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We all have medical emergencies in our home and being prepared is the best way to get through them without panicking. A well-stocked first aid kit, list of emergency numbers and an overview of CPR and the heimlich maneuver are tools that can help you be prepared.

First-Aid Kit - You can buy a first aid kit at your local drugstore, grocery or a Red Cross office. You can also make one of your own. If you decide to make one, choose containers for your kits that are roomy, durable, easy to carry, and simple to open. You can use a large make-up bag or tackle box. Click here to check out first-aid kits you can purchase from the Red Cross online.

The Red Cross recommends the following be included in a kit for a family of four:

2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
5 antiseptic wipe packets
2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
1 blanket (space blanket)
1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
1 instant cold compress
2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
Scissors
1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
2 triangular bandages
Tweezers
First aid instruction booklet

Emergency Numbers - Having all important phone numbers readily available ahead of time will help keep you calm. You can type your own or click here for a printable emergency number sheet. Keep one at home, in your car and in your handbag or diaper bag. This is also an important list for babysitters to have handy, just in case. The Red Cross has an emergency numbers card that fits in any wallet, you can print it out by clicking here.

If you type up your own phone list, make sure it includes these numbers:

• Emergency Medical Services: In most places this is 911, but your community may have its own number - check your telephone book if you're unsure.
• poison control center: 1-800-222-1222. This toll-free number will put you in touch with the poison control center in your area.
• hospital emergency room
• fire department
• police department or sheriff's office
• your child's doctor
• parents' work
• parents' cell phone
• neighbors and/or relatives
• pharmacy

**Your list should also include known allergies (especially to any medication), medical conditions, medications taken by family members, and insurance information for all members of the family.

CPR and First-Aid Knowledge

If you have never taken a CPR or First-Aid class, you should invest the time and effort in completing one. Click here to find a class near you. In an emergency it is sometimes difficult to remember the steps for proper CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. Here are some reference sheets you can print out and keep with your first-aid kit in case of an emergency.

Hands Only CPR

CPR for Infants Under One-Year of Age

CPR for Children

Heimlich Maneuver