FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What do I need for an emergency first aid kit?
These items represent a typical first-aid kit that can help manage minor wounds and injuries that often occur in everyday life. Be sure to check this kit on a regular basis to replenish used items. The following items would complement the training you receive in a SAVE A LIFE First Aid training course.

• Disposable gloves (Should be latex-free)
• Disposable barrier for rescue breathing (CPR mask or shield)
• Sterile dressings (4″x 4″ and 5″x 9″)
• Roller bandages (3″ and 4″)
• First aid shears (heavy-duty, angled scissors)
• Tweezers
• Adhesive tape (1″)
• Variety of adhesive bandages (small, large, extra-large, knuckles, fingertip)
• Triangle bandage
• Small bag or box to store and protect items from damage

You may also find the following items useful. These items have expiration dates and should be checked on a regular basis.

• Antiseptic wipes to clean the wound
• Antibiotic ointment to prevent wound infection
• Sterile eye wash kit or sterile saline
• Instant cold packs
• Benadryl liquid and spray
• Waterless hand cleaner
• Burn gel for minor burns, Water Jel
• Hydrocortisone ointment for skin inflammation

Is sudden cardiac arrest the same as a heart attack?
No. A heart attack occurs when a blood vessel feeding the heart itself is blocked by plaque or a blood clot. The longer the blood flow is interrupted the more extensive the damage done. The majority of heart attack victims survive the first attack. Treatment for heart attack includes angioplasty using a tiny balloon to widen blocked blood vessels and “clot-busting” drugs known as thrombolytic.

Sudden cardiac arrest involves problems with the heart’s electrical system, which can cause it to stop beating entirely. When that happens, blood flow to the rest of the body is interrupted, and the victim passes out. Defibrillation is the only known treatment for this condition, and AEDs are the quickest and most efficient way to reach individuals with this lifesaving therapy.