As traveling with pets becomes increasingly more frequent a practice, the number of pets injured while away from home is steadily escalating. When a cat or dog is unfamiliar with its surroundings, the animal may be more prone to various types of injuries, especially if the animal is particularly curious and overly inquisitive. Common pet travel injuries and illnesses include: insect stings, motion sickness, pet allergies, cuts, scrapes, and swallowing foreign objects. More serious injuries such as poisoning, infection, and broken bones may also occur.

Pet travel will become a much safer and more rewarding experience once pet owners are better equipped to handle emergency situations. Both knowledge of first aid, and the equipment available to facilitate such care are essential to ensure the best possible outcome for an injured pet. It is best to keep in mind the goals of administering pet first aid: first, to prevent further injury, and second, to minimize discomfort until the animal can be safely transported to a veterinarian.

These objectives determine much of what should be included inside a pet first aid kit. A dog or cat with a preexisting condition or illness may require the presence of additional items. The pet owner should decide what tools, medicines, and equipment to add depending upon their pet’s specific needs. All items should be stored in a waterproof container that can be closed securely.

Sample items in a pet first aid kit may include:

- Pet information card with pet’s current health information, veterinarian’s address and telephone number. Also include poison control hotline number.

- Latex gloves, cotton swabs, and hand wipes

- Rectal thermometer, and lubricating jelly pack

- Scissors, tweezers, nail clippers, oral syringe

- Triple antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream

- Sterile eye flush, eyedropper

- Old necktie (for making a muzzle)

- Bandaging materials (gauze squares and bandage tape)

- Clean towel

- Spare collar and leash

- Pet first aid booklet

Remember to package spillable items in leak-proof plastic bags, and rotate items so that medications and ointments do not expire. Store the pet first aid kit safely away from children and pets.

In a perfect world there would be no use for a pet first aid kit, but do not procrastinate. Having the necessary tools and equipment on hand during a critical situation can make a difference in the health and safety of your pet.

With vacation time at hand and more activities taking place, a well-stocked first-aid kit, kept within easy reach, is a necessity in every home. Having supplies gathered ahead of time will help you handle an emergency at a moment’s notice. Make sure that you and your family are prepared to treat the most common injuries, and emergencies that will take place over the summer.

This is also the beginning of the storm season. After a quiet start to 2009 Hurricane season, three storms have started in just 30 hours.

You and your family’s safety depend to a large extent on what you do now, before there is a storm on your horizon. Planning and preparation are the two most powerful survival tools at your disposal, and it is simply unwise not to make full use of them. To this end, be sure to have a comprehensive first aid / emergency kit close by.

A first aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment necessary to provide immediate care to an injured or ill person before treatment by medically trained personnel. The kit will be made up of different contents depending on the place where the kit will be used and the number of persons it needs to protect. Will it just be your family at the cottage, or will there be extra guests?

It is recommended that your first aid kit be assembled in a clean, waterproof container to keep the contents safe and aseptic. Most kits come in durable plastic boxes, fabric pouches or in wall mounted cabinets. The type of container will vary depending on where they will be used and will range in size from pocket sized through to large backpacks. A wall mounted first aid cabinet would be perfect at home or cottage, but a fabric bag would be better suited in your vehicle.

First aid kits available through your local stores are generally intended for treatment of very minor injuries only. Typical contents include adhesive bandages, gauze and a disinfectant. Specialized first aid kits are available for various locations and activities, and will focus on specific risks related to that activity.

For example, first aid kits designed for use in a boat will contain seasickness remedies. Kits designed for industrial applications will contain burn medication and a suitable infection barrier for performing artificial respiration. They will also have larger quantities of supplies to treat multiple victims.

