First Aid Tips - Always Be Prepared!

I have been a cub scout, a boy scout, and a regular camper all my life. Now you see where I get my title of this article from. Be Prepared is one of the boy scout's many sayings that holds true to anyone both boy and girl, human or otherwise. No matter what happens with politics, with new diseases every day, we simply don't know what our fates are going to be. The best thing you can do is be prepared in the most practical way possible. One of the most obvious ways is with a first aid kit as shown above, but there are also other tips I would like to share. After all first aid kits are not magic wands. Reading instructions, and having basic knowledge will get you through the hard times.

When I was in boy scouts, and cub scouts we had to do many different activities outside in order to earn our badges. We did canoeing, cycling, jogging, hiking, and when any of us got a cut, scrape, or bruise, we were taught to take care of it as soon as possible. I will tell the same thing to you. Here are some things you should always keep in mind...

• Wash the area real good with CLEAN water. I cannot stress clean water enough here. Using dirty water will cause more problems with infection.
• Apply some sort of antiseptic solution. Try to use a clean cotton ball here. You don't want to use your dirty fingers.
• If the scratch or scrape is not that deep, just apply some antiseptic cream and let it heal. Don't cover it up with a band-aid let it breathe as much as possible.
• If blood is still flowing apply pressure and hold it until you can stop the bleeding. Once the bleeding stops apply a band-aid or wrap it up with something.

I know these sounds like crude tips everyone should know, but in a survival situation, these tips can help a bad situation from turning even worse.