal control to check for rabies and call doctor.
	Small Wounds	Cover with sterile bandage to absorb fluids and protect wound.
	Large Wounds	Cover with nonstick pad to absorb fluids and protect wound. Secure with tape. For joints and hard to bandage areas, secure with stretch gauze & tape.
Fever	Body temperature above 98.6° F.	Take temperature. If above 98.6° F, take fever reducer per label instructions. Note special directions and restrictions for children. Increase fluid intake.
Insect Bites & Stings	Pain, itching, swelling, redness. If allergic, difficulty breathing and swallowing.	If there is a stinger, try to remove with tweezers. Don't squeeze. Clean with wound wipe or wash with soap & water using sterile gauze pad. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover with bandage. Get help immediately if allergic.
Splinters	Pain, redness, swelling. Splinter visible.	Clean area with wound wipe or soap & water using sterile gauze pad. Try to remove splinter with sterilized tweezers. If splinter breaks or is deeply lodged, soak in warm water until skin softens, then try to remove. Cover with bandage for protection. Call doctor if pain persists or site becomes infected.