First aid kit facts for kids

A First-aid kit

A first aid kit is like a special box or bag filled with important tools and supplies. These items help you give first aid to someone who gets hurt or suddenly feels sick. It's super useful for treating small injuries and helping people until more medical help arrives.

What is a First Aid Kit?

A first aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment used to give immediate help to someone who is injured or ill. This first help is called first aid. First aid kits are designed to be portable, meaning you can easily carry them wherever you go. They are important to have at home, in your car, at school, and during outdoor activities like camping or sports.

Why Are First Aid Kits Important?

Having a first aid kit ready can make a big difference in an emergency. It allows you to quickly treat cuts, scrapes, burns, and other minor injuries. This can help prevent infections and make the person feel more comfortable. Sometimes, a first aid kit can even help save a life by providing quick care for serious problems until doctors or paramedics arrive.

What's Inside a First Aid Kit?

First aid kits can have many different items, but they usually include some basic things to help with common injuries. Here are some items you might find in a typical first aid kit:

• Gloves: Two pairs of clean gloves, often made of latex or other materials if someone is allergic to latex. These protect both the person giving first aid and the injured person from germs.
• Dressings: Sterile pads or bandages to cover wounds and help stop bleeding.
• Cleaning supplies: Soap, cleansing wipes, or antibiotic towelettes to clean wounds and prevent infection.
• Ointments:
  • Antibiotic ointment to put on cuts and scrapes to stop germs from growing.
  • Burn ointment to soothe minor burns and help them heal.
• Bandages: Adhesive bandages, also known as plasters or Band-Aids, in different sizes for small cuts and scrapes.
• Eye wash: A special solution to rinse out eyes if something gets into them.
• Thermometer: To check if someone has a fever.
• Personal medications: If you or someone in your family takes daily medicines like insulin or asthma inhalers, it's a good idea to keep a small supply in your kit.
• Scissors: Small scissors are useful for cutting tape, bandages, or even clothing if needed.
• CPR face mask: A special mask that helps you safely perform CPR (rescue breaths) if someone stops breathing.

Other Useful Items

Some kits might also include:

• A small bottle of super glue. It can be used carefully to close small cuts, but this should only be done by an adult or someone trained.
• Tweezers to remove splinters or small objects from the skin.
• Pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for headaches or minor aches.
• An emergency blanket to keep someone warm if they are in shock or feeling cold.
• A small notebook and pencil to write down important information, like when an injury happened.

Images for kids

• 

  Large and small first aid kits used by the British Red Cross for event first aid, in the internationally recognized ISO green with a white cross. These kits also feature the red cross, which is a protected symbol under the Geneva Conventions and may only be used by the Red Cross or military.

• 

  A Pocket mask in its case.

• 

  Adhesive bandages are one of the most commonly used items in a first aid kit.

• 

  Plastic tweezers

• 

  Disposable gloves are often found in modern first-aid kits.

• 

  A waterproof Pelican first aid kit.

• 

  Travel pharmacy (early 20th century).
• 

  Alternate version of the first aid symbol

See also

In Spanish: Botiquín para niños