Trauma injuries, such as bleeding from cuts and scrapes, bone fractures or burns, are usually the main focus of most first aid kits designed for the home; however these kits are also practical for use while traveling, at the cottage or during a disaster related evacuation. These kits will include:

Adhesive bandages

Adhesive tape

Sterile Dressings (applied directly to wound)

Sterile eye pads

Sterile gauze pads

Antiseptic wipes or sprays

Sterile non-adherent pads, containing a non-stick Teflon layer

Triple antibiotics

Bandages (non-sterile for securing dressings)

Gauze roller bandages

Elastic bandages (used for sprains)

Triangular bandages (used as slings, tourniquets and to tie splints)

Blood stoppers, to promote clotting for severe bleeding.

Butterfly closure strips (to close wounds)

CPR mouth piece

Splints, to stabilize broken bones

Burn dressing (sterile pad, soaked in a cooling gel)

Gloves (disposable)

Trauma shears, for cutting clothing and general use

Tweezers

Alcohol pads (sterilizing equipment)

Flashlight

Instant-acting chemical cold packs

Alcohol rubs or antiseptic hand wipes (hand sanitizer)

Thermometer

Emergency blanket

First Aid Booklet (Read the entire booklet so you’ll understand how to use the contents of your kit) 

It is an excellent idea to include Aspirin, primarily used for central medical chest pain, as an anti-coagulant and Acetaminophen for pain relief.

Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as Ibuprofen can also be used in the case of a strained joint.

Don’t forget extra prescription medications if you are going away for your vacation.

Remember to check the contents of all of your kits regularly and replace the items that have been used before you need them again.

While there is no way to predict when and where an injury or natural disaster may occur, being prepared with the proper first aid and emergency gear will give you and your family a much better chance of getting through the difficult times.

Knowing dog first aid skills are very important, just as with humans and knowing what to do in the event of an emergency may mean the difference between life and death for your dog. Dog emergencies or any other extreme medical situations require that you get your dog to the veterinarian as quickly as possible.

Of course, not every possible ailment will need professional treatment but better safe than sorry. If your dog ever receives any kind of injury it is always best that you be aware of what to do in advance (depending on what type of injury the dog has received). Different kinds of injuries require different kinds of treatments. Many kinds of injuries may require immediate medical assistance. It is a very good idea to know how to prevent any dog emergencies, treat various minor injuries with first aid and just when you need to seek immediate veterinary assistance and care.

In case an emergency ever were to happen it is easy to prepare for it in advance by creating your own dog first aid kit. It is very easy to create. Good ideas for containers could be a lunch box, a tackle box or some other shoe box sized plastic container. Water-proof and strong enough to withstand mild pressure is the best idea.

It would be a great idea to label the first aid kit on all sides with something such as “Dog First Aid Kit”. It’s also a very good idea to list a description of your dog(s) including it’s name, color, weight, any health issues, distinguishing characteristics with a recent photo labeled with the name of every pet that you own.

An index card with the numbers of your local veterinarian, poison control, and other canine emergency numbers for your dog (emergency vet, etc) is also a good thing to include in the dog first aid kit. Here is a list of several items you should put in your dog first aid kit with brief explanations as to what each item is for. Remember, your dog’s health may depend on it.

Dog First Aid Kit Basic Ingredients List:

Activated charcoal: for poisonings (1 gram per pound, mixed with water),

Antihistamine tablets: for insect stings and allergic reactions,

Betadine or Nolvasan: cleaning open wounds,

Blankets: several if possible, to help prevent against shock in the event of an accident or injury as well as a good way to transport an injured dog,

Blunt nosed scissors: to cut tape and clip. Keep these scissors with the kit.

