What You Should Include In a First Aid Kit for Summer

Summer road trips in Canada are awesome. We have fond memories of summer road trips with our families. Many of these memories include the good times such as swimming in the lake, night time campfires, hiking in the forest, and rides at an amusement park. In addition we also remember the not-so-good times; mosquito and black fly bites, sunburns, tummy aches and nausea, blisters and burns, scuffed knees and stubbed toes. Of course mom and dad were always there to help with the tough times because they brought along their car first aid kit. So what should you pack in a first aid kit for your own road trips?

First start with the basics and pack them into a waterproof container. Basic items include:

Sterile gauze pads in various sizes for cuts and burns with adhesive tape to secure gauze and bandages
Roller bandages which hold dressings in place or can be used for arm slings
Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes for small cuts and scrapes
Medical Scissors, Tweezers and safety pins
Instant ice and heat packs
Disposable non-latex gloves
Antiseptic wipes or soap
Eye patches
Thermometer
Aloe Vera and vitamin E for burns
Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone for bug bites or rashes
Antiseptic and hydrocortisone creams
Insect sting relief pads
Cotton balls and cotton swabs
Vaseline
Saline solution to flush out eyes
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Tea tree oil for poison ivy

Next include medications for treating aches and pains, digestive upset and other similar issues. If someone in your family takes prescription medication, be sure to include extra medication and/or prescriptions. Typical medications that should be included in your first aid kit include:

Anti-diarrhea tablets, antacids and laxatives
Anti-motion sickness medication
Cold and flu medication, including decongestants, cough suppressants and lozenges
Pain and fever medication

Finally, you should also have additional supplies in case of emergencies on the road. If you are traveling with small children, take extra precautions and bring with you anything that you feel will sooth your children in the case of an emergency along with these items:

Emergency blanket
Pencil and pad
Coins for pay phone
Canadian Red Cross first aid manual
A battery-powered radio and flashlight, with extra batteries
Booster (jumper) cables
A fire extinguisher
Bottled water and non-perishable high-energy foods
Maps of the area
A shovel
Flares
A tire repair kit and pump
Matches along with a “survival” candle placed in a deep can which can burn for many hours

Lastly, in this modern day of technology many of us assume that we can rely on our devices in emergencies. This is not always the case, especially if you are travelling through or staying in neither areas that have little or none Wi-Fi nor GPS services. Therefore; you should be prepared to be able to navigate your way using traditional road maps. You should also have on hand, emergency phone numbers and contact information for doctors as well as change for use in a pay phone. Being prepared means that you and your family will be able to enjoy your summer road trip and create new memories that will be cherished by your children.

To find many of these supplies, or for pre-packaged first aid kits, come visit Brant Arts Dispensary in Burlington.