First Aid
Which over-the-counter medications should
be included in a first aid kit?
Fae Farrer, BPharm
Amayeza Info Centre
Almost everyone will need a first aid kit at some time. People
may think that their kit is adequately equipped, but it is a good
idea to check the medicine cupboard and the first aid kit and to
rethink the family’s first aid needs on a regular basis.
Basic first aid kit
A basic first aid bag should be available in every household.
Extra items can be added to it depending on the needs of the
family. It should cover most simple injuries or illnesses. The
items can be used to treat minor cuts, scrapes and bruises, and
the early symptoms of colds or medical problems, allergies and
insect bites. Table I lists some recommended items for a basic
first aid kit.
Table I: Recommended items for a basic first aid kit
Basic first aid kit
SA Pharmacist’s Assistant [ Spring 2012 ]
• A roll of elastic adhesive
• Various sizes of stretch bandages
• Triangular bandages
• Alcohol swabs to clean wounds
• Gauze pads, including sterile dressings
• Nonallergenic adhesive tape
• Plasters in assorted shapes and sizes
• Cotton wool (for padding)
• Nonadhesive wound dressings
• Burn dressing (e.g. Burnshield®)
• A cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) mouthpiece
• Disposable rubber gloves
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Safety pins
• A thermometer
• Measuring spoons and syringes
• An eye patch
• An eyebath
• A disposable ice pack
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Basic over-the-counter medications
Basic medicines should be kept in each household in the event
of an emergency. It’s useful to have these products to hand in the
middle of the night when the baby is screaming, for example.
The types of medication that are stocked should be determined
by the age and medical needs of a particular family. However,
the following categories apply to most people.
Burns
In the event of a burn, the area should be immersed in cold
water for 10 minutes. Adhesive dressings, lotions or fat should
not be used. Blisters should not be burst. Sterile burn dressings
(e.g. Burnshield®) should be applied.
Trauma and injury
Cuts and scrapes should be cleaned with an antiseptic solution
and may require an antibacterial cream. Larger cuts should be
evaluated with a view to obtaining stitches. In that case, no
cream should be applied until the doctor has completed this
task.
Pain and fever
Painkillers and medications for fever are important additions
to a first aid kit, especially in households with small children.
A selection of pain medications should be kept to cater for
each family member. Small children under the age of 16 years
should not be given aspirin due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.
Aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen or diclofenac are often
included in a first aid kit, but specific medications may be
required for individuals, such as muscle relaxants or migraine
medication. Small children or babies who have frequent fevers
would benefit from suppositories to reduce pain and fever.
Anti-inflammatory gels or patches and an ice pack should be
kept to deal with minor sprains and strains.
Eye drops
Small containers of sterile saline solution should be included in
the first aid kit, for use with an eyebath to treat eye irritations.
Patients with allergies could have a bottle of antihistamine eye
drops to hand as a precaution. The expiry date of eye drops
should be checked regularly as once opened, most need to be
discarded within 30 days.
Bites and stings
An antihistamine, taken orally, relieves the itching and
inflammation from the bites and stings of insects and marine
animals. However, patients with an allergy to beestings, for
example, need to have their emergency medication (e.g. EpiPen®)
available in the event of being stung by a bee. An antihistamine
or a mild hydrocortisone cream can be applied to inflamed areas
to reduce the itching. Calamine lotion is useful to treat multiple
insect bites, eg. from mosquitos, particularly in children.
Diarrhoea
Rehydration salts or sachets should be kept in a first aid kit,
especially when travelling. The rehydration salts should be
dissolved in clean water and the solution used to prevent
dehydration. Antispasmodic medication can be taken to ease
stomach cramps. Adults can take antidiarrhoeal medicine.
First Aid
Antiemetics
Ears
Medication for nausea and vomiting should be stocked in the
emergency kit.
Nothing should be dropped or inserted into an ear, except on
a doctor’s advice. In the event of this happening accidentally, a
doctor should be consulted to remove the object.
Antacids
Patients who are susceptible to heartburn and indigestion should
stock antacids or other medicines to ease their symptoms. Some
people may only need these occasionally. Other people may
require them more frequently.
Nasal spray
Technically, a blocked nose is not an emergency, but it is useful
to have a saline nasal spray to hand, especially for use in babies
or children who snuffle in the night.
Decongestants
Cold and flu symptoms do not constitute a genuine first aid
emergency, but some medication may be kept in the kit to deal
with the first symptoms as they arise. Some people like to keep a
small stock of flu medication to hand for use during winter. This
can include cough medicines and throat lozenges.
Table II provides a list of basic medicines for inclusion in a first
aid kit. A supply of medication that is often used by family
members could include ointment to treat fever blisters and
haemorrhoids.
Precautions
When stocking and checking the first aid kit or medicine
cupboard, a few things should be remembered:
• All medicines should be kept out of the reach of children.
• Medications should be stored in a cool, dry place. Medicine
should not be stored in the bathroom, because of humidity.
• The expiry dates of medications should be checked regularly
so that they are not redundant when needed.
• It is important to know which medications are suitable for
each member of the family, and what dose should be given.
• When an item is used from the first aid kit, it should be
replaced as soon as possible. A list could be kept for reference
purposes of the medications that are usually stocked.
HYDROGELS
®
For the emergency care of burns and scalds
Safe for use on children and facial burns
DRESSINGS
Burnshield is a remarkable Sterile, Hydrogel (wet) product which provides
the essential physical protection urgently needed when someone is
accidentally burnt.
It is highly effective within the first 24 hour period.
Burnshield uses a simple 4 step process:
LARGE
DRESSINGS
KITS
OPEN
REMOVE
APPLY
SECURE WITH
BANDAGE
LEVTRADE INTERNATIONAL (PTY) LTD , Made in South Africa
Tel: 08610 burns (28767), www.burnshield.com, email: [email protected]
First Aid
Table II: Basic medicines for inclusion in a first aid kit
Basic medication list
Antiseptic solution (to clean hands and wounds)
Antiseptic or antibacterial ointment
Medication for fever (for adults and children)
Painkillers (for adults and children)
Anti-inflammatory tablets
Normal sterile saline to rinse the eyes
Oral antihistamines: Syrup and tablets (for allergies, rashes or insect
stings)
Antihistamine cream
Calamine lotion
Hydrocortisone cream (allergies and rashes)
Rehydration solution
Antidiarrhoeal medicines
Anti-nausea medication
Antispasmodics (for stomach cramps)
Antacids
Oral decongestant, analgesic or antihistamine product for
symptomatic relief of a cold
Saline nasal spray
Important numbers
SA Pharmacist’s Assistant [ Spring 2012 ]
A list of important numbers should be kept in a suitable place in
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the case of an emergency. These include:
• Tygerberg Poison Information Centre: 021 931 6129
• The doctor’s number
• The nearest hospital
• Ambulance services
• Emergency contact: family member or friend.
Conclusion
Some people may prefer not to keep all the abovementioned
medications to hand, but rather just to stock up on them when
travelling. However, emergencies are never planned and knowing
that something can be taken if needed removes the stress from
a situation.
The above suggestions can be tailored to suit each household and
can be used when at home or on holiday.
Bibliography
1. Fuerst R. First aid kits. eMedicineHealth [homepage on the Internet] 2012.
c2012. Available from: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/first_aid_kits/
article_em.htm
2. Vos J. Safety first! Clicks Club Card; 2008.