Where is your First Aid kit?

It's one of those items that we hope we never have to use, at least not often, but we all tend to have one or two around the house: a First Aid Kit.

When is the last time you looked at it? Do you know where it is? Is there one in the bathroom, in the garage, in your car? What about the kitchen? While you are looking for it, why not think of a place that's easier to remember. When I started looking for mine, I ended up digging it out from underneath a pile of towels in the bathroom closet, forty-five minutes later. If I'd been bleeding profusely or having an allergic reaction to something while searching, I would have been in big trouble!

So take your time today to find whatever emergency kits you have and make an inventory of its contents: what's missing, what needs to be replaced or what needs to go.

It's better to build your own first aid kit than to purchase ready-made units. Often, it will be cheaper and you can stock it with items you know you will use.

One of my friends has a serious latex allergy. Their First Aid kit contains latex-free gloves. Other people I know cannot tolerate antibiotics, are highly reactive to bee stings or get a rash from certain bandages. A generic first aid kit might not meet their needs.

I've listed below basic First Aid kit contents. Jot down on a piece of paper the personal needs you have, and adjust your kit accordingly. Don't have time? Then sort through what you have in the kit right now, toss all the old stuff, and buy a ready-made kit from the store, or put it on your list for Santa.

This is also a fun activity to do for kids: have them chose a container they like (an old lunchbox or a small purse) and let them fill it with basic items such as colorful band-aids, floss, towelettes etc. They may want to keep it in their backpack, or in their room.

A First Aid kit should include the following, and this is just a very basic list:

• Sterile, adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• Assorted sizes of safety pins
• Cleansing agent/soap
• Latex/sterile gloves (2 pairs)
• Sterile gauze
• Sterile gauze tape
• Scissors
• Adhesive tape
• Tweezers
• Needle and surgical thread (I hope I NEVER have to use this one!)
• Moistened towelettes
• Antiseptic
• Rubbing alcohol
• Thermometer
• Nonprescription Drugs
• Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
• Antidiarrheal medication
• Antacid

And for those of us that have animals, let's not forget to pack a pet First Aid kit with gauze pads, thermometer, tweezers, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic treatments, Q-tips, cold packs and rags.

If you're familiar with products such as Melaleuca, peppermint oil or aloe, you may want to consider stocking an extra set in your kit.

Not sure what to do with all that stuff if an emergency were to really happen? The local Red Cross chapters teach Basic First Aid and Pet Aid frequently. Click here for classes in Idaho:

http://www.redcrossidaho.org/class.asp?SN=2559&OP=2560&SUOP=2561&IDCapitulo=XS9D94N21E

For those of you that live out of state, click here:

http://www.redcross.org/, enter your zipcode and find local classes.

Don't forget to check your kits today! Just grab 'm, sit in front of the TV and check each one to make sure they're clean, up-to-date and stocked. You'll be glad you did when you need them.