20 essentials for your first-aid Kit

You should always keep a first-aid kit in your home. It should be kept within easy reach of an adult but should be stored away from children. Having a well-stocked first-aid kit is essential to ensuring the right supplies to deal with an emergency at a moment's notice.

First-aid kits can be purchased at a local drugstore or you can put one together yourself. If you make the decision to make one yourself, chose a container that is spacious and easy to open and carry. Plastic tackle boxes, for example, make great homemade first-aid kit containers.

If you decide to make your own kit, here are 20 essential supplies you will need to make sure to include:

• A first-aid manual
• Different sized sterile gauze pads
• Adhesive tape
• Band-Aids in several sizes
• Elastic bandage (like an Ace wrap)
• Antiseptic wipes
• Antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
• Acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Disposable instant cold packs
• Alcohol wipes
• Plastic non-latex gloves
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• A blanket
• Mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be purchased at the drugstore)
• Calamine lotion
• A splint
• Thermometer

Make sure to read the entire first-aid manual to understand how to use the contents of your first-aid kit. Not doing this could put you in a tough situation if there ever came a time to use one of the supplies.

Check your first aid-kit regularly. Some things in your first-aid kit you might not ever use, but some might frequently run out like Band-Aids. Replace the missing items so you have them in the future. A well-kept first-aid kit is a necessity in every home to help you handle an emergency in your household.