How To Organize First Aid Supplies? 2 Easy To Follow Steps For You!

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Preparedness cannot be overstated; it’s an investment that pays dividends in the long run. However, have you ever opened your first aid pack only to begin searching for plasters? As you may be aware, learning how to arrange first aid equipment is important for a variety of reasons. Furthermore, we’ve got some more advice for you in this regard. To learn more about how to organize your first aid kit or medicine cabinet, continue reading this article.

How To Stock A Home First Aid Kit

When you don’t need it, a first aid kit is usually the last thing on your mind, but lately I found myself in a first-aid bind. One day I’m going to cut myself with this thing as I’m slicing carrots on the mandoline, I told my husband as we were doing it. A large chunk of my thumb pierced the blade in less than a minute. It was fortunate that my in-laws were in town for dinner, and my MIL is an expert at cutting.

How To Stock A Home First Aid Kit - Organized-ish

She sifted through the contents of my Walmart-purchased first aid kit container, which she had opened and tossed around in search of something useful. Sure, there were bandaids and gauze, and some random things I have idea what they even do, but I was definitely not prepared for an instance like this.

In order for you to not be like me and make a last-minute dash to the pharmacy five minutes before they close to stock up on all the home emergency supplies, I decided to write this piece today. Having a first aid kit in your home is essential in the event of an emergency.

What To Keep On Hand In Your First Aid Kit

Here are the fundamentals:

  • A wide variety of bandages
  • A variety of bandages and medical tape are available.
  • In pill and liquid form, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, and Antihistamine.
  • Antibacterial lotion
  • Cream for numbness
  • Irritation from insects
  • A hydrocortisone ointment (for rashes and scrapes)
  • Stitches made using liquids
  • Wipes that don’t contain any alcohol
  • Rinse your eyes with warm water and soap (not eye drops)
  • Gentle, dye-free antibacterial soap in a travel-sized bottle.
  • Alcohol and peroxide
  • Wearing disposable sterile gloves.
  • a pair of scissors and tweezers
  • Oral and ear/forehead thermometers are available.

The Add-ons

  • Kit for treating snake bites (especially if you live in a wooded area)
  • Compresses, both hot and cold
  • Slinging one’s arm
  • Splint
  • Splint or brace for the fingers
  • Toenail caps made of rubber
  • Blankets in case of emergency
  • Inhaler as a back-up
  • Mouthpiece for CPR
  • a little, portable guide to wound care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Where To Store Your First Aid Kit

Your first aid kit should be in an easily accessible place in your home. Everything is kept in the hall bathroom in our home. We wanted to ensure that in the event of an accident in our home, we would be able to locate it swiftly. My MIL didn’t have to look for materials, just like she did when I sliced my finger last week.

In addition, I recommend maintaining a large first aid kit on the main floor of your home, as well as smaller, more condensed kits on the other floors and in each of your vehicles.

Are you stumped as to where you should keep all of your supplies? Do not feel pressured to acquire first-aid containers like these if you can’t afford it. You can get them online or in stores. Ziplock bags with slider closures can be used to keep all of your supplies, arranged by category, in a basic plastic lidded container.

Alternatively, you can store them all in a divider-style over-the-door shoe holder. That’s a terrific method to keep everything organized while also making it simple to get to the products you need.

First Aid Kit Maintenance Tips

Maintaining your first aid kit is a top priority. It will absolutely leave you high and dry if you just make one and don’t think about it again. Once a month, take a look over your pharmaceutical and band aid supplies. Restock as needed, and don’t wait until supplies run low before going shopping.

Check the expiration dates of your medications, creams, and liquids every month as well. These do have an expiration date and are likely to be less effective than when they were brand new once that date has passed.

For prescriptions or creams that are due to expire in the next month or two, consider donating them to the homeless shelter where you live. You don’t have to feel bad about throwing them away because they may be used sooner.

Finally, it’s a good idea to sit down with your family and watch a few YouTube videos on how to deal with some first aid situations. Before coming to the ER, I recommend watching Red Cross videos on how to perform CPR, treat a wound, and apply compression.

Don’t Forget Your Pets!

As soon as you’ve loaded and stored your personal first aid kit, and you’re familiar with what to do in case of an emergency, it’s time to get one for your dogs. Learn how to stock a first aid kit for your pets by reading this page.

How To Organize First Aid Supplies: 2 Easy Ways

2 Easy Ways

In the event of an emergency, having a first aid kit on hand is a must. The following are a few of the reasons why it’s critical:

  • When a crisis occurs, every second counts. You must respond quickly, which necessitates the use of first aid items as soon as feasible.
  • To ensure that you don’t run out of an item, it’s important to keep track of your inventory.
  • In addition to replacing supplies, you need to keep an eye on their expiration dates continually. Because of this, accurate labeling is also essential.

Organizing First Aid Kit: Tackle Box

For starters, it’s essential that you choose out sturdy first aid storage containers.

Organizing First Aid Supplies (So You Can Find Them When You Need Them) | The Shelving Store

An item of fishing equipment is housed neatly in a tackle box. As a result, it serves as an excellent first aid package.

  1. Be prepared in the event of an emergency, such as a severe cut or an allergic reaction, by stocking up on medication.
  2. Indicate the intended purpose of each compartment with a label, such as “fever and discomfort,” “allergy symptoms,” or “bite symptoms.”
  3. Make a note of all the medications you own and their expiration dates, and keep it in a safe place. To keep track of inventory changes, keep this sheet in your box.

A box with a lid will do if you don’t want to use a tackle box. Zip-lock bags with the required labelling should be used instead of compartments for drugs.

Organizing First Aid Kit: Shelf Or Cabinet?

There are certain first aid kits that don’t come in a box. First aid materials can be arranged in a shelf in a variety of ways.

  1. Empty the shelf in the cabinet.
  2. Disinfect the shelf with a disinfectant spray or anything else that can be used to disinfect.
  3. The objects should be arranged in a way that makes sense to you. In the absence of a designated area, label the shelves.
  4. You must keep a list of your first aid supplies and their expiration dates near your first aid shelf for easy updating.

The Basic System to Organize First Aid Supplies

Sorting objects into groups based on the type of problem they solve is the most efficient method I’ve found so far. Then, I pack the groups into Ziploc bags and store the Ziploc bags in a locker, dry bag, or bin. When something goes wrong, all you have to do is pick up one bag and you’ll have all the tools you need to fix it.

When we were on Que Tal, we had a top-opening locker that was just the right size for first aid supplies (like bandages and splints for minor cuts, as well as prescription painkillers and antibiotics) while our “major medical” supplies were stored in a large dry bag in another less accessible locker (read more about dry bags here).

We won’t have as many medical supplies on board Barefoot Gal as we did for cruising isolated sections of the Sea of Cortez and Central America, because we’ll be cruising coastal waters instead. However, my overall structure will be the same.

I am not a medical professional or a doctor. If you have any questions regarding what you should bring on board, please consult yours. It is your obligation to keep a first aid kit on hand and to know how to use the supplies in it.

General Categories & Contents

I’ve included my “category bags” here, along with a brief description of what each contains. Please, however, do not interpret this as a recommendation for what to have in your home first aid kit. Instead, consider the conditions you’re likely to encounter while boating, any common issues encountered by persons on board, and the extent to which assistance is available before making a decision on what you should bring. I’m posting our list here in the hope that it will inspire you to buy something you’ve been thinking about.

Even if you’re careful, you may realize that some products mentioned in a given bag don’t fit within that bag. My system is like this!

Allergies

Epi-pen, steroids, Benadryl, insect bite medicine, and cortisone cream

Cuts

A first aid kit should include Band-Aids and gauze pads, tape, triple antibiotic ointment, butterfly bandages, antiseptic hand wipes, needles, moleskin and New Skin for blisters, tincture of benzoin (learn how to use this in order to keep Band-Aids on better), rubbing alcohol, and antiseptic hand wipes.

Cold meds

Cough syrup, decongestants, and sinus medications are all available to passengers on board.

OTC pain meds

Ibuprofen, Tylenol, etc.—again, what works best for you. Having aspirin on hand in the event of a possible heart attack is a smart idea.

Sprains and breaks

Medication, splint, ace bandage, and a safety pin or piece of tape for the ace bandage (another great use for duct tape). SAM splints, for those who aren’t know, are field splints that can be cut using common household scissors, etc. While rafting through the Grand Canyon, I broke my wrist and used one for nearly a week; I can speak to its effectiveness (it was more pleasant than the one I received from the doctor’s office when we arrived at the end of our trip). It’s possible to buy a 36-inch splint on Amazon that may be used for practically any type of break or sprain. Keep an extra ace bandage on hand to hold your homemade gel ice pack in place if you have a freezer.

Dental

A temporary filling kit and a pain reliever (we use Anbesol, but there are many more).

