By Sharon Truelove
Can you remember as a child, watching westerns or old war movies where the practicing doctor or medic always had their handy first aid kit with them and ready to use? They’d pop open their magical kit and there were all kinds of wonderfully organized items that were going to help make some one feel better.
When I was little, my mother would take me to the drug store with her and I would wonder off to the “first aide” aisles to see all the various items in neat and organized bins. Band aids, surgical tape, scissors, aspirin…..I was absolutely fascinated!
When I grew up and various first aide needs would arise with my family, I would retrieve my own magical first aid kit. Most people have a shelf in their home that houses what they consider to be the necessary first aide medical items. Putting together your own first aid kit will assure that your first aid needs are more readily available and in one place. This could help to lessen the time spent trying to find various items vs: time lost trying to help someone with a minor emergency.
Let’s build you a first aid kit. All professionals who take care of others should have access to one.
To begin addressing the contents of a first aid kit, ask yourself what are some of the common situations that might require the need of first aid?
- Cuts and scrapes
- Burns
- Bug bites
- Rashes
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
- Muscle aches
- Bleeding and bruises
- Sore throat, colds, upper respiratory problems
Next, start gathering together some useful hardware items:
- Magnifying glass/glasses
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Razor blades
- Rugged folding knife
- Needle/thread
- Safety pins
- Thermometer
- Soap
- Cotton tipped swabs
- Variety of sizes of medical adhesive tape
- Gauze
- Band aids
- Strips of sterilized muslin
- Tourniquet
- Super glue
- Sanitary gloves
Below are common medicinal aides that every kit should have in it:
- Aspirin
- Camphor
- Antibiotic cream/Neosporin
- Rubbing alcohol
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Peppermints
Put all the items in a waterproof container.
Let’s not stop with just antiseptics and gauze. Personally, I would include some beneficial essential oils:
- Lavender – calming, sleep aid, insect bites/stings, burns, cuts, dermatitis
- Eucalyptus – respiratory, sore throat, wounds, muscles pain, alertness, pesticide
- Peppermint – indigestion, colds/congestion, headache, stress, energy/alertness, sore muscles
- Rosemary – hair/mouth/skin care, stress, immune system, pain relief
- Cintronella – pesticide, astringent
- Cedarwood – anti-inflammatory, good for seborrhea, tonic, astringent, expectorant, insect repellant, fungicide
- Lemongrass – analgesic, antidepressant, antibacterial, anti-pyretic (fevers), antiseptic, astringent, insect repellant, fungicide
- Bergamot – anxiety, antifungal, psoriasis, vitiligo
- Clove – antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral, dental/skin care
- Thyme – stimulates circulation, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, decongestant
To round out the first aid kit, below are some additional helpful ingredients:
- Epsom salts —When it is absorbed through the skin, (such as a bath), it pulls toxins from the body, sedates the nervous system, reduces swelling, relaxes muscles, is a natural emollient, exfoliator, and much more.
- Activated charcoal —reduces absorption of poisonous substances and absorbs chemicals.
- Aloe vera — This plant has been used for thousands of years. It can be used internally and externally. Commonly used as a disinfectant, anti-biotic, anti-microbial, germicidal, anti-bacterial, anti-septic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory.
- Cayenne — The ingredient capsaicin helps decrease joint inflammation, decreases bad cholesterol, helps normalize blood pressure levels. It is a great blood cleanser.
- Ginger — Great for motion sickness, flatulence, joint pain, and it’s best known as a digestive aid.
- Fennel — has many uses: expectorant, laxative, great for PMS, antispasmodic, antibacterial, helps maintain healthy levels of good cholesterol, full of antioxidants, and good for flatulence.
- Witch hazel — Used to ease the pain of hemorrhoids and varicose veins; digestive complaints, sore throat, swelling, bruising, and skin care.
- Arnica — Great on inflammation: bruises, sun burn, wounds, arthritis and post surgery. Also, known to help muscle soreness, especially due to sprain.
- Calendula — Topically, a salve to treat minor cuts and abrasions, great for chapped lips and diaper rash. Used as a tea, mouthwash for gum and tooth infections, gargle for sore throat, drink for bladder infections and stomach ulcers.
