⛑ First-aid kit, what I forgot to include 😱✅

What’s in your first-aid kit? 🤩

We always hear about the wisdom of having canned food, extra bottled water, a flashlight and other household items in the event of a calamity. Similarly, there are certain medical items that everyone should keep on hand, regardless of age. Despite social media, smartwatches, smartphones and clever apps, it’s a good idea to have an up-to-date emergency first-aid kit at home and in the car.

I’ll admit, I was caught off-guard the other day when we were out for a walk at the park. Someone in our party stepped on a piece of glass, and got cut pretty deeply. I helped them back to my car, threw open the trunk, and pulled out my first-aid kit. Low and behold, I was missing a pair of scissors and most of the bandaids had lost their stick, ugh!

So, as your Functional Doctor, I’d nudge you along to get your emergency kits up to par and refreshed. Don’t be like me and get caught with your scissors missing ✂️😱 Oh, and don’t forget to find out the location of first aid kits where you work!

I’ll keep it short and sweet, so you can take action and we can move on to other great topics next week 🤩

Before I share my list, if you missed last week’s blog on“How to live in a sugar-coated world 🌎 My 12-step process for taking your life back!”, you can use this link, Here.

OK, get out your first-aid kit and compare to my checklist

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First-aid kits have changed over the years, but they are as useful as ever. They make it possible for ordinary people to be the help until professional help arrives. You don’t need a special certification to provide first aid, but you do need the right supplies and education.

First-hand experience has shown me how important having a well-stocked and maintained first-aid kit can be. There are certain things you need to have at hand in the moment. In a crisis, you’re not going to have time to go to the store to get what you need.

MUST-HAVES FOR YOUR EMERGENCY FIRST-AID KITS

I suggest that a first-aid kit for a family of four include the following items:

  • A first-aid guide

  • 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)

  • 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)

  • butterfly bandages

  • 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)

  • 5 antibiotic ointment packets

  • 5 antiseptic wipe packets

  • 2 packets of powdered aspirin (81 mg each)

  • 1 emergency blanket

  • 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)

  • 1 instant cold compress

  • 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)

  • 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets

  • 1 3-inch gauze roll (roller) bandage

  • 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)

  • 5 3 x 3-inch sterile gauze pads

  • 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)

  • A thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass)

  • 2 triangular bandages

  • Tweezers

  • Scissors

  • Super glue

  • Athletic tape

  • Benadryl

  • Lidocaine (burn gel)

  • Petroleum

  • Smelling salt

  • Magnifying glass or readers

(See the next section for special items your family may need)

CUSTOMIZE YOUR KIT

Think about the healthcare needs of your family when putting together your first-aid kit.

Supplement basic items with personal needs (senior care items, Epinephrine pens, diapers, female hygiene) and bleeding-control essentials. Things like a commercial tourniquet, bandages, and a felt-tipped pen.

For example:

  • If you have a family member with a severe allergy, include an antihistamine and an EpiPen

  • If you have elderly family members with fragile skin, including a roll of paper tape can be useful for protecting delicate skin

  • If you or a family member lives with diabetes, include a juice box, glucose tablets and gels, plus an emergency glucagon injection kit

  • Chewable, baby aspirin might help someone who has coronary artery disease, provided the person is not allergic to aspirin

I also suggest attaching a note to your kit with instructions on where to find other items around the house and how to act in specific emergencies. For example, you can use a note to remind you where sugary drinks and foods are kept in case of a diabetic emergency.

A person who is using a first-aid kit in an emergency might need to call 911 for assistance. Having the home or office address written on the outside of the kit itself can give users a handy location reference for 911 operators.

Emergency phone numbers, including contact information for your family healthcare team and pediatrician, local emergency services, emergency road service providers, and the poison help line. There are two ways to get help from Poison Control in the U.S: online at www.poison.org or by calling 1-800-222-1222. Both options are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

A few other items:

  • Medical consent forms for each family member

  • Medical history forms for each family member

  • Health insurance information, including member numbers and phone numbers

  • Small, waterproof flashlight or headlamp, plus extra batteries

  • Waterproof matches

  • Small notepad and waterproof writing instrument

  • Emergency space blanket

  • Cellphone with solar charger

FIRST AID AS A PRACTICAL SKILL

A first-aid kit is a tool, but any tool is only as good as the person using it.

First-aid kits are one place where personal needs and practical skills come together. There are ways to prepare for emergencies that have nothing to do with collecting supplies. This includes learning practical skills that you can use to protect yourself and others.

Many practical skills are easy to learn. Some require special certification or formal training. Others just education. Practical skills include learning how to:

  • Perform hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

  • Operate an automated external defibrillator (AED)

  • Apply a tourniquet and control bleeding

  • Administer seizure first aid

  • Use the contents of a first-aid kit

Family, friends, coworkers, and bystanders - not first responders - are often first on the scene in a medical emergency.

One time, we had a patient who had a very bad accident with a circular saw. There was a lot of blood on the floor. The patient’s coworker, who had no formal training, put all his body weight on the wound and used it to slow the bleeding. He yelled for help until others came and called 911. He saved his coworker’s life because he made the right decision and took action.

You can take action today. “You Are the Help Until Help Arrives” and “Stop the Bleed” are examples of training that teach you how to provide first care. A good first-aid kit and the practical skill to use that can help you save someone’s life.

