First Aid and Home Vital Sign Monitors & Diagnostic Devices

(I’m not a doctor. Nothing on this page is medical advice!)

First Aid Kits

Every home needs first aid supplies and a kit is a convenient way to get most of the items you need.

The brand “First Aid Only” sells a very highly rated kit on Amazon. The 299 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Emergency Kit comes with nearly all the basic medial supplies you’ll need. It includes a first aid guide, plenty of adhesive fabric and plastic bandages, sterile gauze pads, first aid tape, scissors, disposable gloves, antiseptic towelettes, antibiotic ointment, burn gel, aspirin, non-aspirin, ibuprofen, a cold pack, a disposable thermometer, a finger splint, sting relief wipes, tweezers, an aluminized rescue blanket, and more. Many other first aid kit options are available.

Ice packs/Cold Compresses

A cold gel pack is very useful to have in case of injuries such as bruises, strained ligaments, and sprained tendons/muscles. Ice can decrease swelling and inflammation and help stop bleeding. Cold restricts blood circulation, which can numb the pain help limit any bruising. There are many ice packs and cold compresses available on Amazon. A popular pick is Rester’s Choice Reusable Ice Pack/Hot Pack – Hot & Cold Compress with over 30,000 ratings.

Anitbiotic Ointment

In case of cuts, scratches and scrapes you might want to have an antibiotic ointment on hand to prevent infection. Two popular choices are bacitracin and Neosporin. Neosporin can fight against a wider range of bacteria than bacitracin can, but more people are allergic to Neosporin. (Learn more about the difference.) Bacitracin and Neosporin are both available on Amazon.com.

Do not use on a deep cut, an animal bite, or a serious burn. For deep cuts or bites, see a doctor! If you have any questions, call your doctor!

Learn more about: Cuts, Scrapes, and Stitches and Minor burns.

Pulse-Oximeter

A pulse-oximeter measures both your heart rate and your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). SpO2 is a measurement of how much oxygen your blood is carrying as a percentage of the maximum it could carry. Heart rate is considered one of the four main vital signs, while many consider blood oxygen to be an additional important vital sign. Your vital signs show how well your body is functioning and are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems.

According to the Mayo Clinic, normal blood oxygen levels range from 95 to 100 percent. Values under 90 percent are considered low. A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Pulse-Oximeters usually cost between $15 and $35. (NOTE: Pulse-Oximeters tend to be inaccurate in people with dark skin tones.)

Thermometer

Another vital sign is body temperature. If you’re feeling ill, a thermometer is an easy way to check your body’s temperature. A fever is usually caused by an infection.

A digital thermometer is inexpensive and is the most accurate way to take a temperature. Touchless forehead thermometers can also be used, but may not be as reliable as the digital thermometers. Ear thermometers are another option. Amazon.com sells a wide range of thermometers.

Anti-Choking Devices

Everyone should know how to do the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts), and if you don’t you should learn immediately.

When all other efforts have failed and death is imminent, some people suggest trying a suction-based anti-choking device to remove the blockage.

Many people credit these devices with saving lives, but some doctors and organizations like the Red Cross say there’s a lack of objective research demonstrating that they’re effective and warn they may delay other life-saving treatment.

LifeVac seems to be the most popular choking rescue device. It’s available on Amazon.com and is very highly rated.

For more information:

• Toddler Saved By Anti-Choking Device
• Effectiveness of anti-choking device questioned even after hundreds of lives saved
• The efficacy and usability of suction-based airway clearance devices for foreign body airway obstruction

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating normally. A lack of blood flow to the brain can result in death or disability if not treated immediately. It’s different than a heart attack, which happens when blocked arteries prevent blood from reaching the heart’s muscles.

Cardiac arrest outside of a hospital is fatal approximately 90% of the time. Over 300,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest each year. But quickly using an AED (automated external defibrillator) along with CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can dramatically increase the chance of survival. CPR plus defibrillation within 3 to 5 minutes of collapse can produce survival rates as high as 49-75%.

Every minute that passes without oxygen being delivered to vital organs reduces the chance of survival by 10%. After only 10 minutes brain damage is typically irreversible.

If you see someone with symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest:

1. Call 911
2. Immediately begin CPR
3. Use an automated external defibrillator (AED) as soon as possible

The American Heart Association recommends using an AED within 3 minutes of cardiac arrest to maximize the probability of survival. Since it’s unlikely that emergency responders can get to your house within three minutes, it could make sense for you to have an AED in your home. Check with your healthcare provider to see if an AED makes sense for your home. They’re now available without a prescription, but they’re expensive.

A popular choice is the The Philips HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator – available online from stores such as First-Aid-Store.com and Premier-EP.com.

For more information:

Cleveland Clinic – Sudden Cardiac Death (Sudden Cardiac Arrest)

When Not to Use a Defibrillator: Do’s and Don’ts of Using an AED

Automated external defibrillators: Do you need an AED?