9 Medical Supplies You Should Always Have in Stock (#4 Will Surprise You)

You don’t get to see an accident coming. The solution is to prepare for it.

44 percent of Americans aren’t prepared for a medical emergency at home. Yet that preparation could be the difference between life and death, and stocking a first aid kit doesn’t have to be difficult.

Here are nine medical supplies you should always have in stock—and one that could surprise you.

1. Adhesive Bandages

Adhesive bandages (aka Band-Aids) are the most basic medical item you can stock, but that doesn’t make them any less useful. They can help to deal with anything from an everyday cut or scrape to a deep wound.

2. Antiseptic Cream

In many cases, an infection can be worse than an initial wound. Applied to a wound, an antiseptic will prevent the intrusion of microorganisms that could cause infection. It can help to keep a wound clean until it’s taken care of by professionals.

3. Painkillers

Managing pain is an essential part of first aid, and, with painkillers available off the shelf, there’s no excuse not to keep some around. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are two of the most common home painkillers, with the latter also providing relief from inflammation.

4. Spare Batteries

Is this a first aid kit or a camping kit? Well, medical emergencies often accompany other emergencies, like outages caused by storms. A power outage could make it almost impossible to administer first aid without a source of light or power.

5. Sterile Gloves

Dressing a wound can lead to the introduction of harmful bacteria, so keep things clean by having disposable, sterile gloves available for when things get messy. Always be sure to dispose of them responsibly after use, and never re-use them.

6. Sterile Dressings

Once you’ve dealt with a wound, it’s important to dress it properly with sterile dressings. This will keep the wound clear of any foreign bodies that could lead to an infection.

 

7. Antihistamines

Antihistamines are good for dealing with more than garden-variety allergic reactions. They could also keep a severe allergic reaction at bay long enough to get medical help.

Like painkillers, antihistamines should be available from your local store, so there’s no excuse for not having them.

 

8. Eye Bath

Eye injuries can be some of the most disturbing around, so prepare yourself for the scenario by keeping an eye bath in stock. This will help wash out any contaminants in the eye and help to prevent infection.

9. A Kit to Go

You should also consider creating a go-bag containing many of the above items. The idea is that you’ll be able to provide care on the move.

This is similar in concept to medical accessories like a pediatric crash cart. The journey to a hospital can seem a lot longer when there’s a life at stake, and it can be vital to have a transportable first aid kit with you.

Medical Supplies You Should Always Have In Stock

There are more medical supplies that you could keep in stock, but these nine should help you through most emergencies. Trust us, it’ll seem like a lot of hassle right up until you need it.

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