1. Be Smart, Be Safe

305. Keep This First-Aid Kit Handy

It takes just one emergency to alert people to the need for a first-aid kit. Better yet, make it two–keep one at home and the other in your car.

Include the following items, available in most drugstores.

1. •Ace bandage.
   

2. •Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes).
   

3. •Adhesive tape.
   

4. •Antibacterial ointment.
   

5. •Antihistamine.
   

6. •Calamine lotion.
   

7. •Eyewash cup.
   

8. •Instant chemical cold pack.
   

9. •Oral thermometer.
   

10. •Prescribed medicine kit, such as EpiPen, for a severe allergic reaction (e.g., bee stings, peanut butter, shellfish).
    

11. •Rubbing alcohol.
    

12. •Safety pins.
    

13. •Scissors.
    

14. •Sterile gauze dressings (pads and a roll).
    

15. •Syrup of ipecac (for some poisonings).
    

16. •Triangular cloth (for immobilizing a broken arm or other broken bone).
    

17. •Tweezers.
    

18. •Up-to-date edition of a first-aid manual.
    

Keep everything together in a sturdy box. (Fishing tackle boxes work well.) Clearly label the kit “First Aid.” Don’t store the kit in the bathroom or other humid area. A high shelf in a hall closet, where young children can’t reach, is best.

Before using any over-the-counter ointments or other first-aid medicines, read and follow the directions.