If you love to tinker with and improve your home, you’ll know that you can’t come out of every project unscathed. If you do get injured in the course of a DIY project, it is essential that you have some basic medical supplies on hand. A well-stocked first aid kit is an essential toolbox filler. Here are some of the items that you should make sure that you have plenty of before you start a big DIY job.
Band-Aids
A good selection of band-aids is absolutely essential. Small cuts and abrasions don’t need professional dressing, but they can become easily infected if they are left exposed while still open. Band-aids come in all sorts of materials, but ultimately any sterile covering will do in a pinch. Even the cheapest band aids are extremely effective and useful.
Sterile Dressing And Scissors
For larger wounds, you’ll want to cut a strip of sterile dressing. Sterile wound dressing packs can come in handy when you have a wound in an awkward place that cannot be easily covered with a band-aid. You’ll need a good pair of medical-grade scissors in order to easily cut bandages. Companies like MFASCO sell medical-grade scissors and bandages.
Tweezers
Splinters are especially common – and extremely annoying – injuries attained while completing DIY projects involving wood. Getting a splinter out of your skin without the proper tools can be a painful and frustrating experience. A pair of needle-nosed tweezers should be in every first aid kit. Make sure to learn how to properly use them to take out small splinters of wood.
Distilled Water
Distilled water is better for cleaning wounds than tap water because it is free of minerals and other impurities that can be found in tap water. These impurities can irritate the wound, delaying the healing process or even causing an infection. Tap water may also contain bacteria and other harmful pathogens that could further contaminate the wound. Distilled water has been purified through a distillation process that removes all contaminants, making it a safe and sterile option for wound cleaning. Using distilled water can help promote healing and prevent complications, making it a preferred choice for wound care. A small bottle of it is an essential in any first aid kit.
Sterilization Fluid
Before wrapping up and covering any open wounds, it is important to sterilize them in order to prevent infection. The exact composition of sterilization fluid may vary depending on the intended use and the type of microorganisms being targeted. Common ingredients in sterilization fluid include hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), and glutaraldehyde. These chemicals work by disrupting the cellular structure of microorganisms, preventing them from reproducing or causing harm. The most commonly used first-aid sterilization liquid contains the chemical hydrogen peroxide. It is highly effective while being minimally caustic. While sterilizing a wound generally involves a little bit of pain, it is an essential safety step.