Canine rectal thermometer: to take the dog or puppies temperature,

Cortisone ointment: Used as a topical anti-inflammatory,

Cotton balls and swabs: Used mainly to clean wounds,

Eyedropper or dosage syringe: to apply medications to your dog,

Eyewash: to irrigate the eyes of your dog,

First-aid cream: to sooth and protect wounds,

Gauze bandage: for wrapping wounds,

Gloves: both thin plastic to avoid contamination and thicker ones if you have a fear of being bitten,

Hand towels: to dry hands, for clean up, etc.,

Hydrogen peroxide (3%): has various uses, one of which is to induce vomiting,

Kaolin and pectin: to help diarrhea (1 teaspoon per 10 pounds),

Magnifying glass: to help locate any tiny objects

Muzzle: even the best dog may bite when in extreme pain. If you don’t have one you can also make one from strips of soft long fabric, tube socks, etc.,

Nail clippers: best case scenario, have both human and canine nail clippers,

Non-stick adhesive tape: to help tape bandages in place,

Non-stinging antiseptic spray: to help clean wounds,

Pepto-Bismol , Maalox or Kaopectate: to help relieve minor stomach upsets,

Petroleum jelly: for use with the rectal thermometer, also an aid in constipation (1/2 teaspoon per 10 pounds),

Saline solution: can be used for many things such as irrigating wounds,

Stretch bandages: for wound dressing,

Styptic pencil: to stop minor bleeding,

Syrup of Ipecac: used to induce vomiting (1 teaspoon per 20 pounds),

Tweezers or hemostat: use to pull our splinters or other small foreign objects,

Vegetable oil: for mild constipation (1 teaspoon per 5 pounds, mix it in with food)

If you can think of other items to add to your dog first aid kit, feel free to do so. This list is just a place to get you started in creating your own dog first aid kit.

Any of the following symptoms or injuries require IMMEDIATE medical action from your veterinarian. Contact your vet immediately if your dog or puppy has any of the following:

Been hit by a vehicle,

No pulse or heart beat,

Broken bones,

Puncture wounds to the abdomen or chest,

Spurting blood,

Bleeding from nose or mouth,

Bloated abdomen,

Repeated vomiting,

Pale gums,

Diarrhea for more than 18 hours,

Muscle tremors,

Problems with breathing or swallowing,

Refusal to eat for 48 hours,

Seizures or disorientation,

Unusual swellings (especially ones that are sudden, hard or fast growing)

In any emergency situation try and keep as calm as possible and to get your dog to the veterinarian as quickly as possible. If anything ever happens, call first to see if the office is open, and to let the vet know what has happened and that you and your dog are on your way.

If your veterinarians office is not open for whatever the reason, call your nearest emergency vet clinic. Always keep all emergency phone numbers, including those of your veterinarian and emergency veterinarian clinic, near your telephone.

When it comes to protecting you and your cherished family and friends, you recognize the importance of having a high quality and professional unitized plastic first aid kits. Those kits are easy to use and easy to understand. They usually start at a 61-piece unit which will carry everything you need to quickly treat an emergency, and can hold you over for most circumstances until help arrives in many cases.

The case has a handle made for easy carrying, and there is even a wall mount which allows for instance access. The contents are snugly placed in this plastic case which means you are going to have less shifting. Each of the items are individually wrapped to insure cross contamination is minimized, and you will easily be able to replace the contents with the permanently affixed sticker on the inside that has a list of the contents.

What can you expect to find in this 61-piece unitized plastic first aid kit?

Adhesive plastic bandages – When you need bandages you will find this kit has a multitude of bandages individually wrapped for your protection. When it comes time to restock these individually wrapped bandages, you will not have to fight and struggle. Instead, you will even find it easy to reorder. Small adhesive bandages to large adhesive bandages are included to insure you have bandages for every situation.

Non-stick pads – If you do not want to have an adhesive plastic bandage, you may find these nonstick pads extremely useful. In addition to being used as a bandage, these can be used to stop the bleeding. Or place on top of a wound to keep contaminants out until help arrives. These nonstick pads are wonderful and a must for any reputable and reliable unitized plastic first aid kit.

Triple antibiotic ointment – There is nothing as recognizable as being beneficial to the healing process as triple antibiotic ointment. These just happen to be individually wrapped for your convenience. Simply massage the individually wrapped package of triple antibiotic ointment and apply to a clean wound to promote healing. These are easy to replace, and since they are individually wrapped, will have a longer life expectancy.

Alcohol cleansing pads – When it comes to cleaning a minor wound, there is nothing quite like the cleaning power of isopropyl alcohol. These alcohol cleansing pads will offer you the ability to properly cleanse any minor wound in preparation for doctoring.

Instant cold compress – While these have not always been a necessity in unitized plastic first aid kits, these are today an important part of the whole case. These are ready in an instant to be used as an instant cold compress to slow down swelling and offer relief.

Scissors – No matter what kind of unitized plastic first aid kits you have, you will find that scissors offer many benefits. You can snip bandages to the proper size, snip open individually packed items, or even snip clothing that can be in the way. You may find it necessary to run an alcohol pad over the blades when finished to insure they are not contaminated.

You simply get more when you use unitized plastic first aid kits.

It’s always a good idea to keep a first+aid+kit within reach at all times.? Sometimes having a couple will help out a lot more when you need one.? You never know what can happen,?or where you’ll end up.? All of this information is useful to everyone:?

First aid and survival is needed wherever you go.? This – survival manual – is made available to the tax payers of the United States Of America by the US ARMY.? Something can go wrong at any time.? Keep you and or your family safe with first aid supplies and survival knowledge.? Having supplies ready before hand, or keeping your first+aid+kit at reach will help you handle an emergency without wasting too much time, resulting in less of a serious injury. You should keep at least one first aid kit in your home, and a first aid kit for your car.? If you have other motor vehicles, it would be a good idea to keep an auto first aid kit on that vehicle as well.? There are plenty of small first aid kits you can buy for your extra vehicles, so it doesn’t cost you so much to be prepared for an emergency.? Choose a first aid kit that will be easy for you to use. ? You may want to keep the following items in mind for your home first aid kit – travel first aid kit – sports first aid kits – etc.? Please check your list of items and see if you need to replace them in your first+aid+kit.? You never know when you will need it again.? Or, the items may have expired.?

first-aid manual, sterile gauze, adhesive tape, adhesive bandages in several sizes, elastic bandage, antiseptic wipes, soap, triple-antibiotic ointment, antiseptic solution, hydrocortisone cream (1%), acetaminophen and ibuprofen, extra prescription medications, tweezers, sharp scissors, safety pins, disposable instant cold packs, calamine lotion, alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol, thermometer, plastic gloves (at least 2 pairs), flashlight and extra batteries, mouthpiece for administering CPR, your list of emergency phone numbers.

A first aid kit is not just a set of items that you store in your washroom and contains only band-aids, alcohol and analgesics, it is something more. There are various types of First Aid Kits, the most common is the one stored inside the house.

What do we mean if we have a complete set of first aid kit? What is that for and how or when to use it? What comprises each first aid kit? These are the questions we ask ourselves when we consider buying one for our home.

A first aid kit is a set of supplies and equipments for giving first aid, hence the name. A variety of equipments are in it like:

• Bandages – to control bleeding

• Regular strength pain medications

• Gauze

• Disinfectants – like alcohol and Povidone iodine

• Personal protective equipments – like gloves

• Breathing apparatus – to protect you from performing the expired air resuscitation, EAR and cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR

Moreover, the typical contents and most commonly used are the dressings which should be sterile. This comes in different types like sterile eye pads; adherent or non-adherent pads and burn dressings. These are sterile pad soaked in a cool gel. Bandages can be non-adhesive; examples are gauze roller, which should absorbent, breathable. The elastic type are the ones usually used for sprains and pressure bandages. Adhesive elastic roller types are very effective when it comes to applying pressure. They are also very durable and waterproof. Triangular bandages are commonly taught in Basic First Aid Course that was used as slings, tourniquets and to tie splints. Adhesive bandages are the straight adhesive type such as band-aids, sticking plasters. Butterfly bandage types are actually the two common examples as well.

