You don’t have to be an A-list helicopter parent to worry about your little one’s safety in your home. This is especially true if your child is prone to bumps, bruises, cuts and other types of accidents. If you have a rowdy kid or just want to be prepared for a physical, you’re probably wondering what to keep in your personal first aid kit.
According to Dr. Yami Cazorla Lancaster, board-certified pediatrician and author of “A Parent’s Guide to Intuitive Eating,” the first step to responding to an incident is to try to stay as calm as possible and assess the situation.
“Learn the difference between an emergency and an emergency,” Cazorla-Lancaster told HuffPost. “that emergency It involves loss of consciousness or altered consciousness, difficulty breathing, an obvious fracture (such as an open fracture or visible deformity of a limb), profuse blood loss or continued bleeding that you cannot stop.”
While any child in pain deserves immediate attention and care, things like a broken nail in a door or a sticky bruise from a trip likely don’t require calling 911. When a young child falls or hits something sharp, Dr. Cazorla-Lancaster recommends trying to calm yourself. and the child, then check their breathing and awareness.
Make sure they are breathing without difficulty, and rate [their] level of consciousness, then perform a head-to-toe examination to assess for injuries,” Cazorla-Lancaster said. “Apply firm pressure on any area that is bleeding. If necessary, call 911 or go to the ER. If it’s not an emergency, call the doctor if necessary to assess whether they need to be examined.”
Cazorla-Lancaster recommends keeping your pediatrician’s number handy (and any after-hours numbers that may be available), along with poison control contact information.
To help your family stay happy and healthy, Cazorla Lancaster and registered nurse Stephanie Klepp offer suggestions for stocking up on first aid kits for your child’s emergencies.
HuffPost may receive share from purchases made via links on this page. Each item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. The experts we consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
Amazon
Emergency first aid kit with all the things
While you could spend a lot of time and money collecting all of these materials, we love this compact set that has everything Klipp recommended and boasts a 4.6 rating on Amazon.
Amazon
Bandages on first aid bandages
We love this 280-count family pack that contains a variety of bandages in different shapes and materials. Keep some in your purse or purse, in the car and anywhere else to be prepared in case your little one gets a boo-boo.
Amazon
Antibiotic ointments and hydrocortisone
Klipp and Cazorla-Lancaster both recommend keeping antibiotic ointment and hydrocortisone on hand, too. Per Cazorla-Lancaster antibiotic ointment helps heal and prevent infections in minor cuts and scrapes, and hydrocortisone helps relieve redness, swelling, and itching.
Amazon
Self-closing elastic bandage wraps
Klipp recommends keeping some self-closing elastic bandages in your home, too. They provide support for sprained ankles or wrists, but can also act as a protective layer and compression over bandages and gauze if your child has a large cut or wound.
Amazon
Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and antihistamines
In terms of completing your medicine cabinet, Cazorla-Lancaster recommends keeping any brand of children’s ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or antihistamine in the house. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help relieve pain and reduce fever, and antihistamines can relieve pain and irritation from allergies, hives, insect bites, and stings.
Amazon
Fast clotting to stop bleeding
If your child has had a major accident (involving major bleeding), Klepp recommends keeping a few quick clotting bags around the house, like this sterile non-stinging powder.
Amazon
Ice packs for pain, swelling and inflammation
When you think of children and accidents, ice packs are a no-brainer. Even if your little one is more emotionally upset about a fall than an injury, giving them an ice pack can soothe that, too. While you can go for the old bag of frozen peas, if you have really accident-prone kids, Cazorla-Lancaster recommends getting some specific ice packs, either instant single-use or reusable options, to help with pain, swelling, and inflammation when your child takes trips or rolls. Something.
Amazon
Hot compresses for calming and comfort
Cazorla-Lancaster also recommends keeping hot compresses on hand, whether you like reusable or disposable options, to soothe sore muscles, warm cold hands and feet and simply offer some relief for headaches or stomachaches.