I strongly encourage you to learn CPR. Why learn CPR? Because your help can significantly improve someone's chance of surviving when you take prompt action. CPR also prevents brain death. Even if someone survives cardiac arrest, they may suffer permanent brain damage when they don't receive enough blood flow and oxygen to the brain. There are many free CPR workshops available to learn standard, “Hands Only” CPR that how to recognize cardiac emergencies. Ask your local fire department, schools, or YMCA if they provide classes. If you have a hard time finding a class and we have enough interest within our Transformational Health community, I will teach one!

FIRST-AID EQUIPMENT ITEMS

Prevention is a key component to health and wellness These five items contribute to that goal and may help your doctor decide if you need to call 911 or not.

Oximeter: This probe with the little red light is an extremely valuable product. It measures our oxygen saturation, which reflects how well our lungs, and indirectly our heart, are ensuring that our organs are getting enough oxygen. With time, they have become extremely portable (the size of an ear pod case) and reasonably priced (as little as $25). They also provide heart rates, and some can determine whether your heart is beating at a regular pace. With respiratory illnesses from seasonal flu to RSV, this is very valuable. It will help your doctor decide on whether you need to visit the office or more seriously, proceed to the emergency room.

Blood pressure cuff: In decades past, the monitoring of high blood pressure required frequent visits to the primary care physician, and the measurement was only reflective of one specific moment on one day. Perhaps a hectic bus ride, a challenge finding a parking spot, or a waiting room delay caused added stress, resulting in an elevated number. A blood pressure cuff should be in every home. Though some simply slip onto the finger, I personally believe that the best choice is designed for the upper arm. The most accurate recordings are obtained after resting in bed for a few minutes, lying flat with your legs uncrossed. And probably not watching a suspenseful movie or with the need for a bathroom visit. It is wise to check it a few times, one minute apart from each other, just for accuracy. Lastly, it never hurts to keep a log of what the readings are so that you can share it with your doctor.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is called the silent killer as it puts us all at risk of stroke or heart attack, and can even conntribute t dementia. Checking it is an easy preventive measure and wise for all of us.

Thermometer: With new infrared technology they can rapidly determine forehead temperature within a second with varied accuracy by product and measuring location, where the very middle of your forehead is best. A notable fever (temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) is important to track and perhaps seek medical attention over, depending upon other medical conditions, signs and symptoms; including breathing problems, shivering and confusion, all signs of possible sepsis.

For those with children at home, early identification of a fever helps pediatricians. Rapid elevations in temperature, particularly in children of ages six months to five years old, can cause febrile seizures.

Eyewash: We sometimes forget how easy it is to splash something into our eyes. Available over the counter, eyewash is worth having at your disposal. Just keep it in an easy-to-remember place. After all, the last thing you want with an irritated eye is a long search for the very product than can help you see better. Dangerous chemicals, splashes and small foreign bodies are best to flush as soon as possible. Don’t touch the tip of the container to your eye as it risks contamination. Discard it after such use. Finally, don’t confuse eye drops with eyewash; the former lubricate whereas the latter cleanses eyes.

Humidifier: Humidifiers can alleviate allergy symptoms, improve sleep and help those with sinus problems or skin irritation. They also help during cold and flu season. By soothing the tissues that make up our nose and throat, humidified air decreases the itchiness and nasal discharge that we experience with a respiratory illness. Humidifiers may help with snoring, by thinning nasal secretions, which will make for a more comfortable sleep (the dangers of sleep apnea include increased chances of heart disease so it should be evaluated by your doctor). Besides the benefits of humidifiers, though, one should always keep them clean to prevent mold or bacteria.

THE BOTTOM LINE

“Immediate first aid can make a real difference.”

"You can be a hero by learning and providing first aid when the time comes."

First aid: a small kit with a big purpose. Be the one who can make a difference. Put the power of healing in your hands.”

From your doctor that got caught off-guard without scissors, don’t let a glass cut, or other mishap, serve as your reminder to restock the emergency first-aid kit.

I hope this list of supplies has been helpful, and you are ready to take on just about any emergency that comes your way.

Don’t forget to refresh your knowledge, and educate your family on how to use these items and what to do in an emergency. Use the links provided to get a quick update on the latest techniques.

Remember, I strongly encourage you to learn CPR. Why learn CPR? Because your help can significantly improve someone's chance of surviving when you take prompt action. CPR also prevents brain death. Even if someone survives cardiac arrest, they may suffer permanent brain damage when they don't receive enough blood flow and oxygen to the brain. There are many free CPR workshops available to learn standard, “Hands Only” CPR that how to recognize cardiac emergencies. Ask your local fire department, schools, or YMCA if they provide classes. If you have a hard time finding a class and we have enough interest within our Transformational Health community, I will teach one!Stay safe and Healthy!

As always, if you’d like to talk more about emergency techniques or concerns, make an appointment with me using the link: HERE.

Or, you can give me a call at (973) 210-3838

I want to hear from you! What questions or insights do you have about first aid? Did you find this newsletter helpful?

Share your thoughts in the comments on our

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We bring tools such as these to you, our patients, by using proven cutting-edge therapies to extend the health-span, life-span and years of health for everyone (no matter their age)!

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Dr Derek Ferguson