Almost everyone will need to use a first-aid kit at some point. You can be your family’s first line of defense by keeping your kit up-to-date and ensuring you have the necessary medical supplies in case of an emergency. If you haven’t updated your kit in years, then it’s time you inspect it before one of your loved ones ends up injured.
Continue reading to learn more about the importance of prioritizing your first-aid kit.
Check Resealable Items
Though resealable items come in handy, you should throw away everything that’s resealable in your kit, especially if you haven’t used it in years. Don’t use any products that might have been used by others, even if it’s your family members. There’s a high risk of cross-contamination if you’re sharing ointment tubes, eyewash, and liquids with brush tip applicators.
Although you may think sharing medical items with your family is safe and cost-effective, it’s dangerous and will cost more in the long run if someone ends up at the hospital due to cross-contamination. Stick to single-use items if you’re sharing your kit with family. Buy every person in your family their own ointments, bandages, antiseptic wipes, and other essentials.
Beware of Yellow Packaging
Several medical items, such as bandages and gauze, are packaged in a paper similar to a wrapper. Over time, the paper begins to yellow, a sign of an aging product. Medical products are sterilized using radiation after they’re packaged, but yellow wrappers indicate the package is falling apart. Throw away all medicines that are going yellow before you accidentally consume an expired product.
Use your best judgment when you’re inspecting your first-aid kit. If a product doesn’t have an expiration date, chances are it’s faded because it’s too old, and you should toss it out.
Don’t Trust Rusted Containers
Don’t let your kit become dirty or rusted. Clean and sterilize your first-aid container twice a year, so its contents stay in healthy condition. Make sure its hinges are in working condition, and that it opens and closes appropriately to seal out contamination. If you’ve had the same container for decades, discard it and buy a new one.
Replace First-Aid Supplies
Many items in first-aid kits last three to five years after manufacture; however, they can become damaged after frequent use, exposure to air, and moisture. If you frequently travel and take your kit with you, chances are your supplies have already gone wrong due to environmental elements in different states and countries.
Review your kit every six months and replace supplies as needed. Research first aid supplies every year to keep your kit up to date with the latest medicine.
Contact RestoreMasters
Although a first-aid kit comes in handy when it comes to small accidents, it won’t be enough to help you if a natural disaster strikes. In the unfortunate event, you experience a house fire or a flood, RestoreMasters can help you treat water and fire damage. Our technicians are available 24/7 and specialize in both emergency and non-emergency restoration. Contact us today.
