Friday, December 2, 2011

First Aid Supplies: A Basic List


Kids in daycares and child care centers frequently get into mischief and small accidents. That’s why it’s important to have first aid supplies on hand. Here’s a quick list of essential items for you center’s first aid kit (individual items in bold for ease of reading):

Adhesive tape for bandages, gauze pads, and splints.
Aloe vera gel for burns.
Antibiotic ointment such as neosporin.
Antihistamine such as Benadryl. Also include any drugs prescribed by a child’s doctor to treat an allergic reaction.
Antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide or an antiseptic wash.
Bandages for cuts and other injuries. Be sure to include several sizes of band-aids, gauze pads, and ace/elastic bandages.
Calamine lotion for insect bites.
Cotton balls and cotton swabs to apply antiseptics, etc.
First aid instruction manual Remember to read it before an emergency arises.
Hand sanitizer or soap.
Hydrocortisone cream, over-the-counter.
Instant cold packs so that you can apply a cold compress when you don’t have access to ice. These are intended for single use.
Mouthpiece for CPR.
Painkillers Do NOT give aspirin to children, however (as it is associated with Reyes Syndrome).
Plastic gloves to protect both child and caregiver from infection. We recommend vinyl in order to avoid possible allergic reactions to latex.
Scissors to cut adhesive tape, gauze pads, or even clothing in an emergency. Curved medical scissors are best.
Thermometer Temporal thermometers are best for reducing the risk of infection.

Remember to keep important medical information (such as medical history, allergies, reactions to drugs, etc) for each child on hand. At least one caregiver should have current CPR and first aid certification.

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