First aid is a type of treatment that can be administered immediately. In some instances, such as with major injuries, first aid acts only as an initial treatment that will be followed by more in-depth medical care. In other instances, however, first aid is the only care that will be administered. Since such a wide range of problems can be addressed, there are numerous types of first aid equipment, including bandages, alcohol pads, and cotton-tipped applicators.
CPR, which is an acronym for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, refers to a first aid technique used to restore a person’s breathing and consciousness. This is often done by the rescuer breathing into the victim’s mouth. A piece of first aid equipment that is commonly used during this procedure is a CPR mask. This prevents a person from having to put his mouth to that of the person he is aiding.
Cuts and other types of wounds are often addressed with first aid equipment such as bandages and gauze. A properly stocked first aid kit is likely to have a wide variety of bandages. These generally come in different sizes and shapes. Different types include knuckle bandages, knee and elbow bandages, and fingertip bandages.
Gauze, which is also commonly found in first aid kits, is another material used to address certain wounds, such as burns. Since gauze is not generally self-adhesive, other first aid equipment is often needed to secure it. This can include safety pins or gauze tape.
Before wounds are covered, it is often necessary to apply other items. For example, a wound may need to be cleaned with alcohol pads. Burns may require the use of a burn relief pack to cool the affected area. Antiseptic or antibiotic ointment may need to be added. When another person puts such items on a wound, he is generally advised to use cotton or cotton-tipped applicators and gloves, which should be part of a first aid kit.
Scissors and tweezers are also common pieces of first aid equipment. Scissors may be needed to cut first aid materials such as gauze. They may also be needed to cut fabric covering or stuck to an injury. Tweezers are often used to extract items that may be lodged in the skin, such as splinters of wood or shards of glass.
Pain relievers and thermometers are often included on first aid equipment lists. In many instances, the thermometers are designed for single use. If a fever is detected or if there are injuries that involve a great deal of pain, the pain relievers may need to be administered.