Most parents are bound to face a small “medical emergency” at home with their child at some point, whether it’s a nasty scrape, nosebleed or bug bite. Knowing what to do and having some supplies handy can make minor injuries easier to care for when they occur.
“Everybody should have a first aid kit,” says Dr. Mary Jane Piroutek, an emergency department physician at CHOC. “They also should have a card in their kit with their pediatrician’s phone number on it in case someone else is watching the child and needs to know who to call if needed. They can also call 9-1-1 for a severe emergency.”
Supplies for a basic first aid kit
To build a basic first aid kid at home, Dr. Piroutek suggests including the following supplies:
- Gauze or dressing.
- Antibiotic ointment like Neosporin, for bites, cuts, stings and scrapes. This will help keep wounds lubricated and prevent infection.
- Bandages.
- Antiseptic spray to help clean the wound.
- Tweezers to remove splinters. To remove a stinger that is still in a puncture wound, use something firm like a credit card to swipe it away.
- Non-latex gloves to keep hands clean.
- Antihistamines for minor bites or allergic reactions (talk to a medical professional for giving antihistamines to a child under the age of 2).
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen – not aspirin – for pain.
- A water bottle in case you are somewhere that lacks clean water and you need to wash a cut.
Additionally, learn what to have on hand in your family’s medicine cabinet.
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