contents:
to buy everything in one place, go here:
AT-HOME FIRST AID KIT
Equipment
- Thermometer
- Instructions:
- VIDEO: What Thermometers I recommend
- Babies < 3 months:
- Rectal Temp only
- VIDEO: How to take a rectal temperature
- Infants 3 months – 3 years:
- Rectal if they’ll tolerate. If not, at that age they may be too young to cooperate with oral, in which case axillary (armpit) is likely best. (Ear / tympanic membrane thermometers are too variable to be reliable when it really counts).
- 3 years and up: Oral thermometer
- What to buy:
- Kinsa
- Frida Baby
- Vicks oral / rectal
- Vicks baby rectal
- Instructions:
- Bandages (Bandaids) of various sizes
- Wound closure device for very small cuts
- a butterfly bandage
- wound closure strip
- Absorbent compress dressings (5×9 inches)
- Someone bleeding? Compress these on the site firmly for 5 minutes. Also, hold the injured area above the level of their heart if you can.
- PRO ER doc tip: if you run out of these, can always grab a towel to hold pressure.
- Non-stick sterile gauze pads (5 of 3×3 inches, 5 of 4×4 inches). Great for when you need to cover a scrape that’s too large for a bandaid. Stick on with either Coban over it, or just paper tape.
- Coban
- Paper tape
(about 1 inch wide) use to hold on bandaids or non-stick dressings.
CAUTION: NEVER have the tape go entirely around a body part, or it could become too tight.
- Rolled gauze bandage.
- I love to use this for any aches/sprains, or even to hold on a rolled gauze bandage. However, PRO/ER DOC TIP – Coban (or any other stretchy wrap) can become VERY tight, so wrap it just barely enough to hold, to avoid constricting circulation.
- Instant activating cold compress
PRO/ER DOC TIP: make one with a bag of frozen peas works in a pinch, or a pre-frozen ziploc
bag of 1 part rubbing alcohol + 3 parts water)
- Non-latex gloves
- Tweezers
- for (carefully!) removing splinters, ticks, bee stingers, etc.
OPtional (for CPR)
- AED: Philips HeartStart OnSite AED (use code DRDARRIA for 12% off)
- CPR Rescue Mask
MEdications
- Click here for my dosing cheat sheet
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for aches, pains, fever
- Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) for inflammation, pain, or fever
- or Naproxen (Aleve)
- Can also use topical gel
- SEE – SLIDE for Acetaminophen / Ibuprofen STACK
- VIDEO: Is there a difference between infant + children medications for pain/fever?
- Aspirin
- For adults 18 +
- For headaches, chest pain, etc
- Diphenyhydramine (Benadryl)
- for allergic reactions
- Hydrocortisone ointment: for small allergic reactions or bug bites
- Antibiotic ointment: for cuts, small burns, and to prevent guaze from sticking to a wound
- Decongestant (for ages 12+): Such as Pseudoephedrine
- Itch eraser pen / spray: key for summer months and big bites!
- Aloe (sunburns or first degree heat burns)
- Topical NSAID (Voltaren) for joint / mnuscle pain
TRAVELING FIRST AID KIT
When I travel, I typically bring along a streamlined first aid kit – if only to spare myself from having to figure out where the nearest pharmacy is, for the most basic items. That’s especially important if you’re going to another country, where the medications may be different than what is sold at home, the names may differ, or pharmacies may have more restricted hours / supply.
That includes:
- All daily prescriptions (Watch: One tip to know before you take a flight)
- Any “as needed” prescriptions that you may need (this can differ per the destination, but can include the following – and you can ask your doctor for these when needed):
- Anti-nausea medication (like Zofran)
- Anti-seasickness medication (Scopolamine patch or Meclizine)
- Acetaminophen (adult + children’s version)
- Ibuprofen (Adult + Children’s version)
- Benadryl
- Nasal saline spray (Little Remedies)
- An antihistamine or steroid cream (like Cortizone)
- Skin coolant spray (for sunburns, etc)
- Itch eraser
- Thermometer
- Antibacterial ointment (Polysporin)
- Pocket magnifying glass
- Tweezers
- Bandaids
- Tegaderm
- Gauze
- Coban
- Wound closure device – either strips or Butterfly bandagesA
CAR / SPORTS FIRST AID KIT
Choose any of the above items in the at-home or travel first-aid kits that you may need, per your activity. In addition, you may want some of the following:
- Empty squeezable water bottle with a nozzle at the top – for washing out a cut / injury when you don’t have access to running water.
- Extra ziplock bags – always handy as a n ice pack, carrying smaller items, bringing back a knocked-out tooth
- Device to break a car window
- Arm splint
- Bandaids, ointment, and gauze
- Extra water bottle (for drinking or washing a cut)
GENERAL GUIDANCE FOR USING THIS KIT
- How to wash a cut
- What to do with a burn
- How to use an Epipen
- What to do if an infant is choking
- What to do if a child is choking
- What to take for a headache
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR FOR...
I’ll keep adding to this over time. Got faves that are not listed? Send them my way – I’m always looking for new items to make living a healthy life, easier!
NOTE: Some of these are affiliate links, which means that a portion of the proceeds goes to funding the work we do here at Trueve. But, for each of these – whether there’s an affiliate or not – I only work with a brand if I FIRST use it in my own home and for my family. I never recommend it to you, otherwise. xoxo, Dr. D
