The First-Aid Kit
ATC CORNER

Every home should have some first-aid supplies readily available in case of an injury. Whether it is a true "first-aid kit" or just a special place for the supplies, you should know what is available to care for your family and how to use these things. The support staff at your doctor's office or your local pharmacist can tell you how to use various equipment and supplies. Consider the following items when creating a first-aid kit for your home:

Equipment

• Callus file or pumice stone
• Crutches
• Eyecup
• Flashlight or penlight
• Tweezers
• Forceps
• Hair clippers
• Medicine dropper
• Eye dropper
• Hand-held mirror
• Thermometer
• Safety pins
• Scissors (all purpose and bandage)
• Magnifying glass
• Ring cutter
• Eyeglass repair kit
• Nail clippers (finger, toe, and pliers)
• Fingernail file


Supplies

• Adhesive tape (various sizes)
• Bandages
• Adhesive strips (1 x 3 inches)
• Extra large (2 x 4 inches)
• Fingertip
• Knuckle
• Four corner
• Telfa pads
• Butterfly strips or Steri-Strips
• Sterile gauze (2 x 2, 3 x 3, and 4 x 4 inches)
• Cotton balls
• Cotton-tipped applicators
• Elastic bandages (3, 4, and 6 inches)
• Eye wash
• Gauze rolls (1, 2, and 3 inches)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Sterile saline solution
• Ice bags
• Aspirin
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Ibuprofen
• Antacid tablets and liquid
• Zinc oxide
• Triple antibiotic ointment
• Arm slings or triangular bandages
• Latex gloves
• Contact lens solution
• Contact lens case
• Antifungal foot powder
• Blister tape or Dermiclear
• Second Skin (blister care)
• Moleskin (blister care)

Your family may need specific items that are not on this list, or there may be items listed that you may not ever need; however, it is better to be prepared in case that you do. Please review the status of your family's health to be sure that you are prepared for first-aid needs that arise.

Bruce Getz, ATC
Columbus, Georgia