Rehydration drinks

Make your own homemade packets, or buy the commercially available ones. A person might get dehydrated for a variety of reasons, including illness or extreme heat. Rehydration beverages, including how to prepare your own, are covered in this article.

Gut

Commodity medications for diarrhea, constipation, nausea, gas, yeast infections, and other gastrointestinal disorders.

Antibiotics

The antibiotics given by our doctor are kept in our medicine cabinet and are only used after consulting with our doctor or another medical professional. We keep three days’ worth on hand. Basic treatment can be started on the way to get professional help.

Paz (our dog)

There are a number of medications that can be used in the event of an allergic reaction, including liquid Benadryl, liquid Dramamine, and steroids, as well as droppers for liquid medications. If you have a pet aboard, check with your veterinarian to see what medicines they recommend and how much to administer (some meds cannot be tolerated by certain breeds)

Miscellaneous

Items not included in the first aid kit include:

  • medicines for sea sickness (meclizine works best for me)
  • ear drops for swimming (we use half rubbing alcohol and half hydrogen peroxide in a dropper bottle)
  • Athlete’s foot antifungal
  • Gold Bond chafing powder
  • a kit for fixing eyeglasses
  • both for us and our dog – tick remover Read about them here.

My Konmari Journey: Komono (Medicine and First Aid Supplies) – My Simple Nest

Semi-Annual Review

I go through the entire box twice a year to check expiration dates and make sure tape still has enough “stick” to ensure that nothing is missing (yes, we often forget to put something on the “to buy” list). I double-check it before we head out of a major city and into the countryside.

If I were more organized, I’d put a list of what’s supposed to be in each bag so that checking them would be a breeze. I keep saying I’ll do it, but I haven’t gotten around to it.

DISCLAIMER: If you’re going offshore or anywhere where medical assistance is more than a day away, you’ll need a far more comprehensive first aid kit. Those are out of the scope of this post, and I’m not going to speculate on what all should be included in one.

FAQs

Where is the best place to store first aid supplies?

To keep the kit at home, the kitchen is the best place, as it is a common gathering spot and where many injuries occur. Because of the high levels of humidity, it’s not a good idea to keep your home kit in the bathroom. Many prescriptions should be stored at room temperature.

What should an emergency kit contain?

  • In this case, the term “water” (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
  • Food is a necessity (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)
  • NOAA Weather Radio includes tone alert and a battery-powered or hand crank radio
  • Flashlight.
  • A medical kit.
  • Extra batteries are always a good idea.
  • Whistle a little bit (to signal for help)

What’s inside a first aid kit?

A variety of bandages and dressings (gauze roll, sterile gauze pads, eye pad, roll of adhesive tape, elastic bandage for sprains, sterile cotton balls and swabs). Cut, burn, and injury treatment available over-the-counter. Members in your family may require special medication. Splints and bandages can be fastened with safety pins.

What should not be in a first aid kit?

Prescription or over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, decongestants, sinus relief, etc., should not be included in a first aid box. Do not use these as first aid supplies. The company encourages employees who need these prescriptions for personal usage to bring them to work with them.

How do you organize vitamins and medicine?

Remove all of the items from the shelf first. A clean cabinet is generally the best place to begin. As a second step, categorize each item into a specific category: children’s vitamins and supplements, adult vitamins, homeopathic cures, and so on. Prescription drugs should be kept in a separate group since they require special attention.

Where should you store medicine at home?

To prevent deterioration, medications are typically stored away from heat, moisture, and light. Vastu, on the other hand, recommends that drugs be kept in certain places in order to avoid long-term disease. To help you out, here are a few pointers: Keep medications at the north-east corner of your home.

What is the use of flashlight in first aid kit?

Sustenance requires both a well-stocked emergency supply kit and a well-thought-out emergency strategy. Kits should include flashlights since they provide light when there is no other source and are safer than candles. Power may be off for hours or even days after a storm or other disaster occurs.

How many items should be in a first aid box?

A well-stocked drug shop has everything you need for your first aid kits. Ask a pharmacist for advice on what to buy. What’s in the starter kit at home? These 16 items should be included in every household’s first aid kit.

What does HSE stand for in first aid?

Regulations governing first aid in the workplace, include the First Aid at Work Act of 1981, the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First Aid) Act of 1989 and the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.

Conclusion

It’s important to know how to organize first aid items, regardless of whether you store them in a box or on a shelf. The most important thing to look for is a fast response time in the event of an emergency. Also, a well-stocked first aid kit will assist you in accomplishing this goal. Visit this page to find out how to better organize your first aid equipment.

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