Organize + Energize: Organize a First-Aid Kit

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

 

View Larger +

Are you prepared if there is an accident, a bee sting, a scrape or burn? Do you have a first-aid kit, and does everybody in your household know where it’s located? This is a perfect time of year to get your first-aid kit in order.  It’s a preference, but you can keep one in each bathroom or a designated spot in the house. You may also want to keep one in the car, just in case.  Notify everybody in the household where to locate the kit if an accident were to happen.

You want to be able to locate an item and locate it quickly when an accident occurs. You don’t want to have to rush out to the store to purchase something you know you have in the home. You don’t feel like searching for it, so you run out, waste time and money and purchase a duplicate item. 

Here are 22 items you can add to your first-aid kit. Remember, you may already have some of these items, scattered around the home. Check inventory and then purchase what you need.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
  • Tweezers & magnifier for removing splinters
  • Small scissors
  • Benadryl
  • Neosporin/bacitracin
  • Anti-itch cream
  • Disposable ice pack
  • Alcohol wipes
  • Insect sting relief wipes
  • Peroxide
  • A box of all different sizes of band aids
  • Gauze pads- 4x4 pads or a gauze roll
  • Tape
  • Ace bandage
  • Gloves
  • If anybody is allergic to bees, keep a spare epi-pen in the kit
  • First-aid guide 
  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Barf bag for the car
  • Disposable thermometers
  • CPR Mask
  • Low-dose aspirin
  • Any trial size products that you find in your travels that you think you might benefit from if they were in your kit.

 

While you’re preparing your first aid kit, also prepare an area to keep sunscreens, SPF lip balm, bug spray and any other items you need to put on before you head outside.

Gather all the first-aid items that you already store in your home. Check for expired items. Categorize and itemize the items you are keeping. You can store your first-aid products in a see through or colorful container, a basket, zippered pouch,  or whatever type of container will fit in the area you are storing the kit. Label if you must.

Again, keep these contained to one area and be sure everybody in the home is aware of where they are stored. Once these items are used, they will be put back in their place and that is how organization will be maintained.

This is a quick organizing project that you can tackle and feel great after you accomplish it. Get prepared now and be ready for when that accident happens. When an accident occurs, you won't be stressed or frazzled looking for items; you will be organized, prepared and you will save time and money.

View Larger +

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner of Organizing in RI. Kristin teaches her clients that living an organized lifestyle will save them time and money, decrease their stress levels and help them become more efficient and productive. Her articles have been published in local and national magazines. She has also given over 70 presentations throughout the state. Watch Kristin LIVE every Thursday at 3pm here on GoLocal LIVE with Molly O’Brien.

 

Related Slideshow: Organizing Products For Your Closet

View Larger +
Prev Next

Flip flop organizer

How many flip flops do you own? Are they thrown all over the closet floor? How long does it take you to find a match to one of them? Bed Bath and Beyond has a $9.99 flip flop organizer that holds 6 pairs of flip flops and hangs nicely in your closet. This is a must-have if you have more than 5 pairs of flip flops. I’ve purchased these for my clients and they work great!

View Larger +
Prev Next

Scarf organizer

You love your scarves, but it takes you forever to locate one and you have to throw 5 around to find the one you are searching for. Use a scarf organizer and you will be able to see all your scarves and find them at a moment’s notice. Bed Bath and Beyond has a few different types of scarf organizers, including this one for $9.99.

View Larger +
Prev Next

Belt organizer

How are you storing your belts? Are they in a tangled mess? Purchase a belt organizer for a cheap solution—they can be as inexpensive as $6.99 from the Container Store.

View Larger +
Prev Next

Tie organizer

Keep your ties organized and hanging on a tie rack, or keep then rolled in a drawer organizer. Whichever way you choose to organize them, treat them with care. To take care of both your belts and your ties in one fell swoop, check out this organizer from the Container Store.

View Larger +
Prev Next

Drawer organizer

This is a must for your underwear, socks, bras, nylons, etc. Drawer organizers will help to maximize space in your closet. You won’t believe the amount of space you will have once you contain these items in drawer organizers!

View Larger +
Prev Next

Jewelry organizer

Are you always trying to detangle your necklaces? Think about how you grab your jewelry and then purchase an organizing system according to how you function. Before you purchase your container, take inventory of what you own and purchase accordingly.

View Larger +
Prev Next

Shoe rack

Did you know people who didn’t own shoe racks were 7 times more likely to show up late for an event? Are your shoes in piles on the floor? Get them off the floor and contain them in a shoe rack. There are many options out there, like this one from Bed Bath and Beyond. Choose the shoe rack that is going to fit what you need to hold and fit in the space you are working with.

View Larger +
Prev Next

Hangers

Are you hanging your clothes on the wire hangers from the dry cleaner? Those hangers will ruin your clothes. Get rid of them and store your clothes on the hanger of your choice, but be consistent and stick with one type of hanger.

View Larger +
Prev Next

Handbags

How are you storing your handbags? Are they stored all over your closet? Are they in bins or crumpled up on the floor? It’s time to organize your bags. There are many options depending on the space you are working with. You can stand them up on a shelf, you can hang them, or if they are small, you can store them in a canvas bin. The choice is yours. Think about how you function and develop a system from there.

View Larger +
Prev Next

Baseball cap organizer

How many baseball caps do you own? How are they organized in your closet now, and how long does it take you to find one? The Container Store (pictured here), Bed Bath and Beyond, and other stores sell this baseball cap organizer. I have a few clients that have purchased them and they love them!

View Larger +
Prev Next

Function over flash

There are many variations on these products. Choose the product that is right for you. There are some organizing products I would never use, but other people might choose to use them. Choose the one that is going to be the most efficient and productive product for you and your family. Don’t choose a product because it’s pretty, choose it based on functionality. Search online for different products before you rush out and purchase a product.  You may find that one store is more expensive than another. Don’t forget if you are going to Bed Bath and Beyond to use their 20% off coupons. If you don’t want to purchase these items, get creative and re-purpose items around the home, or make your own!

View Larger +
Prev Next

Kristin MacRae

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on www.talkstreamradio.com.

 
 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

 
 

Sign Up for the Daily Eblast

I want to follow on Twitter

I want to Like on Facebook