It’s a Crime to Be Unhealthy!
By Susan Holloway, M.S. Home Economics Child Development-Family Relations
Retired Teacher of JMCSS and Madison County Extension
Summer is the time for minor accidents in our homes. How many has your family had?
Hopefully few but were you prepared to treat burns, bites, breaks, nosebleeds, cuts, stings, etc.? The
best thing is to personalize your own FIRST AID KIT complete with instructions for all your family’s
projected accidents. When I shop online for a ready prepared kit, I find they range from $20 to $200.
Price usually is determined by 10-100 items. The following are guides to keeping yours simple:
Choose a bag or box and add a large FIRST AID KIT label. Maybe some special decorations
also. I purchased a clear plastic box with locking lid for only $1.25 at a local store which also
has many other items you will need at that same low price.
Choose about 10-15 index cards appropriately sized for bag or box. Also have markers and
pens. Let each card contain the instructions needed to handle many problems your family
notes could happen. Use internet to research instructions for happenings such as burns, bites,
stings, cuts, breaks, nosebleeds, etc.
List supplies needed to follow all these instructions such as gloves, roller and pad gauzes,
medical tapes and bandages, disinfectant also for burns, trauma shears, elastic bandages,
SAM and finger splints. Locate items you need on the list. Some may be in your home now
and you can begin to place them in the box or bag. The items you need to purchase may be
noted on the list as a good shopping reminder for you.
At a family meeting, teach each person as cards have instructed, where kit is located, discuss
last accidents persons had experienced and what they needed at the time. Maybe sort the
cards into those accidents “likely and unlikely” to happen and then rank cards in each
category. This would be a great time to have a fire drill for the home and or course a tornado
drill. Designate persons to bring FIRST AID KIT to the drills. I am totally dependent on insulin
to live, and I always bring insulin and supplies to my safe place during drills.
May your days be safe and healthy because you plan ahead for the unexpected.