First aid kits – every parent should have one, but what exactly should you put in them?
When you walk into a chemist, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the number of products to treat scrapes, grazes, breaks, fevers and burns.
But you don’t need a huge stockpile of first aid items to be prepared for ailments, accidents and injuries.
Director of The Parentmedic Movement, Nataly Tormey, says parents only really need to have a handful of products.
The most important thing, she says, is that mums and dads know what to do in an emergency situation, whether it’s minor or major.
Sometimes that means knowing what painkillers or creams to use, or what to do until help arrives.
Here, Nataly shares her must-have first aid items and explains why some products aren’t really essential.
ESSENTIAL FIRST AID ITEMS
PANADOL: Parents should have panadol in the house at all times. Your child will wake up in the middle of the night in need of pain relief. It’s important for parents to know to use Panadol first. Panadol and Nurofen are different products, and can both be used at once. If it’s inflammation use Nurfoen, otherwise use Panadol. Also, suppositories that go up the other end can be handy if your child is really sick and is refusing to swallow Panadol. Suppositories can also be bought from the chemist.
ANTIHISTAMINES: Antihistamines ease the symptoms of an allergy. They are amazing products to have handy when your children are trying new foods or are out playing a lot in the garden.
BURNAID: All children will burn themselves eventually! Burnaid helps reduce the pain when they get a burn.
MAGNOPLASM: So many parents go in with tweezers to pull out splinters or glass. With Magnoplasm you just put the paste on, leave it there and it will remove the piece of glass or splinter.
SUDOCREM: Sudocrem is great – you can use it for any sort of rash.
INSECT REPELLENT: Great to have, particularly in the summer time to stop those nasty mosquito bites.
OPTIONAL FIRST AID ITEMS
THERMOMETER: You don’t really need a thermometer, but by all means have one for peace of mind. But you don’t need to spend a fortune – a $10 one works just fine.
EYE FLUSHES: These can be pretty handy. They are basically little cups to flush a child’s eye out.
UNNECESSARY FIRST AID ITEMS
BAND-AIDS: I see kids cry because they don’t get a Band-Aid. But they don’t actually need Band-Aids – they don’t really do anything. You just need to put pressure on the wound. When my children hurt themselves they run to the toilet and get some toilet paper and hold it on their wounds.
ANTI-BACTERIALS: Most health professionals don’t recommend anti-bacterial products like Dettol or Betadine. The body has its own way of fighting infection.
ICE PACKS: I’ve seen parents pin their kids down to put their ice pack on. Is it worth it? It’s only stopping a bit of swelling or a bit of bruising
BANDAGES: Same as above – is it necessary? Probably not. If it’s a sprain you will have to go to the doctors anyway. At primary school they will just use t-shirts. Most kids are happy to support their own arm.
ABOUT THE PARENTMEDIC MOVEMENT:
Parentmedic is an international organisation offering first aid education and training that aims to be accessible and affordable to all parents and carers.
The Parentmedic Movement has nearly 80 educators in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The organisation’s training and education is designed by founder Nataly Tormey, a first aid industry veteran, a nurse, healthcare professional and mother.
The movement is non-accredited, which Parentmedic says reduces costs and accessibility to its training. Courses include baby and child first aid and safe sleep training.
