All Care Provider Should Have Access To First Aid Essentials
If you are a mom or dad or child care provider, the importance of having a portable first aid kit available cannot be stated strongly enough. Sure, first aid kits are likely to be carried by an EMT, an athletic trainer, and by any medical responder who may be called upon to treat the injured in the event of an emergency. However, as a parent, or child care provider, you are in the unique position of being in charge of the safety and welfare of the child at all times. Regardless of whether or not you have any medical training, having the tools available to treat a child in the event of an injury or sudden impairment could prove to be extremely beneficial.
While most parents and child care providers will not have to see the child in their care sustain a serious injury, packing and carrying a medical bag of supplies can let you be ready should something unforeseen happen. Additionally, you will probably be surprised at how often your supplies come in handy. For instance, how many times have you seen a little boy or girl have a fall, bump, or bruise while playing at the park? The mom, dad, or child care provider with the proper supplies can quickly patch up scrapes, allowing the child to resume play with only a minor interruption. Immediate attention to the scrape does more than just allow a child to keep playing. Proper care to a wound, such as cleaning it, covering it, and causing the bleeding to cease, promotes good healthy habits and will likely keep the injury from becoming infected or from taking a long time to heal. Dressing a wound quickly will keep bacteria far from the area, and will also keep blood pathogens away from other children or from shared toys or playground equipment.
Packing a medical bag does not require an advanced degree. If anything, it is simply a matter of a little advanced planning. A wonderful option for a mom, dad, or child care provider is to purchase a pre-packaged bag, filled with pre-packaged, pre-selected supplies. These bags can be ordered online and are very affordable. The great benefit to ordering a bag which is ready to go, is that it is most likely going to have everything you will ever want or need contained inside. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the contents of the bag, making sure there is nothing additional you wish to include, as well as making sure you understand how to use each item.
Make sure to place your medical supply bag some place where it is able to be grabbed quickly. The great thing about a portable bag is that it is designed to be used for travel, and therefore, does not take up a great deal of room. One important thing to keep in mind is to make sure that the medical supplies are not some place where children can get into them. For obvious safety reasons, children should not have access to medicines and treatment supplies. Additionally, children can unwittingly misplace, consume, or render useless, supplies which you may assume are available in case of injury or emergency.
