Having a first aid kit on hand, whether you’re at home or on the move, is a great way to ensure that you are always prepared for any eventuality.
If your child is suddenly injured or becomes unwell, it can be difficult to get to a pharmacy or your doctor, so it’s good to have some things on hand that will help you to keep them safe and well. Having a well-stocked first-aid kit which is pediatric first aid ofsted approved online is also great for your own peace of mind.
A lot of parents like to customise their first aid kits as they get to know the scrapes their children are most likely to get into, but the following are some items that are a great idea for every family.
Digital baby thermometer
Every parent, especially new parents, worry when their child seems unwell that it might be a serious issue.
Having a digital thermometer on hand is a great way to check for yourself and either reassure yourself that your child is fine or give you early notice when medical attention is needed.
Calamine lotion
Calamine lotion is pretty special stuff!
Calamine is an anti-irritant. When applied to the skin, the calamine evaporates and creates a cooling effect, which helps to ease any itching. It also has antiseptic properties.
This means that calamine is a great thing to have on hand in a first aid kit because it can be used to treat rashes, sunburn, chickenpox, and skin that has become red and irritated for any reason.
Allergy eye drops
Have you ever successfully convinced a child not to rub at red and itchy eyes? Not many of us have!
If you find that your child is suffering from allergies and gets red, itchy eyes as a result, it’s great to have eye drops that are designed for itchy eyes allergy relief on hand.
Not only will eye drops work to counteract the allergy, but they also provide soothing relief to the eye straight away so that your child can be comfortable straight away and less inclined to scratch.
Sterile bandage or band-aids
If your child comes to you with a cut or scrape, then the most important thing to do is ensure that the wound is clean to prevent infection.
To treat small wounds, you should start by thoroughly rinsing the wound to get rid of any dirt and debris, and then wash it with mild soap and running water. For small wounds, you shouldn’t need to use any antiseptic cream, and it’s a good idea not to, as there is a chance that they can irritate the skin.
Once the wound is clean and dry, wrap it in a sterile bandage to prevent any dirt from getting to it and stop it from bleeding.
Disposable cold packs
Cold packs are used to prevent swelling and bruising if your child has bumped themself. Simply apply the cold pack to the affected area.
They can also be used to provide relief from rashes and the itchy eyes that are associated with hay fever.
Tooth preservation kit
If your child is running around and knocks out one of their permanent teeth, it’s important that you preserve the tooth correctly until you can get to a dentist as otherwise the root can become damaged, which prevents the tooth from being reimplanted.
For older children, you can get them to put the tooth back in the socket that it came from and bite down to keep it in place or keep it in their cheek until they reach the dentist. The saliva in their mouth will keep the tooth alive until it can be reimplanted.
It can be risky for younger children to get them to keep the tooth in their mouth without swallowing it, so the ADA recommends that you use a tooth preservation kit. Tooth preservation kits contain a sterile balanced salt solution, which keeps the tooth alive.
Teeth that have been knocked out have the best chance of survival if they can be reimplanted within 15 minutes, so you should always get your child to the dentist as soon as possible.
Pain relief
Liquid pain relief containing ibuprofen or paracetamol will get you out of a lot of situations, as it will relieve pain and also help to lower temperatures brought on by fever.
Up to date first aid manual
An up-to-date first aid manual acts as a guide, so you know exactly what to do in any medical situation and is great to refer to in an emergency. Be sure that you have familiarized yourself with the content. Taking a first aid course like the Mississauga First Aid training is a good option to provide the right emergency assistance and deal with an extreme situation.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
