Don't Panic...
By lilybee
A few things have gotten me thinking about first aid just recently, firstly of all there was DiyMaven's post about disaster readiness kits,
(thought provoking stuff that) and then there is the fact that DIY
involves lots and lots of sharp objects, power tools and relatively
dangerous stuff. Lastly there was a minor incident involving a broken
glass and an errant finger. All these things made me realise that a
pack of Batman Band-Aids and some kitchen towel don't really cut it first
aid wise.
This is what first aid kit should include, according to the ready.gov folks
- Two pairs of Latex, or other sterile gloves (if you are allergic to Latex).
- Sterile dressings to stop bleeding.
- Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect.
- Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
- Burn ointment to prevent infection.
- Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes.
- Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant.
- Thermometer
- Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates.
- Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies.
All good stuff, you can either put together your own kit or buy a ready filled one from some place like here. I would also add steri-strips or other paper stitches to the kit, for people who slice up their fingers but point blank refuse to 'go to the hospital and wait around all day for a couple a stitches, dammit', (hello dad).
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Decorating on a teeny budget is my thing. Recycling and Reusing and Repurposing are my...
lilybee
Yikes! Thanks for sharing DesigningMom, it never hurts to have a reminder to stay sharp around power tools. I hope your fellow is healing up ok, that should make for a pretty interesting scar.
DesigningMom
Thanks so much for this information. I know all too well what can happen during a DIY project. I'd gone in to start dinner from helping hubby frame in our front porch for screen. Less than five minutes later in he walks saying he has a little problem. I figured we'd measured something wrong. Well that is until I turned from the sink and saw him holding one of his hands with another. THEN the drop of blood. Splat on the white ceramic tile. Slow mo too.
Our framing nail gun had double shot. The first one hit the mark, but with the kick back the second one went straight through his finger. No blood in the picture linked, but it ain't pretty, let me tell you. If things like that bother you, don't look! Just wanted to show that no mater how careful you are, accidents still happen. That's why they call them accidents. Needless to say we spent the evening in the ER and he couldn't take our son golfing for his birthday the next day. He did however keep working on the porch.
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