Where is your first aid kit? Do you have one?

It’s summer, the kids are out of school, and I’m sure you need something to do right? Well, pack your bags and hit the local trails but don’t forget your first aid kit.  My guess is that at least 50% of hikers including families on day trip hikes, don’t carry a first aid kit.  Like I said, that’s just my guess but that doesn’t have to be the case. I always pack bandages, sunscreen, insect repellent, and water when planning a day trip, even a trip to the pool.  No kidding..always.  If it were up to me, I would have a location unit like the kind skiers use so rescue teams could find us quickly in the case of an emergency. As you might know from some of my previous posts, I am a paranoid, ‘germaphobic’ mom.  I have anti-bacterial gel and wipes in my handbag, car, and even in our garage for when the kids play in there while I’m on the treadmill or doing laundry.  I know.. studies may show that using a lot of anti-bacterial stuff doesn’t help them get used to germs but the thought of my kids hands being on a shopping cart handle that has some other kids invisible snot on it grosses me out.  Library books even disgust me.  That’s terrible, I know.

CVS/pharmacy first aid and survival products

I am a big fan of drugstores because I know that I can get in and out quickly. Yes, you tend to pay more for name brand products at the drugstore but think about it.. you don’t have to buy name brand products!  For example, did you know that CVS has their own line of first aid products that are the same high quality and more affordable than ‘big brand’ first aid products?  CVS/pharmacy has their own line of bandages, band-aids, sunscreen, insect repellent, and anti-itch spray and as a mom on a budget, I appreciate the affordability of their products.

Below is a list of items you can grab at any CVS/pharmacy store, that should be included in your first aid kit:

  • Bandages, band-aids and alcohol wipes to handle cuts and scrapes
  • Sun protection – whether you’re looking for a sunscreen that’s waterproof with a high SPF, something for the kids, or a cooling sunscreen that can be applied quickly, CVS/pharmacy has a line of continuous spray sunscreens that work great, smell nice and spray on evenly. Don’t forget to wear a hat to protect the face and neck.
  • After-sun relief, in case you forget to re-apply your sunscreen or miss a spot behind your knees. Packing a bottle of CVS/pharmacy’s instant burn relief spray with lidocaine & aloe vera can make all the difference.
  • Insect repellents and anti-itch remedies for bug bites and rashes. CVS/pharmacy has a variety of convenient, pocket-sized spray pens that relieve pain and itching associated with insect bites and minor rashes due to poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac

Visit the CVS/pharmacy website to take interactive quizzes such as this one on how well you know your insect bites and this one on common first aid mistakes.

GIVEAWAY!
We are giving a lucky reader a kit with all of the following products:
•    CVS Kids Sunblock Continuous Spray Spf 50
•    CVS Cooling Mist Sunblock
•    CVS Aftersun Instant Burn Relief Spray
•    CVS Instant Itch Relief Spray
•    CVS Waterproof Bandages
•    CVS Antibacterial Plastic Bandages
•    CVS Travel First Aid Kit

To enter to win, leave a comment telling us what your favorite summer destination is and which of the products above you can’t live without and why. Contest ends August 15th, 2009.

12 thoughts on “Where is your first aid kit? Do you have one?

  1. My favorite summer desination is the local campground. We have a camper there and we enjoy going to explore the great outdoors, go swimming, sit around the fire, grill food, and listen to live bands. I can’t do without the CVS Aftersun Instant Burn Relief Spray because it is very helpful in relieving the pain of a burn. We sometimes get burnt while outdoors and this would be helpful. Thanks.

  2. My perfect summer getaway destination would be Hawaii. What other place on earth could hold such bluest of waters? Products I will not leave home without would be the Cooling Mist Sunblock and the Aftersun Instant Burn Relief Spray. You need to keep your skin safe from the suns rays while out on the beaches having fun. Just incase you get a nasty slight sunburn/tan the relief spray is a godsend.

  3. My favorite summer destination is Hawaii. I can’t live without the SPF 50 because I am so fare skinned that even being out in the sun for an hour makes me sunburned!

  4. Favorite destination is Chicago, Illinois – tons of kid and adult places to visit (and I love the museums). We can’t live without sunscreen, even in the winter!

  5. We are going to the beach for the first time with our 5 month old baby! As a fellow germaphobe and sun burn freak, I couldn’t live with out antibacteria items to clean out little scrapes, sun screen for the time on the beach and after care for when new fair skin gets red for the first time when I don’t reapply sun screen soon enough.

  6. My favorite summer destination is Chetek, WI. And I cannot live with band-aids during the summer. Not a day goes by when one of the kids doesn’t get scratched up!

  7. My favorite summertime activity is a backyard BBQ, and I can’t live without SUnscreen…I have redheaded fair skinned children who burn VERY easily! (so I need the after sun care stuff aswell, since they usually burn some anyway)

  8. My favorite summer destination is Myrtle Beach, SC. I can’t live without sunblock spray for my kids because my oldest son can burn easily (he gets that from me).

    mfalcon13 at hotmail dot com

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