First Aid Kit Essentials
What to keep, what to toss
You have Band-Aids® galore, a boo-boo bunny and ibuprofen in both bathrooms, but in a real emergency, would you be ready? Prepare yourself by taking some key steps, says Melissa Klein, MD, of the Division of General and Community Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s. A home first aid kit is top of the list. “Have the basics at home, and make sure things are easily accessible,” she says.
To help prevent and reduce misuse, throw out all children’s cough medicines. Also get rid of syrup of ipecac, which is no longer recommended for home use by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Must-do’s Dr. Klein says are crucial:
- Re-stock your first aid kits regularly, paying special attention to expiration
dates on your medicines.
- Create an emergency contact form with parent and child information,
doctor and dentist contact info, medications, allergies and any medical
conditions your child has. Keep a copy on the fridge and in the car.
- Enroll in a CPR class if you haven’t yet taken one (see Parent Classes).
