The Contents of a first aid Box/Kit and their uses

The materials needed for effective first aid treatment are usually kept in a box and it is called “First Aid Box” or “First Aid Kit”. The box should always be kept clean and dry. A first aid box should be available in sports arenas, schools, homes, offices, vehicles etc.

In this article, you should be to know 38 items found in a first aid box and their uses

Also Read: Who is a first aider and their role?

38 Different Items Found in a First Aid Box and Their Uses

Every educational institution, sports centre, industrial establishment or even at home, should have a first aid box of medicines and other emergency care supplies to cope with any emergency. Table reflects some of the important items and a few of their major uses. In the case of the family medicine cabinet, a childproof lock is the first requirement.

Inside it should be kept the name, address and telephone number of the family doctor, a first aid manual and some of the tabulated items in Table.

Also Read: Definitions, Types and Importance First Aid

Contents of a First Aid Box and their uses

S/N	MATERIALS /ITEMS	USES
1.	Aspirin	1. For relieving general pains 2. For reducing body temperature in fever 3. For headaches
2.	Aromatic Spirit or Ammoniated Camphor Liniment (colourless pungent liquid)	1. Used against insect bites 2. For cleaning wounds 3. Used as a cardiac stimulant 4. Used as an expectorant to bring out the sputum in cough
3.	Bandage	1. For supporting fractured bone 2. To reduce swelling or maintain direct pressure over dressing 3. For covering/dressing cuts/ burns, etc. 4. For holding in place something like body part or dressing 5. To restrict movement
4.	Baking soda or sodium Bicarbonate in dry form	1. Used in solution for treating shock victims 2. Used for soothing in skin disease 3. Used as an alkaloid in acid poisoning 4. For treating chemical burns or as an antacid in heat burns
5.	Boric powder	1. Cleaning wounds 2. Used as an antiseptic powder to prevent infection in the foot, e.g. preventing athletics foot. 3. Used against insects bites
6.	Bowls	1. Used for the dressing of wounds 2. Used for collection of waste fluid 3. For putting 4. For preparing solutions
7.	Blankets	1. To reduce heat loss in a casualty e.g. keeping frostbite patients warm 2. For smothering flames in casualty in a fire accident 3. Serves as a substitute for stretcher in carrying casualty. 4. To provide privacy 5. Folded and placed under casualty for support
8.	Crepe Bandage	1. Used for supporting sprained limbs 2. For immobilizing the fractured limb 3. Used for supporting dislocated limbs 4. For support of varicose veins of lower limbs to prevent rupture
9.	Cotton lint/ gauze	1. For dressing wounds 2. For controlling bleeding 3. For padding
10.	Epson salt or Common Slat	1. Used in solution for cleaning of slouchy wounds 2. Used in irrigation of body cavities 3. Used for burns
11.	Iodine	1. For sterilizing wounds or for skin disinfectant 2. For dressing wounds by acting as Antiseptics
12.	Razor Blade	1. For cutting adhesive tapes or plasters 2. For shaving hair to expose injured area 3. For cutting Elastoplast
13.	Towels	1. For Controlling bleeding by acting as a compressing medium 2. For cleaning wounds 3. For cleaning hands after washing following treatment
14.	Elastoplast	1. For dressing cuts/holding dressings in position 2. As a fixative for small dressings 3. For covering wounds or holding bandaged wound end.
15.	Napkins	1. Cleaning hands before/after treatment 2. For tepid sponging to reduce compression 3. To clean wounds 4. In controlling bleeding
16.	Scissors	1. Trimming/dressing the surface of a wound 2. Cutting bandages and Elastoplast
17.	Embrocation Liniment	1. To relieve pains in strains and Rheumatism 2. To reduce swelling in a sprain 3. For cold and frostbites
18.	Antiseptics	1. For dressing wound 2. For sterilizing first aid equipment 3. For cleaning wounds to prevent infection
19.	Sterilized cotton wool	1. For cleaning wounds 2. For dressing injuries 3. For padding splints 4. For mopping up clot blood
20.	Tourniquet	1. Used to prevent or cut off the spread of poisonous toxins, e.g. venom in the case of snakebite or after scorpion sting 2. For supporting fractured limbs 3. For controlling bleeding or hemorrhage 4. To identify veins for intravenous infusion
