While the mini-van-driving, juice-box-toting, cooler-packing soccer mom stereotype is the target of many jokes, you can’t deny that parents of active children are spectacular at being prepared for anything their little leaguers and tiny dancers may punt their way. My own training as a physician (and mistakes as a mom) have taught me that it’s smart to have a basic first-aid kit stashed in the trunk and some Band-Aids tucked in a purse pocket. However, if you really want to be ready for all emergencies, here is a list of items that I, a pediatric emergency physician, would include in a portable first aid bag. It’s not small, but this stuff is in my trunk and I. AM. READY.
Wounds, cuts, and scrapes are always around the corner:
-
adhesive bandages of all sizes
-
super glue: use on small, surface cuts or areas where a bandage doesn’t hold!
-
moleskin/second skin for blisters
-
saline or water bottles for wound irrigation: there’s not always a sink around!
-
2X2 and 4X4 gauze squares
-
non-stick dressing: helps close a wound without disturbing it
-
medical tape
-
scissors
-
non-latex gloves: protect everyone — glove up!
-
Vaseline: apply to cut or wound before covering with bandage to prevent drying out!
Bump it, hit it, sprain it, twist it:
The environment isn’t always our friend:
