First Aid Kits Topic Guide

Bees and wasps are venomous, meaning they have poison stings that may cause pain, swelling, and allergic reactions. If a person with no allergic symptoms receives a sting, a home remedy may be all that is necessary for relief. A group of many stings or an allergic reaction to a sting may require emergency medical treatment.

In adults, the "rule of nines" is used to determine the body surface area that has been burned. Burn percentage is calculated using multiples of 9. The "rule of nines" helps determine treatment decisions.

Heat, chemical, or electrical injury to the skin, eyes, nerves, blood vessels, and internal organs can cause burns. First-degree burn symptoms include red skin and local pain (sunburn). Second-degree burns can cause blisters and swelling. Third-degree burns are a medical emergency, and cause white or black charred skin.

Cuts and lacerations are both terms that apply to a tear in the skin, though a laceration implies a more jagged tear. These terms do not include abrasions where the skin is scraped away, or avulsions where the skin is torn from the flesh. Cuts and lacerations must be disinfected and sutured in more serious cases. Basic first aid may be all that is necessary for more minor wounds. Infection is the biggest medical concern when it comes to cuts or lacerations. Signs of infection include severe pain, draining pus, redness beyond the wound edges, fever and chills, and excessive wound swelling.

Burns do need air to heal. Because of this, it is not recommended to apply butter, petroleum jelly, ointment, oil, or grease to a burn. Doing so can trap heat and cause further damage to the burn.

First aid is an important skill to learn in case of emergencies. Learn how to prevent injuries, prevent falls, prevent fires, prevent poisoning, when to seek urgent care for injuries, and what to stock in a first aid kit in your home, office, car, boat, or RV.

Fractures are breaks in bone and are classified according to several different categories. Compound fractures are the most dangerous; the bone is broken into fragments that come through the skin. Treatment includes setting the broken bone and splinting the injury, among other steps. Steps are taken to prevent infection if the skin is broken.

Frostbite is a condition caused by skin exposed over a long period of time to cold exposure. Frostbite symptoms include burning, numbness, tingling, itching, and cold sensations in the affected areas. Deep frostbite there may be complete loss of sensation. Treatment of frostbite is best under medical supervision to minimize tissue damage.

Heat cramps are brief, painful muscle cramps that occur can occur when a person is working or exercising in a hot environment. Heat cramp signs and symptoms include involuntary muscle spasms of the large muscles of the body with profuse sweating, the cramping muscles are those that usually have been stressed. The cause of heat cramps is not well known, however, those at risk are infants and children, the elderly, those without proper air conditioning in hot environments, alcohol use, and certain medications. Heat cramps generally do not require medical attention, however, if heat exhaustion or heat stroke is suspected, seek medical care immediately.

Hives are a sudden allergic skin reaction. Hives are raised reddish bumps that cause severe itching. Angioedema is similar to hives but the welts are larger and involve a deeper layer in the skin. Allergies, insect stings and bites, stress, exercise, and infections are common causes of hives and angioedema. In mild cases, no treatment is needed. Severe reactions should be treated by a health care professional.

Be well-informed about the hospital admissions process to make it less stressful. This article covers hospital admissions information about going to the hospital, being admitted to the hospital, types of admissions, the admission process, your rights as a patient, advance medical directives, the services the hospital provides, the hospital team and their duties, tests you may have ordered, your treatment while in the hospital, and discharge information.

For minor burns that don't require a visit to the doctor, clean the burn, cool the area with a cold compress (not ice), and use topical antibiotics daily if the burn is deep.

Home treatment to relieve symptoms of mild to moderate sunburn may include drinking water, topical aloe vera gel, topical moisturizers, cool (not cold) compresses, taking a bath in tepid (not cold) water without soap, over-the-counter pain medications, and topical anesthetics (benzocaine).

Treating burns depends on how serious the burn is. For minor burns, they can be treated at home with remedies such as cleaning the burn, cooling the burn, using a cool compress or cloth, avoiding the use of ice on the burned skin, keeping the burn clean, and pain relievers. Medical treatments for severe burns may include intravenous (IV) fluids, topical burn creams and ointments, wound dressings, antibiotics for infection, pain medications, anti-anxiety medications, ultrasound mist therapy to clean wound tissue, physical therapy if burns cover a large area or a joint, skin grafts, and plastic surgery.

Several insects belonging to the class Hymenoptera are capable of injecting venom into humans and animals. These insects include honeybees, bumblebees, hornets, wasps, yellow jackets, and fire ants. An allergic reaction to these insects' venom can come in many forms: from redness, itching, and pain to anaphylactic shock and even death in those severely affected. Treatment includes caring for the symptoms as well as administering epinephrine and/or antihistamines.

Rashes are very common conditions and can have many causes. Most rashes are not dangerous but rather are merely nuisance illnesses. Life-threatening skin rashes are rare. Five potentially life-threatening disorders that have skin rash as the primary symptom are pemphigus vulgaris (PV), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), toxic shock syndrome (TSS), and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS).

