MyMedic First-Aid

We came together with one objective in mind, to save lives. The goal is to prepare everyone with equipment and training for the unexpected emergency. We know that most people are not prepared for emergencies, it’s an unfortunate reality. Life can be gone in an instant, but if you had the power to prevent a loss, you would take it in a heartbeat.

Whether you are using your first-aid kit as a homesteader, taking it with you for backwoods camping or other activities that could result in a survival situation, or simply packing one to have on hand in the event of an extreme weather event or accident, there are certain items that it should absolutely have. Having a properly outfitted first-aid kit is one of the most important things you can do to survive extreme situations. Make sure yours has everything you need when emergency strikes. You don't know when disaster will strike, and neither does the health care system. The emergency room may seem the epitome of preparedness, but Stephen Flynn, a former Coast Guard commander and author of The Edge of Disaster; thinks that medical care in the United States may be unprepared to cope with a catastrophic emergency, wide spread pandemic or a large terrorist attack. During the economic downturn, hospitals have been doing what everyone else has been doing, says Flynn.

WHAT TO KEEP IN YOUR FIRST AID KIT

In an emergency, a properly stocked first-aid kit can often mean the difference between stopping a situation from escalating before it gets out of control and winding up with a life-threatening incident on your hands.Whether you are using your first-aid kit as a homesteader, taking it with you for backwoods camping or other activities that could result in a survival situation, or simply packing one to have on hand in the event of an extreme weather event or accident, there are certain items that it should absolutely have. A first-aid kit should have plenty of items necessary for injuries that are not life threatening or serious enough to require additional care. These include the kinds of items you would need for dealing with minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises; first-degree burns, sunburns, and allergic reactions. The basic items for non- life threatening situations should include: band-aids, gauze pads/rolls - and plenty of it to manage serious cuts, medical tape, instant cold packs, atheltic bandages for wrapping sprain ankles, poision ivy wash, scissors and tweezers for removing splinters and cutting bandages, anithistamines for treating allergic reations to stings, bites and poisonous plants, and antibiotic ointment for cleaning wounds.

In addition to the listed first-aid items, your first-aid kit should also include items that you may need in an emergency situation. This way, you don’t have to go looking for these tools elsewhere in your gear or home. They include the following; a flashlight with backup batteries stored separately. More than one flashlight is even better, and it’s recommended that you opt for camping headlamps rather than hand-held flashlights. This way your hands are free to work on the situation at hand. Hand sanitizer so you can quickly disinfect your hands before and after assisting the injured person. Disposable sterile gloves are very useful for preventing infection as well. Road flares for signaling an emergency, especially if you intend to keep your first aid kid in the car. Water purification tablets are crucial if you are stranded and do not have access to potable water. This is especially true if you are nursing injured persons back to health – you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of clean water. Tablets are better than bottled water because they are smaller and more portable, and they can’t be contaminated. Thermometer – preferably digital, for taking temperatures and determining if the injured person is developing a fever. Mylar blankets are lightweight, waterproof, and very warm. They are the best protection from the elements in cold weather. Having a properly outfitted first-aid kit is one of the most important things you can do to survive extreme situations. Make sure yours has everything you need when emergency strikes.