Remember these must-haves in every parent’s first aid kit
Children are active and curious by nature. So they may experience minor cuts, scrapes, stings, allergic reactions, pain, fever, and coughs. It is best to have a first aid kit which contains essential items to handle these common ailments. Here is a list of what your medical kit should have:
1. Antiseptic Solution or Wipes
This is used for disinfecting minor cuts, wounds or scrapes and for cleaning the hands. Antiseptics, such as Dettol Antiseptic Cream, are available in drug stores.
2. Antibiotic Ointment
After cleaning minor cuts, wounds or scrapes, an antibiotic ointment with an active ingredient such as Bacitracin or Mupirocin, should be applied. This is to prevent the risk of infections while the cut, wound or scrape is healing.
3. Adhesive Bandages or Band-Aids
These are placed on the areas of wounds in order to prevent contamination and the possibility of a cut, wound or scrape to be infected. Band-Aids which come in colourful packages may encourage your child to place them over a healing wound.
4. Hydrocortisone Cream, Ointment or Lotion
This can be used on the skin of young children to soothe the itch, redness, dryness, inflammation or discomfort they may be experiencing. It is generally safe as long as it is used moderately.
5. Thermometer
Whenever you feel that your child has fever, it is always safe to use a thermometer to determine the body temperature of your child. Choose a digital thermometer over the mercury-filled glass thermometer especially if you have a young child.
6. Pain and Fever Medicines
Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are the recommended pain and fever medicines which should be included in your medical kit.
7. Antihistamine
If your child is suffering from watery eyes, itching and running nose, an antihistamine will help in reducing and relieving those allergy symptoms.
8. Decongestants
To treat or clear out your child’s stuffy nose which is caused by allergies or colds, a decongestant is to be given.
9. Cough Syrups
There are two types of cough syrups: the cough expectorant and the cough suppressant. A cough expectorant, such as guaifenisen, is said to liquefy lung secretions while a cough suppressant, such as dextromethorpan, is known to reduce coughing especially if it causes sleeplessness or difficulty among little children.
10. Cold pack
When your child bumps any part of his body, or has a sprain or an insect bite, an instant cold pack will be useful to reduce the swelling caused by such accidents. An instant cold pack is one that does not need to be frozen but is readily available by just putting pressure on it.
These medical supplies are just the basic essentials of a medical or a first-aid kit at home. You can add more to the supplies in your kit especially when your child has a recurrent medical condition or when the need arises. Do not forget to replenish the supplies as they run out and throw away any medicine or drug that has expired. Indeed, it is better to be caught prepared rather than to sacrifice your child’s health and safety.
For more related articles on your child’s safety and health, see:
Teach your toddler to handle emergencies
10 dangerous medicines for your baby
10 diaper bag essentials