Instruments that should be present in your First Aid bag are the hypoallergenic tape because you don’t want the patient to develop “Urticaria” or itchiness with reddish skin markings. Trauma shears can basically be used for cutting clothing and general use. An irrigation syringe can be used for cleaning wounds. Rubber suction bulbs are good for clearing the airways and can be applied to an unconscious patient.

Equipments like Personal protective Equipments or PPE are important. This is especially in emergency cases where in hazardous materials can even hurt the rescuer. An example would be in organophosphate or insecticide poisoning. Eyecups, gloves, CPR mask or a face shield, sterile eyewash, emergency blanket, thermometer, penlight and even instant acting cold packs.

Certain medications should be in your bag like antimicrobials. This would include antibiotic ointments and anti itch ointments. Examples would include Hydrocortisone cream, Antihistamine cream such as Benadryl and Calamine lotion among others. You also need pain killers or analgesics. These are essential for the fever to disappear. Examples are Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen (an anti-inflammatory drug, which is most of the time more valuable than the latter drug. Aspirin, for some, is also applicable. Diphenhydramine, which is anti-histamine, can lessen the allergic reaction seen in few patients. Aloe Vera gel can be used for a variety of injuries like burns, sunburns and dry skin.

Burn gels are water based gels, which acts as a cooling agent and often has mild anaesthetic components. A good example is Lidocaine with antiseptics components like that of tea tree oil. Epinephrine auto-injector is also commonly included in this first aid kit, especially if you are in wild nature trips such as summer camps. This epinephrine injector is used for anaphylactic shock, which is commonly known as severe allergic attacks. Thus, activated charcoal and syrup of ipecac are electively placed in first aid kits because it is for poison treatment. A haemostatic agent that is called QuikClot is sometimes included especially in military kits; this is mainly to control severe and profuse bleeding.

If ever you are trapped somewhere and you do not have anything else but your first aid kit you and you are wondering what you can do. Well, the first thing to do with your first aid kit would be to call help. It would also be helpful if you have a basic first aid manual, which can guide you in any type of situation. This is really necessary because in emergency cases, we get to panic easily. When this happens we cannot think straight. A manual will be able to help us go through it. It would also be advisable to list down the pages for specific cases. Just take note of the more possible accidents.

Moreover, keep a number of your family and friends, as well as emergency hotlines on your mobile or near your landline. Make sure the numbers are visible to your children as well. Just let them know the importance of these numbers and when to place a call to these numbers.

Thus, there are also some things you should know about the contents of your first aid kit. For an instance alcohol pads as well as ointments that are “petroleum-jelly based” can be utilized as a type of fire starter in an alarming emergency situation. It can also be utilized as a lubricant for adhesive tapes. Aside from this, for particular mechanical devices and bandages, it can also be utilized for repairs. These alternative uses of these things can help set your mind on the items you need and can only be used in the wilderness.

First Aid Kits are important in every household. There are also first aid kits for pets, children, travel, disaster and soft sided situations among others. Having one doesn’t mean that you are waiting for an accident to happen. Accidents are a fact of life, so whether we like it or not, it is always best to be prepared.

You’ve known you’ve had a hearing loss for quite some time now and you finally get up the nerve to get your hearing tested. They tell you that you need a hearing aid and you cant help but think, Why did this have to happen to me?? Then they start telling you about hearing aids and use tons of terminology that just goes right over your head. Dont they know that you are in shock??! How can you make an informed decision about anything when you dont even know what they are talking about!?

There are hundreds of different hearing aids. It can be a very complicated world of technilogical terms. Sometimes those of us that work with hearing aids all the time can forget just how foreign they can sound to you. To make matters worse, the manufacturers like to call things different names, so they sound like something different. No wonder there’s so much confusion!

I am going to try to unravel some of the mystery for you. When you get down to it, there are really only a few terms you need to understand. These features are the ones that really matter, and the model or the style of the hearing aid.