- Slippery elm — used for most all bowel issues: constipation, diarrhea, IBS, GERDS, ulcers. It is soothing for upper respiratory irritation, great for sore throat. Wounds, infection, psoriasis, and burns benefit from this herb.
- Comfrey — aka “knitbone”, it is an anti-inflammatory, and best known for its bone healing properties as well as speedy wound healing.
- Echinacea — Per “Medical News Today”, people have reported using Echinacea for the following ailments: acid indigestion, ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome, diphtheria, dizziness, genital herpes, gum disease, malaria, migraines, pain, snake bites (in the past Echinacea was also known as: snake root), rheumatism, septicemia-bloodstream infections, streptococcus infections, syphilis, the flu, tonsillitis, typhoid, urinary tract infections, and vaginal yeast infections.
- Willow bark — Used for aches, pains, reducing fever. The first aspirin was made from willow bark.
Homemade first aid kits make wonderful (not to mention) useful gifts.
If you were to put together your own first aid kit, what would you put in it?
If in doubt about any ailment, please see your physician. First aid can help until the person is able to get to a doctor.
References:
www.care2.com
http://www.felicitybathsoaps.com
http://www.jeffreyjamesorganics.com
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
http://health.howstuffworks.com
I for got about first aid kits I used to have one in my car, I had to get rid of it things inside were out of date. My family keeps all of our medical needs in one location so it can easily be found, but now that I think about it I know there are some areas we can improve on. I never thought about herbal things, I did not know that echinacea had so many healing properties . I think it may even be growing in my garden are cone flowers snake root I don’t know I will try to find out.
I would have never thought to put essential oils in my first aid kit. That is amazing, and the uses of all of them are vast. I am definitely going to try to put these in my next first aid kit.
Great info. I love using essential oils but never thought about putting them in first aid
I always wanted to get a first aid kit put together but I was always stumped on what to put in them.
I don’t have a first aid kit, however I do have a vast array of essential oils and common medicinal items. I really need to make up a first aid kit with gauze and band-aids and the like. Thanks for the reminder to have a first aid kit on hand and a good list of the things that go in it.
As an Army vet, i’ve learned to always keep a first aid kit in your car. No matter what. Tho i’ve actually never thought about putting oils in you car as well. I like the idea, but at the same time….Oklahoma heat index’s and what not, i really don’t think those oils will last too long in a car that can boil to 130+ degrees. Maybe a leaf or organic object of the same nature as the oils. idk.
Essential oils in a first aid kit? What a great thing to add! I’m certified in First Aid for my lifeguard job at the YMCA; maybe they will let me add some to the first aid kit! haha 🙂
I keep a basic first aid kit in my car. By basic I earn really basic. It’s probably time I update it and add to it. I never would have thought to put essential oils in it though. A home made first aid kit is a great idea. I am a very holistic person and avoid taking pharmaceuticals unless it is absolutely necessary. I will have to do some more research on all these oils,herbs, and spices and see what all I would want to put in a new first air kit
If I was to put together a first aid kit i would have matches, gauze, blanket, razor blades and tweezers and also scissors.
I love to use tea tree oil on mosquito bites! I can also attest that lavender is also really great for burns.
This is good things to do for people who live in the woods. That’s me!!!
I am a firm believer in being prepared for any situation. So i agree that keeping a first aid kit is very important and everyone should have at least a small self prepared one.
Very interesting! I had no idea essential oils were that amazing!
I have always been in to first aid kits myself, I find them completely necessary for your car, your boat, and your house. I never would have thought about essential oils, but now that I know I would definitely put that in mine. I enjoyed the blog, thank you for writing it!
Me personally I keep a first aid kit handy… I have a small 1 in my car & a bigger 1 at home…. When my son was a baby I had a zip lock bag with the essentials in it…. Bandages, rubbing alcohol, antibiotic ointment, a pain reliever, & some change 4 a pay phone just in case my phone was dead or lost, lol(that was 10yrs ago)…. The essential oils are something new 4 first aid kits 2 me, so I screen shot that portion so I can make good use of that.
I don’t really have a “kit” put together but I have all my med supplies in one place in the bathroom. I guess it would be a good idea to have one with me at work while I’m doing massage because you just never know what could happen:o
This is an awesome tip! I never thought of ever putting together a kit just always thought it would be around.. Great info and awesome blog discussion.