What you must have in your home first aid box

HEALTH

At a time like this when the country is facing a Covid 19 crisis, having a first-aid equipped box becomes mandatory.

In the first aid box, there must be items that help you address emergencies that could occur while at home. These could be injuries, burns or scalds, or any illnesses that might require immediate administration of first aid before rushing the victim to hospital.

Experts say you can only be able to give first aid if your first aid box is fully equipped with the following

Plasters

Dr JohnBaptist Niwagaba notes that plasters are a must-have in your first aid box. These help you in dealing with minor accidents and injuries in your home. He adds that these must be stocked in different sizes and types.

Cotton, pair of scissors, and distilled water/normal saline

He says cotton and a pair of scissors are must haves in your home first aid box. Cotton is used for cleaning wounds before creamy medicines are applied. A pair of scissors can be used to clean wounds in case a person doesn't have cotton. The scissors can be used to cut small things that are to be used in giving first aid treatment

Dr Niwagaba explains that distilled water is used in cleaning wounds. Having it saves your home people from getting infections incase they tend to use other types of water. This should go hand in hand with iodine solution which you can apply on open wounds before dressing them.

Sterile gauze and disposable gloves

Dr. Niwagaba says sterile gauze is helpful when it comes to dressing wounds. This is very helpful when giving first aid to a person who has got an accident in your home especially if they have a wound that needs dressing. To dress the wound you need to wear disposable gloves and also use sterile gauze to stop bleeding.   Ensure that you have sterile gauze in your home first aid box.

Cough medicines/anti-allergy medicines

Dr Mukasa notes that this  season where cough and flu is common. This makes it a requirement for all homes to have cough medicines for their family members stocked in the first aid box. He adds that also allergies are common and most people react by getting cough or a running nose.

He encourages all families to have anti histamine medicines to treat allergies that could arise because of being exposed to conditions that trigger allergic reactions.

Other types of medicines include pain killers like Ibrufene, paracetamol, creams. Pain killers help  with  pain relief incase one gets an injury or an accident.

Caution

Hanifa Nambalirwa a doctor at Nsambya Hospital notes that after equipping your home first aid box, one should  sensitize their  loved ones especially adults on how to effectively use it.

She adds that it's also very important to keep it out of  reach of children. If possible lock it in a place that can only be accessed by adults who can use it when need arises. 

Dr Nambalirwa encourages families to always feed their families well especially on a balanced diet so that their immune system is boosted.