CPR Kids
Band-aids… bandages… antiseptic cream… these are the items that we tend to think about when we are putting a first aid kit together.
But first aid kits are so much more than that – and being prepared for every situation possible is vital when it comes to babies and children.
So what does a first aid kit need? Where should it be kept?
You should have a first aid kit available in the home, and one in the car for when you are out and about.
Below is what we suggest for a comprehensive, child-friendly family first aid kit;
Noisy, bright toys and books that are exclusive to the kit – this means they will work well in distracting your little patient as you administer the first aid that they require
- A kitchen timer – Children are more likely to cooperate if they know that there is an Set a timer and explain that once it goes off, you will stop what you are doing
- A cold pack – kept in the fridge or freezer for bumps, swelling, bruising
- Band-aids or plastic strips in assorted shapes – for bleeding wounds
- An antiseptic cream of your choice – for wounds
- A digital underarm thermomete
- A rescue blanket – to keep an injured person warm
- Adhesive tape – to keep dressings in place and hold bandages together
- Eye pads – for eye injuries such as cuts
- Paper or styrofoam cups – for eye injuries such as foreign bodies
- Saline – for flushing eyes and cleaning wounds
- Gloves – to protect yourself, and blown up like a balloon they provide great distraction
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Splinter probes – to make removal of splinters easier
- A light stick – for use in the dark to attract attention, for instance, when camping or bushwalking
- Wound closure strips – good for holding lacerations together
- Zip-lock plastic bags – for amputated parts
- Safety pins – to hold triangular slings in place
- Assorted bandages
- A triangular bandage – a sling for arms or for splinting limbs (tie them or use them to apply pressure)\
- Antiseptic wipes
- Sterile gauze swabs – useful for everything!
- Non-stick dressing – for grazes and/or minor burns until you get medical help\A combine dressing pad – pressure dressing for bleeding\Heavyweight bandages – pressure bandages for snake and funnel-web spider bites (if you have snakes around, make sure you have at least 4 snake bite bandages)
- Vomit bags
- A CPR guide
- Freezing spray for ticks, eg Wartoff
- Red-coloured hand towel
- A first-aid guide – we suggest ‘A A Finger.A Pea Up a Nose.’ CPR KIDS essential First Aid Guide for Babies and Children, written by CPR Kids Founder, Sarah Hunstead.
And remember, it is important to;
- Keep first aid kits out of reach of children
- Keep medicines separate from your first aid kit as they expire quickly
- Regularly check your first aid kit to replace expired items
- Pack first aid kits for holidays, too!
Medications to have on hand include:
- Oral rehydration solution
- Age appropriate pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen
- Antihistamine
- Tick freezing spray
- Antiseptic cream of your choice
- Anti-itch cream of your choice
Remember to check the expiry dates regularly!
Information is taken from CPR KIDS essential First Aid Guide for Babies and Children – ‘A Life. A Finger. A Pea Up a Nose.’ Written by CPR Kids Founder, Sarah Hunstead.