There are seven primary styles of hearing aids: ITE, Half Shell, ITC, Mini Canal, CIC, BTE, and Open Ear.

In the Ear (ITE) ITE hearing aids are the largest custom style of hearing aid, filling the bowl of your ear, and can have the most power and features available for in the ear hearing aids.

Half Shell (HS) The Half Shell is a custom hearing aid that only fills about half the bowl of your ear. They are able to have a good deal of power and features, use a smaller battery, but are more cosmetically appealing.

In the Canal (ITC) The next smallest size is the custom ITC hearing aid. Harder to see than the larger hearing aids, but also not able to have as much power or as many features.

Mini Canal (MC) Smaller than the ITC hearing aid, the custom mini canal uses a smaller battery and has even less power available. Features can also be more limited.

Completely in the Canal (CIC) The CIC is the smallest custom in the ear hearing aid and very popular due to its cosmetic appeal and ease of use. There are usually no manual controls on a CIC, telephone usage is often better because they are less likely to whistle. Lack of power is the main reason people cannot use this style of hearing aid, though a small ear canal may keep you from being able to wear one also.

Behind the Ear (BTE) A BTE hearing aid sits behind your ear and is connected to your ear by a tube with an earmold attached. BTE hearing aids have the most power and features available.

Open Ear (OE) and Receiver in Canal (RIC) This hearing aid is a fairly new style of BTE made available in recent years and are much smaller then a traditional BTE. They are meant primarily for high frequency hearing loss. The hearing aid is connected to your ear by a very thin tube or wire with a small earbud on the tip. They are called Open Ear because they leave the ear canal less blocked than other styles of hearing aid.

Important Features:

Directional Microphones – These are available on most BTE, OE, ITE, Half Shell, and ITC styles of hearing aids. They are the best feature you can have on your hearing aid for hearing in noisy places, such as restaurants. This means they reduce all the sounds that are behind you so that it doesnt get in the way of sounds that are in front of you. Directional microphones can be automatic meaning that the hearing aid automatically decides when to turn them on once the sound level in the room gets too loud. Some are also be adaptive, which means they can follow moving sounds, or reduce several different sounds at the same time.

Noise Reduction – Noise reduction doesn’t really reduce noise, it reduces amplification in the frequencies where there is noise and no speech. If there is a fan running in the background, the hearing aid will not amplify it as much as it will speech. When the hearing aid finds both speech and noise at a frequency, you still get both. More advanced the hearing aids manage noise better by breaking the frequencies up into smaller pieces.

Memories – There are two types of memories available on a hearing aid, manual and automatic. Many hearing aids have a push button that allows you to have different settings (memories) for different situations such as quiet places, noisy places, and music or telephone. The hearing aid beeps when you push the button to let you know which memory you are using. Advanced hearing aids can have memories that are automatic. Instead of pushing a button, the hearing aid does it for you! Some hearing aids have a combination of both.

Feedback Cancellation – Feedback (or that annoying whistling sound) is the number one compaint people have about hearing aids. Most hearing aid wearers experience feedback when they put their hand over their ear, or use the phone. Feedback Cancellation will take down the amount of feedback (whistling) that you hear.

Bands / Channels – Bands are what we use to adjust the volume in a hearing aid. More bands means more control when we program the hearing aid to your hearing loss.

Channels are used to adjust the part of the hearing aid that keeps the sound from getting too loud. Channels can also refer to the hearing aid noise reduction system. For noise reduction, more channels is definitely better because the hearing aid can break the sound up into smaller pieces and isolate noise from speech.

These are the main things you need to understand about your hearing aid. If you really want the best hearing aid for you I recommend you focus on telling the hearing professional what benefits you want from your hearing aid. Tell them what frustrates you most and give them a better picture of how they can help you. Their goal is to help you hear better, and when that happens, everyone wins.

