72 Hr. Kit Challenge, week 10

If you're having trouble keeping up with the weekly posts (like I am--Ha!), you can check under the 72 hour kit label or you can check the list I keep in the right hand side of the page. Or you can always contact me at the email address given.

So we're up to week ten already, which means our kits should be starting to fill up quite nicely. This week, the assignment is in two parts. The first one is putting together a first aid kit. Now, I know that not all of us are married to a paramedic who keeps boxes of first aid supplies in the basement at all times. Since you may not have the luxury of raiding his existing collection, here is a list of items you may want to consider adding. Just like anything else here, this is a personal decision and you'll need to figure out what works best for your family.

Items you may or may not need in a First Aid Kit:

Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
Hypo-allergenic adhesive tape
40-inch triangular bandages (3 rolls)
2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
Scissors and tweezers
Epi pen (if necessary due to family allergies)
Sewing needles
Moistened towelette/wet wipes
Antiseptic soap
Antiseptic solution –iodine compounds
Neosporin
Thermometer
Tongue depressors (2)
Tube of petroleum jelly (Vaseline or lubricant)
Safety pins in assorted sizes
Cleaning agent/soap
Latex gloves (2 pairs)
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
First Aid Manual
Caladryl or generic equivalent (anti-itch lotion)
Rubbing alcohol
Cotton balls
Heavy string
Splinting material
Prescription medications (check with your pharmacist and/or doctor about this)

If you want to buy a premade kit, I've been told the American Red Cross and Walmart sell them for comparable prices and they are well-stocked.

The second part of the assignment is to contact your local emergency management office (probably part of the city you live in) and verify what types of emergency are possible in your community. This isn't just about earthquakes. If you live near a creek or river, you may need to consider flooding possibilities. Really, these kits may be needed for something as commonplace here as a large snow storm. Check with this office to see what kind of events your community is preparing for and any special items you may need as a result. Keep this information with your family's emergency plan.

As always, you can contact me if you have any questions about this project and I'll see what I can do to get you additional information.