First-aid kits have been around for over a century. They are very important in any medical emergency and can help save lives when the chips are down. You can use them to take care of seriously ill people until help arrives, and the professionals take over.

However, a first aid kit is only as good as the items in the kit. Let’s take a quick look at what you need in your kit:

1.     First Aid Manual

All the equipment in your first aid kit won’t be of much help if you don’t know how to use it. Apart from helping you learn simple but important skills such as the Heimlich Maneuver and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, it will enable you to utilize the items in your kit.

It is particularly useful for children who might suddenly find themselves taking care of a wounded or seriously ill person. Ideally, your first aid manual should have set-by-step instructions with pictures and diagrams so people could follow them easily.

2.     Bandages and Antiseptics

These are the primary items you need in your kit. Triangular bandages can be very helpful where the skin is broken or if there is tissue damage. Antiseptic solutions can help ensure that cuts, or open wounds, don’t get infected.

3.     Tourniquet

A tourniquet can stop blood flow to the extremities so the injured person doesn’t bleed out. It is extremely useful if an artery or vein has been punctured, and will keep the person alive until the EMTs take over.

4.     Various Medicines, Masks, and Gloves

Many people have allergies or develop them suddenly, so you should have antihistamines in your kit along with an inhaler.

Apart from the above, common over-the-counter analgesics, painkillers, masks, gloves, a thermometer, and a flashlight should also be part of your kit.