Thanks – or No thanks – to the 24-hour News Channels, we are constantly bombarded with tragic events occurring around the world.  Natural disasters – tsunamis, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, floods – or man-made disasters – such as home invasions, accidents or terroristic activity – are front and center on the news everyday.  It is not a question of “if,” but more than likely, “when” an accident or emergency is going to strike you or your loved ones.  Will your family be prepared in the event of a worst-case scenario?  There are four things that you can do right now to begin the journey to emergency preparedness.

 

There is an old adage, “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst”- this is a wise motto to embrace.  If we can be ready for worst case scenario disasters, then a week long power outage due to an ice storm will be a piece of cake! But are we prepared? A recent survey showed that a majority of American homes do not even have a bandaid, much less a first aid kit in case of emergencies -  not only are they not ready for a natural disaster, they can’t even bandage a child’s scrapped knee! 

 

There are thousands of books on Disaster -proofing your family, but the odds that a family that doesn’t own a bandaid would read one of them, are slim!  Therefore, here are the top four things you can do to prepare your family for natural or man- made disasters:

 





1. Have a well stocked First Aid Kit:  When an injury occurs, the last thing you want to do is wish you had the proper equipment to give medical care to your loved ones.  We all need a first line of defense in our homes to be prepared for an emergency situation – a well stocked First Aid Kit is the answer.  At a minimum, it should include assorted bandages, gauze, rubbing alcohol, antibiotic ointment, pain relievers, thermometer, cotton balls and adhesive tape.  The size of your first aid kit and its contents will depend on the size of your family, their needs and their lifestyle.  Pre-packaged first aid kits are economical and will contain the essential items that you need – you can then customize it by adding things that are tailored to suit your family’s individual needs.(If Dad is a diabetic, include some hard candy in the event of diabetic shock, and don’t forget your prescription medications and an extra pair of eyeglasses).  Now that you have a well-stocked kit, you should familiarize yourself with all the items in it and know when and how to use them properly.  It would be a good idea to have a complete kit for your home and smaller kits for your cars, purses or your child’s locker at school – you should always have the proper first aid essential on hand.

 





2. Have batteries, flashlights and weather radios readily accessible:  Unfortunately, power outages usually go hand in hand with weather related emergencies, so be sure you have an adequate supply of fresh batteries at home.  Keep a working flashlight on every nightstand (you don’t want to be fumbling around in the dark- that’s an accident waiting to happen!) and have a weather radio nearby to keep your family informed of any watches or warnings in your area so you can take shelter accordingly.  Having a radio, flashlights or battery-powered lanterns ready ahead of time (we don’t recommend candles because of the obvious fire hazard) and your family can remain safe, informed and relatively calm during any storm.

 





3. Have a supply of ready to eat food and water on hand:  This is just good old common sense – our grandparent use to call it “putting away” for winter.  I’m afraid many families today only buy enough groceries to last until the next week’s shopping trip – there is no back up provisions in case of emergency.  Well, there are all kinds of emergencies – a trucker strike as well as weather emergencies could shut down grocery stores, halting the food supply.  As we saw with Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, because of the nature of the storms and their aftermath, help was impeded and people were without food and water for days.  Be prepared in advance.  We should all have enough rations on hand to get us comfortably by until help arrives – plan on at least 14 days worth (most will tell you 72 hours, but in most cases, it takes on average about 5 days to a week to get back to ‘normal’.  Do your part and be prepared so you don’t get in the way of first responders or those who were not prepared and must run to an under stocked grocery store) To accomplish this, just add a few more cans of soup, some familiar foods( not army dehydrated food) and some bottles of water every time you go shopping, and you will build up a nice emergency food supply.  Store your food and water in a cool dark place, rotating the food every six months – keep an eye on the expiration dates.

 





4 Have copies of important documents in one place:    Where are all of your important documents?  Could you recreate your life in the case of a fire?  You should have all original documents in a safe deposit box in an out of town bank or fire resistant safe.  Make copies of vital papers – all title deeds, insurance policies, warranties, driver’s license, Social Security cards, bank statements, investment papers, passport and any other papers that would be key in re- building your life after a disaster. It might also help if you send a second package of copy to an out of town family along with copies of your precious pictures to them as well.  Once you have made copies of all of these, keep them in a water and fireproof container that you can easily grab and go in a worst-case scenario (fire or flood).  These papers will be essential in establishing any insurance claim in the aftermath of any catastrophic event.

 

Keep in mind, the government is not your Mom; they do not keep all of your vital information stored in one place!

 

This article is not intended to scare anyone – but with a little advance preparation, our families can have a greater sense of security and peace of mind. Make sure to follow the government and the first responder’s directions so you do not become part of the problem.  Again, “hope for the best, and be prepared for the worst” –   Be smart.  Be prepared.

 

 

It remains a commonly held belief that most accidents occur in the home. And none occurs more often than a burn. Ranging from the very minor to the very serious, burns can render their victims debilitated. And even the smallest burn can be intensely painful. Knowing how to attend to burns with first aid burn treatment can mean the difference between a minor mishap and a major calamity.

First and foremost, if the burn is severe; that is it is swelling, blistering severely, or covering a large area of skin; waste no time in getting to a medical facility for proper treatment. Severe burns – those that are second or third degree – can be extremely dangerous so the quicker the first aid burn treatment, the better.

If this is the case, assess the victim’s vitals – breathing, pulse rate, etc. – and call for emergency services immediately. Never remove clothing surrounding a severe burn, as in many cases the skin will have fused to the clothing. Additionally, do not apply cold water to severe burns as this can induce shock. Most important when it comes to first aid burn treatment of a severe burn is to keep the wound clean and moist. Damp tepid compresses and clean dressings will suffice until emergency help arrives.

For the minor burns that most happen in and around our homes – the first degree burn – first aid burn treatment can be more involved. Since the first degree burn only affects the first layer of skin, this first aid burn treatment is mostly topical in nature. First and foremost, run the burn under cold water to cease the burning process. You can then apply an antibiotic cream and loosely wrap the burn in clean, dry cloth. An over-the-counter pain reliever will more than likely be enough to reduce any discomfort. If the burn does not seem to be healing after several days following the first aid burn treatment, consult a medical professional.

Burns can happen any time; it’s best to keep a first aid kit handy with any necessary inclusions for first aid burn treatment such as gauze and burn ointment. Keep emergency numbers within sight and always know the quickest and most direct route to the nearest hospital.

A little preparation will go a long way to ensuring a successful first aid burn treatment should it ever become necessary.

When a person have been affect by any kinds of injuries or illness, then first aid is the initial step to be provide for him without any delay. It is highly possible for cure a patients who have minor injuries in them by using the first aid alone as a main treatment. The first aid treatments can be providing for humans as well as animals. Yes, there is no exception when it comes to animals.

However, the first aid is mainly refers for human only. The first aid treatment plays an important role when it comes to the health or medical industry. The first aid treatment is the basic treatment for taking wound care, which cannot be, evade at any situations. It is not a ideal solution to carry out a person to the hospital especially when more amount of bleedings is comes up in his body.

In this case, the first aid treatment has a main role to play. The wound first aid treatment is highly beneficial for a person especially when he or she facing some problems of uncontrollable bleedings. There are so many so kinds of wounds namely punctured wounds and so on. Every wound is different from others. The first aid treatment can be offer by any individuals who have some reasonable basic knowledge in first aid. When comes to different kinds of wounds, the first aid treatment is normally gets vary.

Every wound is slightly different, so we have to analyze what type of wound it is and what is the better first aid treatment have to provide for such patients. The first aid treatment cannot be evaded at any cost; the reason is the first aid treatment has the ability to control the severity of wounds effectively within a limit. Therefore, it is necessary for anyone to gain knowledge at least basic in first aid.