Just in Case

Does your first aid kit have all the essentials?

- Anna-Kaisa Walker

THE LAST TIME I cracked open my home's first aid kit, I had one thumb swaddled in bloody paper towels after I'd accidentally nicked it while chopping onions. Fumbling through the zippered compartments as my thumb throbbed, I discovered nothing but a few yellowed bandages, dried-out antiseptic wipes, some gauze, tape and a pair of scissors that looked like the kind kids get in kindergarten.

Luckily I managed to stem the bleeding with the gauze and went on to cook a decent spaghetti bolognese. But I'd come to the sober realization that my cheap, neglected first aid kit would do my family no good in an honest-to-goodness emergency.

To help you make sure yours contains all the right things, we spoke to experts in emergency medicine. Here are the items they recommend for any first aid kit.

ASPIRIN: Two 81-milligram tablets of chewable acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) can be life-saving if taken within the first hour of a suspected heart attack. But call 911 first and await instructions; it's not safe for everyone (for example, those on other blood thinners).

DISPOSABLE NON-LATEX GLOVES: When helping another person, put these on to decrease the risk of disease transmission.

HAND SANITIZER: This can be used to clean your hands when soap and water aren't available; use it before putting on the gloves.

ANTISEPTIC WIPES: If you don't have access to clean running water, use these to clean and disinfect cuts before applying a bandage or ointment.

ANTIBACTERIAL OINTMENT: This helps prevent infection by stopping the growth of bacteria in minor wounds.

HYDROCORTISONE CREAM: It relieves itching and irritation from insect bites or poisonous plants. You can get it in single-use packets.