Summer can be a very busy time. Some folks will retreat to cottages up north. Others will plan a long road trip by bike, camp under the stars or backpack across Europe. Kids will head off to horseback camp, hockey camp, coding camp and sleep-away camp, while some people may choose to just stay home and lounge by the pool. Whichever schedule you’re bound to this summer, you’re likely to endure a few bumps, bruises or messy scrapes. Are you prepared?
First Aid Essentials
Chances are, you can’t remember the last time you cleaned out the first aid kit. It’s a task often overlooked, but essential for a safe and happy summer. Take a few minutes this weekend and open it up. Throw away used, damaged and expired items and restock. There’s no right or wrong way to do it, the contents are up to you. The checklist below is just a suggestion and should be modified according to your activity:
- Bandaids (in a variety of different shapes & sizes)
- Small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings
- At least 2 sterile eye dressings
- Triangular bandages
- Crêpe rolled bandages
- Safety pins
- Disposable sterile gloves
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Alcohol-free cleansing wipes
- Sticky tape
- Thermometer (preferably digital)
- Skin rash cream, such as hydrocortisone or calendula*
- Cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings*
- Antiseptic cream*
- Painkillers such as Tylenol* or ibuprofen*
- Antihistamine cream or tablets*
- Distilled water for cleaning wounds
- Eyewash and eye bath
If you’re going somewhere, where you won’t have access to the internet, it’s always useful to keep a basic first aid manual or instruction booklet with your kit.
*These products may not be suitable for a child or infant. Be sure to check the label and include a child-friendly alternative.
PRO TIP: Even if you’re only taking the bus to a baseball game, or having an outdoor book club meeting at a picnic table, having a few basic bandaids and a flattened roll of toilet paper in a ziplock bag will always come in handy. You may be accident-free, but it’s always nice to be able to come to someone else’s rescue with your minimalist first aid kit.
MOLLY MAID not only brings you the best cleaning advice and home care tips, but we also bring you the best cleaning services around! Schedule a cleaning with your local MOLLY MAID and free up your time for this summer’s adventures.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
