A list of essential first aid supplies to have in the home, how to store them, and a few tips on how to use them.

A first aid kit is just what the name implies – a pack of supplies so you are prepared to respond rapidly to an injury or other emergency. But you need not run out and buy an expensive pre-packaged kit, when all of the essentials for a good first aid kit can be assembled on your own for your home.

The most important thing to have in your basic home first aid kit is a good quick reference guide. These can be as simple chart for what to do with choking and how to handle certain kinds of poisoning, or as extensive as a Red Cross First Aid Field Manual. The Field Manual is meant for rapid use in stressful situations, so do not let the name daunt you. Be sure that local contact numbers for poison control and emergency services are in the kit, as well as those of your doctors.

The most common injuries are cuts and abrasions. You need to be prepared to close a wound, at least temporarily. Essential supplies for these types of injuries include cotton balls/swabs, gauze pads, a roll of gauze, surgical tape, an elastic wrap, scissors, bandages, and isopropyl alcohol as a topical antiseptic. Good additions in the first aid kit for this

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