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First aid kits: health essentials you should have at home
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Treating minor illnesses, injuries and ailments at home, when appropriate, can help to take some pressure off GPs and pharmacists, and having the right kit to hand could help you avoid an unexpected trip out for supplies.To get more news about IFAK pouch, you can visit rusuntacmed.com official website.
But buying a pre-packed first aid kit is unlikely to be your best bet. Our research has shown that some items are unnecessary and there often aren't enough of the things you're likely to need most often.
We asked pharmacists which first aid products are really useful, and which ones you don't need, and then did our own pricing research to find out where you can get what you need for less.
Ready-made kits can seem cheaper and come in a handy container, but compiling your own means you're likely to get more for your money, and you can choose what you actually need.
For example, the Boots Family Essentials First Aid kit is £6.99, but once you add the products our pharmacists recommend you have at home, it would cost you £20.55 at Boots (excluding a thermometer which ranges quite a bit in price). It also contains only a handful of essentials like plasters and antiseptic wipes.
What you need in a home first aid kit
We asked two pharmacists what they'd recommend people have in a home first aid kit, and they recommended the 11 products below.These will cover you for a range of everyday ailments and are more likely to be used than some of what you get in a pre-made first aid kit.Pre-made first aid kits do tend to contain a small booklet with advice on how to treat common ailments, which you might find useful. But you could instead download a first aid app from a trusted organisation, such as the Red Cross or St John Ambulance, to consult on your phone.
What's missing from pre-made first aid kits?
Products that our pharmacists recommend you keep as part of your first aid kit, but that aren't included in most pre-made versions, include painkillers, hydrocortisone cream and anti-diarrhoea medication (loperamide capsules).These items are likely to come in handy more often than some of the things that bulk out pre-made kits.Pre-made first-aid kits often contain things such as eye wash, ice packs, foil blankets and burn gel. These are less necessary, as the injuries they're intended for are less common and can be treated in other ways.