Family First Aid Checklist

We are beginning to prepare for our Irish holiday and I am deep in lists. What to carry on, what to check, what to send ahead. I like to make sure we are prepared- often we are over prepared.

I came across this family first aid checklist from The Family Sabbatical Handbook by Elisa Bernick that is quite thorough. Obviously you won't need everything on this list for a short vacation, but it is a great list and certainly has items on it that I wouldn't have thought of.

You can purchase ready-made first-aid kits from any camping or medical supplier online. A cheaper option is to buy a soft-sided multi-zippered storage bag and put one together yourself. Include:

• Sterile gauze pads.

• Bandages/Band-Aids in a variety of sizes.

• Adhesive tape.

• Sterile cotton balls.

• Antibacterial hand wipes.

• Small jar of Vaseline.

• Scissors, tweezers, safety pins, Swiss Army knife.

• Digital thermometer.

• Small cold pack.

• Anti-itch cream such as hydrocortisone or calamine.

• Antibiotic cream or ointment.

• Syrup of ipecac.

• Aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen (adults' and children's).

• Cold tablets.

• Cough syrup, throat lozenges (adults' and children's).

• Antihistamine (Benadryl oral and ointment).

• Diarrhea medicine (adults' and children's).

• Sunscreen, lip balm, insect repellent.

•Vaginal cream for infections.

• Spoon/oral syringe to administer kids' doses.

• Moleskin for blisters.

• Inhalers, special medications, etc.

• Any other specific over-the-counter medication that your doctor or pharmacist recommends for your sabbatical destination.

• Emergency medical reference book.

Optional:

• Antibiotics such as amoxicyllin.

• Louse treatment.

• Pinworm treatment.

• Rehydration mixture.

• Lotrimin (or other clotrimazole- or miconazole-based) anti-fungal.

Tip: Do not pack your first-aid kit in your carry-on luggage if you fly. Airports keep changing their carry-on restrictions, and you might not be able to take it aboard.

I am a big believer in mailing items to your destination (if you are flying) before you arrive. A first aid kit is just the kind of item I am referring to. These are items you won't need until you arrive- and hopefully not even then!