Nosebleeds occur due to many reasons including sinus infections, medications, or blowing the nose too vigorously. Learn about how to stop a nosebleed at home.

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac can causes an allergic reaction when someone comes in contact with the plant's oils. This compound in all three plant species is called urushiol. The resulting rash appears one to three days after contact and may crust or ooze. Home remedies for the rash include applying cool compresses and calamine lotion, soaking in an Aveeno bath, and taking oral antihistamines.

A puncture wound is caused by a sharp object piercing the skin and can become infected if not treated properly. A tetanus booster may be necessary for some puncture wounds.

Rabies is a disease humans may get from being bitten by an animal infected with the rabies virus. Symptoms and signs include fever, chills, pain, itching, muscle spasms, seizures, and coma. Treatment depends upon the species of animal, its behavior, and where you were exposed to the animal.

Stitches or sutures are methods used to close wounds, cuts, lacerations, or surgical procedures. There are two types of sutures, absorbable and nonabsorbable. Other methods of closing open wounds include surgical staples, skin closure tape, and adhesive agents. Sutures should be removed by a health care professional. Complications from sutures include keloids, wound infection or reopening, excessive scarring, and hypertrophic scars.

Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that is life-threatening. The symptoms of anaphylactic shock are breathing problems, shock, or death. A severe allergic reaction may be caused by an insect sting or certain foods to which the body has been "sensitized" and has developed a powerful antigen. Anaphylactic shock is an emergency and requires immediate medical treatment.

Skin rashes in children may be categorized as bacterial, viral, life-threatening, fungal, and parasitic rashes. Oftentimes, the associated symptoms help establish the diagnosis. Treatment depends upon the type of rash and the severity of the signs and symptoms.

There are about 400 of 3,000 snake species worldwide are venomous. Approximately 25 species of venomous snakes are found in North America. Two major families of snakes account for most of the venomous snakes dangerous to humans. The elapid family includes cobras, mambas, coral snakes, tiger snakes, and death adders. The viper family includes rattlesnakes, saw-scaled vipers, Russell's viper, and the puff adder. If a person is bitten by a snake they should go to an emergency department, regardless if they feel the snake is nonvenomous.

Sunburn is a burn on the skin caused by UV radiation. Mild sunburn symptoms include skin redness and pain. Severe cases of sunburn (sun poisoning) are complicated by skin burning and blistering, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and possibly infection. A sun rash is caused by a condition referred to as polymorphous light eruption (PMLE). Home remedies for sunburn include over-the-counter pain medicine, aloe vera gels and lotions, and cool tepid baths. Severe sunburn may need medical treatment. Prevention of sunburn include staying out of the sun during the peak hours of the day, wearing sunscreen often and reapply often, and wear protective clothing shielding the exposed body from the sun.

Causes of traveler's diarrhea include bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Traveler's diarrhea is contagious, with symptoms including loose or watery stools, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, and bloody stools. Treatment for traveler's diarrhea is generally with OTC medication.

Minor injuries to the skin are usually called cuts and scrapes. These injuries cause some damage to the surface of the skin and sometimes, such as in the case of a cut, the injury may go through the skin. While minor injuries can be treated at home, an infected cut or scrape may require medical attention.

Ointments, which include medicines, moisturizers, or cosmetics, can be applied to the eyes, skin, and mucus membranes to help treat anything from dry skin to cuts, scrapes, burns, bites, and hemorrhoids.

In the event of an emergency and you are found unconscious or incoherent, there are certain pieces of health information you should have on hand that would be helpful to rescuers. Keep a health information card handy that has your basic identifying information, as well as specific information on medical conditions and other medical needs.

Ointment of any kind is not recommended to treat a burn due to the risk of infection. Petroleum jelly, applied two to three times daily, may help the burned area to retain moisture and heal more quickly. For minor superficial skin burns (first-degree burns), home remedies include cleaning, washing, cooling, treating pain, refraining from scratching, and preventing tetanus.

It is always a good idea to have an emergency survival kit in the event of a major disaster, such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, and more. Your emergency kit should include a variety of supplies, including enough food, water, first aid, medication, pet, and other supplies in order to survive on your own for several days.

Wounds are lacerations, cuts, or punctures in the skin. Wounds can be superficial, deep, punctures, or pressure sores. The amount of pain, inflammation, and bleeding depend on the type of wound. Most superficial wounds can be treated at home. Deep wounds, or complicated wounds generally need medical care. Sutures, staples, or surgical glue for a wound depend on the depth of the wound and the time lapse between the injury and when medical care is sought.

Candidiasis is by far the most common type of yeast infection in human skin. Candidiasis is infection with Candida species. More than 20 species of Candida exist. Signs and symptoms of a candidal infection can vary depending on the location of the infection. Most candidal infections can be treated at home with over-the-counter or prescription medication and can clear up within a week.