A First Aid kit is something that all of us should have in our homes, our cars, at work and even to some extent, carried on our person. One thing to consider is the number of people in your family group before purchasing. You’ll want to make sure that the size of kit is for the correct number of people. Most of this information can be found on the outer packaging. If it’s not there and you’re in a retail establishment, try asking at the pharmacy which should be in close proximity to where the 1st aid kits are located.
If you already have a First Aid kit for the home then review the contents and make sure that the supplies are adequate for what your needs are. This might also be a good time to place a smaller version of the home kit in your car if you don’t already have one there.
The Individual First Aid Kit or IFAK is exactly what the label means. Individual. The objective for this week is to do one of several tasks.
One: If you don’t already have a First Aid Kit in your home, get one. Make sure it has enough basic supplies for the size of your family unit.
Two: If you already have a home First Aid Kit, review the contents and see what needs to be replenished or tossed out due to expiration date. Make a note of the items that are being replenished and create a chart to place inside the kit or taped to it. Start a list of items that you feel need to added to it. These items could be butterfly closures, skin glue, more gauze, non-stick pads, gloves, etc.
Three: If you already have a home First Aid Kit and have recently reviewed and replaced and deficiencies within it, then it’s now time to move onto a vehicle First Aid Kit and begin working on your IFAK.
Your IFAK should be tailored to the items you use or feel that you’ll use on a daily basis. It doesn’t have to be something huge like a backpack. The average IFAK should be able to slip into a purse or into a waist bag without difficulty. You don’t need an entire surgical suture kit in your IFAK unless you already use sutures daily. There will be some overlap between items you have in your IFAK and your BOB, don’t worry, this is very common and quite practical.
There are variations to everyone’s IFAK and all can be adjusted for your circumstances. Don’t forget your pets. They can get injured too. If you and your pet normally do outdoorsy events together then adding in medications and bandages designed for pets to your IFAK is definitely something to consider.
