Safety Point:
Preparing Your
First Aid Kit
We all have things in our home that
keep us safe, healthy, and happy:
Lots of food and water
 Clothes that keep us warm and dry
 Comfortable bed and pillow
 Toothbrush and toothpaste
 Fun things that entertain
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Books
Television
Music
A first aid kit is another item we
need in our home.
A well-stocked first aid kit can help keep
you safe and healthy in your own home.
 You may have some questions, like:
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What items should I put in my first aid kit?
How can these items help me when I get
hurt or feel sick?
How often should I check to make sure that
I have all of the things that I’ll need?
We’re going to help answer these
questions for you!
What is a first aid kit?
A first aid kit is a box that holds all of the
equipment, medications, and cleansing
solutions you will need to give first aid to
yourself or someone else.
 You and other people, including your
support person, can use your first aid kit.
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What is first aid?
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First aid is the help that you can give
someone who has been injured.
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First aid is for minor injuries, not serious
ones
First aid can be done anywhere,
especially at home.
 First aid can be:
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Washing and covering a small cut
Putting ice on a bruise
Taking someone’s temperature
Who can do first aid?
You and other people, including your
support person, can do first aid.
 You’ll need to let your support person,
friends, and family know where you’ll keep
your first aid kit.
 However, some things may need to be
done by professionals, like paramedics or
doctors.
 If you aren’t sure about doing something,
the best thing to do is tell someone or call
911!
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You should call 911 immediately if
someone:
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Is unconscious
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This means that the person isn’t awake and
doesn’t respond to anything
Is severely bleeding
 Has broken bones
 Is in shock
 In these cases and any other situations
in which you feel you can’t or shouldn’t
give first aid, call 911!
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Some equipment you will need in
your first aid kit are:
Bandages (all sizes)
 Sterile gauze bandages
 Cotton balls and cotton tipped swabs
 Instant cold packs
 Thermometer
 Disposable latex or synthetic gloves
 You can look at this checklist to find out
the other equipment you’ll need:
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http://ddssafety.net/safety/emergency-preparedness/my-firstaid-kit
Why do you need so much
equipment in your first aid kit?
Injuries from household accidents can
happen at any time and you want to be
well-prepared for any situation.
 Because we can’t predict accidents, it’s
good to keep a variety of equipment in
your first aid kit, like:
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Bandages for minor cuts and scrapes
Instant cold packs for bumps and bruises
Thermometer to take temperatures that are
caused by fevers
Here are ointments, medications,
and cleansing solutions you’ll need.
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Ointments
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Medications
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* Pain medication, like Tylenol or Advil
Cleansing solutions
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*Hydrocortisone cream (for itchy skin)
* Antibiotic ointment, like Neosporin
Antiseptic solution, like peroxide (to clean and
disinfect minor cuts)
Eye wash (saline)
Check out this list for items you’ll need:
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http://ddssafety.net/safety/emergencypreparedness/my-first-aid-kit
*If you live in a licensed residential facility,
you will need a prescription from your doctor.
You’ll need to find a container to
hold all of these items.
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Choose something that:
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Will last a long time
Has a lot of room and is lightweight
Has handles and is easy to open and close
Label this container in large letters with a
marker. You can call it: My First Aid Kit.
 You’ll also want to buy a First Aid Manual
or print out some instructions from this
website:
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http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/FirstAidInd
ex/FirstAidIndex
Now that we have our first aid kit,
let’s visit Caleb, a basketball player.
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Sometimes, Caleb falls down and scrapes his
knee.
What can you use from your first aid kit to
help him feel better?
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Clean his scrape with soap and warm water.
Remove any bits of gravel or dirt.
Gently pat the wound dry.
Apply some antibiotic ointment.
Cover with a bandage.
Caleb is glad that you have a well-stocked
first aid kit because he feels much better now!
Remember: do not let anyone else use
medication prescribed by your doctor.
Later, Caleb and Bella come to
your house for dinner.
Bella is helping you in the kitchen and
accidentally burns her hand on a hot pan.
 First, decide if this is a minor burn. This
presentation can help:
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http://ddssafety.net/safety/burn-safety/scalds-seconds-count
With your first aid kit, you can help her.
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Hold her hand under cool, running water for a few
minutes. Do not put ice or grease (like butter) on the
burn.
Loosely cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage.
With practice, you can help yourself
and others with your first aid kit.
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You can be well-prepared for small
accidents around the home or nearby,
like:
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Falling down on the pavement
Hitting your thumb with a hammer
Burning your hand on the stove
With a well-stocked first aid kit, you can
help make yourself and others feel better.
 Use this checklist to put together your first
aid kit:
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http://ddssafety.net/safety/emergency-preparedness/my-firstaid-kit
You will need to check your kit
every few months.
Replace any items that you’ve used or
are missing.
 Check expiration dates on medicines,
ointments, lotions, and other cleansing
solutions.
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Throw away those that have expired (are
too old to use) and replace them.
Set a schedule for yourself for when you
will check your kit.
You can also check out these links
to help you with first aid and your kit:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/FirstAi
dIndex/FirstAidIndex
 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/firstaid-kits/FA00067
 http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_
safe/home/firstaid_kit.html
 http://www.healthy.net/
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