How often do you take a trip and just
assume you will make it to your destination safely? If you are like most
people, taking trips without worrying about safety is normal. We all just
assume that accidents only happen to other people. As such, most of us travel
without any thought of personal safety. We don’t even do basic things like
packing a travel first aid kit.
Travel first aid kits don’t have to be big,
bulky, and expensive. Even a basic first aid kit is better than having nothing
at all. The reality is that you never know what is going to happen during the
course of a day. And that is the number one reason for having a first aid kit.
Accidents can happen to anyone at any time. No one is immune.
When Help Isn’t
Immediately Available
Imagine you are driving down a dark road
early on a winter morning. Though you are going to work, it is still early
enough that there isn’t a whole lot of traffic. Your car hits a patch of ice,
causing you to slide off the road and into a ditch. You are not seriously
injured, but now your car is stuck.
The darkness means no one can see your
car in the ditch. It could be hours before help arrives. What do you do? If you
have a travel first aid kit in the car, you should have a blanket to help keep
you warm. You should also have some bandages that you can use to patch yourself
up while you wait for help.
Without an emergency first aid kit, you
will be left to your own devices. You cannot run the engine because you now
have snow blocking the exhaust. You are going to have to find another way to
keep yourself warm. And as for those cuts, they will just have to bleed.
Benefits of First
Aid
A lot of people do not think about
emergency situations until they find themselves in the middle of one. However,
there are plenty of benefits to being prepared. For example, a 2017 study out of Bangladesh proved just how
critical first aid is in the event of an emergency.
The report looked at non-fatal injuries
and their impact on disability, productivity, and economic costs. They
discovered that when first aid was rendered in the minutes immediately
following the start of an emergency situation, patients
fared much better.
Those treated by medical professionals
were 1.28 times more likely to show improvement compared to those treated by
untrained personnel. Both groups fared much better than those who were not
given first aid treatment at all.
In a nutshell, the research revealed that first aid treatment can significantly reduce the risk of disability and loss of productivity in the aftermath of an accident. Simply put, rendering first aid improves outcomes for accident victims.
First Aid is Emergency
Care
Rendering first aid is all about
minimising the harm caused by injuries. It is not intended as a substitute for
comprehensive medical care, according to the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). As such,
a good first aid kit doesn’t have to be a complete medical suite.
As emergency care, first aid focuses on
easily observed and treated injuries. A good kit will contain gauze bandages,
for example. Bandages can help slow down bleeding by covering an open wound and
encouraging clotting. A splint can help immobilize a fractured bone so that no
more damage is done while an accident victim waits for more comprehensive
treatment.
Do Not Leave Home
Without One
Once again, the number one reason for
having a travel first aid kit is that you never know what is going to happen
during the course of the day. You might make it home today completely
unscathed. But you might not. There could be some sort of accident waiting just
around the corner.
The best way to prepare yourself is to
never leave home without a first aid kit. If you drive a lot, put together a
kit and store it in your car. You will always have it whenever you are behind
the wheel.
If you are the kind of person who likes
hiking and exploring, carry a travel first aid kit along with your camera,
mobile phone, and lunch. Take a kit with you whenever you go camping. At work,
make sure you know where the company first aid kit can be found. And if your
company doesn’t have one, speak to management and encourage them to get one.
You can buy very affordable first aid
kits online as well as at department stores, pharmacies, and even office supply
stores. You can also assemble your own kit if you prefer. A basic first aid kit
includes gauze, bandages, a splint, antibiotic ointment, scissors, and a few
additional small items. You should also include a thermal blanket.