21.	Mild soap	1. Used for washing hands before and after treatment 2. Cleaning or washing away any visible dirt around wounds 3. To bathe or clean up victim
22.	Vaseline Ointment	1. For dressing burns 2. Used as a lubricant to moisturize the skin 3. For treatment blister and fire burns
23.	Triangular Bandages	1. For covering injuries and head wounds 2. For suspending injured arm 3. Used for support or immobilization of an injured limb
24.	Safety Pins and Clips	1. For holding bandages or dressing in a position 2. For perforating boils
25.	Nivaquine (Syrup) or tablets	1. For inducing vomiting in case of poisoning 2. For preventing malaria as prophylaxis 3. For treatment of malaria fever as a curative measure.
26.	Spoons	1. For mixing solution 2. For giving or administering oral food, drinks or drugs 3. Used for preventing the tongue from falling back and blocking the airway in an unconscious casualty (the spoon must be padded)
27.	Per-magnate crystals	1. Used against insect bites 2. Added to water to ally itching and has a soothing effect on the skin in the case of rashes.
28.	Adhesive Tapes	1. Used to tighten bandages in a place 2. For knotting bandage end in dressings 3. For holding dressing in place
29.	Splinter Forceps	1. For picking foreign bodies from the body 2. For applying splints 3. For holding splints in position 4. For immobilization of fracture
30.	Wire or Thin board splints	1. For immobilization of dislocation 2. Used for support 3. For immobilization of fracture
31.	Sterile castor oil or mineral oil in tubes	1. Used externally to protect and soothe the eyes when the irritant enters them 2. Used as purgative or laxative 3. To stimulate vomiting when poison is suspected 4. To dress an abrasion or superficial wound
32.	Thermometer (clinical)	1. Used for the measurement of the temperature of patient or victim/ casualty 2. For detecting fever or patency of the anus in a newborn baby
33.	Splints	1. Used for immobilizing fracture 2. Used to treat fractures
34.	First–aid Record Book/Notepad, pencil or biro pen	1. Used for keeping stock of first aid materials 2. For recording injuries or documentation of casualty cases 3. For recording the history of injuries or accidents
35.	Torch	1. Used to see properly, particularly at night 2. For inspecting deep wounds
36.	Whistle	For locating casualty by rescuers.
37.	Tags	To table casualties in multiple casualties of major accidents
38.	Disposable gloves	1. Worn to protect the first aider against infection e.g against direct contact to avoid contracting HIV. 2. Worn when disposing of any waste materials

The list of items found in a first aid box as shown in table, is not in any way exhaustive. Moreover, the quantity of each item to be provided in the box is guided by the type of material, the use and the utility value. Some items require one or more as the case may be.

Obviously, the first aider can’t carry a first box containing all the items stipulated on the table into the accident scene. Therefore, there is a need for discernment of articles or items to be put in a smaller portable kit that will be readily available to render first aid or to treat minor injuries.

This kit may even be a special container, such as a small bag. It is therefore advisable that physical education specialists, trainers, coaches or and games masters/mistresses should as a matter of fact always provide this type of kit during physical education practicum, an athletic meeting (inter-house sports competitions) or intramural games If such a kit is not provided, the officer may not legally survive the charge of negligence, in case of sports injury management report, or prosecution.

Read on: The First Aider: Qualification, Principles, Scope and Responsibilities

Conclusion on The Contents of a first aid Box/Kit and their uses

It is very good for you to have a well-stocked first aid box handy, as it will make a lot of difference, in the sense that, it will help you to take care of injuries and sudden illness at school, home and community as the case may be.

This article took you through items found in a first aid box and their uses. We hope you will find them useful during an emergency.