First Aid Kits

 Another earthquake has happened, and devastation, along with tsunami warnings, have hit again. Please have your water stored and have your 72-hour kits in an accessible spot in your home. As Haiti and now Chile have been hit by natural disasters I have been thinking of all the things that we can learn from these events. For one, I have 

 learned that help may not be available for 1-2 weeks after a disaster. If family members or neighbors are injured we may be the ones taking care of them until help arrives. I have thought a lot about my first aid kit and realized that I need to stock it with more supplies than I have now. I urge you to evaluate your first aid kit and add any necessary supplies that you are lacking.

A COMPREHENSIVE FIRST AID KIT (COURTESY OF TERI EBERT)

EQUIPMENT:

• CONSECRATED OIL
• LIST OF EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
• INSTRUCTION BOOK (FIRST AID INFO)
• SURGICAL MASK, CPR MASK
• GLOVES
• SOAP AND SCRUB BRUSH
• ANTIBACTERIAL HAND WASH (SANITIZER)
• ANTISEPTIC TOWELETTES
• DISINFECTANT SPRAY
• THERMOMETER
• STETHOSCOPE, BLOOD PRESSURE CUFF
• MEDICINE DROPPER, TEASPOON
• INSTANT COLD PACK, ICE PACK
• INSTANT HOT PACK, HOT WATER BOTTLE
• TWEEZERS, KNIFE, RAZOR BLADES
• SCISSORS, OR EMT SHEERS
• SAFETY PINS, NEEDLES
• TONGUE DEPRESSOR
• COTTON BALLS, COTTON SWABS
• MATCHES
• FLASHLIGHT
• HAND TOWEL
• SHEETS, BLANKET
• PAPER BAG
• TOURNIQUET
• SNAKE BIT KIT
• GOGGLES

MEDICINE-TOPICAL:

• ALCOHOL PREPS, RUBBING ALCOHOL
• HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
• ANTIBIOTIC CREAM, IODINE
• BURN CREAM
• HYDROCORTISONE CREAM
• CALAMINE LOTION, CALADRYL
• INSECT REPELLANT, SUN BLOCK
• EYE WASH OR DROPS

BANDAGES:

• ASSORTED ADHESIVE BANDAGES (INCLUDING KNUCKLE, FINGERTIP, AND X-LARGE)
• BUTTERFLY BANDAGES
• TRIANGLE BANDAGES
• GAUZE PADS, ASSORTED SIZES
• GAUZE ROLLS, ASSORTED SIZED
• ELASTIC BANDAGES, ASSORTD SIZES
• TAPE
• EYE PATCHES
• MOLESKIN
• MENSTRUAL PADS
• FINGER SPLINTS (POPSICLE STICKS)
• SPLINTS (PAINT STIRRERS)
• SLING

MEDICINE-PAIN:

• ACETAMINOPHEN (TYLENOL)
• IBUPROFEN
• ASPIRIN

MEDICINE-INTERNAL:

• PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
• GLUCOSE
• ANTIHISTAMINE (BENADRYL)
• ASTHMA INHALER
• ANIT-DIARRHEA
• LAXATIVE
• ANTI-NAUSEA
• SYRUP OF IPECAC, ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
• ANTACIDS, BICARBONATE OF SODA
• COLD AND FLU REMEDIES, COUGH DROPS
• PEDIALYTE, SALT
• THYROBLOK (FOR NUCLEAR RADIATION)

Having faith, sustaining the priesthood, and keeping our covenants will help protect us, but even the faithful will experience injury and illness. We can prepare for medical emergencies by learning first aid skills and storing medical supplies.

1. Learn how to call 911 (for children)
2. Post emergency first aid instructions inside a kitchen cabinet door.
3. make an emergency and extended family phone list. Make sure to have an out of state contact person. Add emails to the list and place in your 72-hour kits.
4. Learn about CPR
5. Assemble a first aid kit. Place first aid supplies in your 72-hour kits. Store essential medicines, if possible.
6. Have consecrated oil available for priesthood blessings.

Having a family home evening on first aid would be a great way to get the entire family involved with learning first aid.

 As February comes to a close I hope you were all able gather your 20lbs of oats per person. If you didn't get enough for everyone, don't worry, you can add slowly to your storage. I have another recipe using oats to help you with rotating. I know in my house we love "Honey Bunches of Oats" cereal and it is quite expensive and it actually doesn't go on sale very often. So I found the next best thing, homemade Honey Bunches of Oats. Try it out!

HOMEMADE HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS

10 C quick oats (rolled oats are ok, just cruchier) *A full #10 can of oats is about 13 C, so just take out 3 cups and you'll be set for the recipe*
1 18oz. box Corn Flakes
1 C honey, corn syrup, or pancake syrup
1 C brown sugar
1/4 C water

In a large bowl stir together the oats and cereal. Boil the sugars and water until dissolved. Pour over the oat mixture. Spread about 1/2" deep onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 300 for 30 minutes. When cool you can stir in an kind of dried fruit that you enjoy. Store in the #10 can from the oats and it will store for several months in a cool, dark area. It won't "spoil" unless it gets wet. Enjoy!

 

FEBRUARY STORAGE GOALS:

Food Storage Goal: OATS-20lbs per person.

Non-Food Goal: Lighting is our goal this month. Gather matches, candles, flashlights (crank or battery operated), emergency candles, light sticks, solar powered flashlights or lanterns, etc. Find what works for your family and have these in your 72-hour kits and in your car kits and have a source of light by every bed in your home. The glow light sticks that activate by bending are great to hang as night lights and can easily fit in 72-hour kits.**This month add a manual can opener to your supplies. It is great if you have pop top cans but your storage of cans is useless unless you can open them.**

If you need a FamilyHome Evening lesson on getting your 72-hour kits together, then click HERE to see a fun way of gathering all the items you'll need.

Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace