Anyone who works with kids – or ever has worked with kids – knows that it’s important to be prepared for just about anything. This is why whether you’re a daycare worker, a mom, a teacher, or a babysitter, it’s important to have medical supplies on hand in a convenient location so that you can easily access them during emergencies or minor crises.
Many people may think that having bandages and antibiotic cream on hand would be enough, but it’s really not. If you’re dealing with any larger wounds or scrapes, for instance, you’ll want to have gauze and athletic tape so that the bandage doesn’t stick to the wounded area. Plus, you’ll want anti-itch cream and aloe lotion, especially if you’re with kids in the summer. Don’t forget to have ice packs on hand, too, since many bumps and bruises can be soothed with a little coolness, and athletic wrap can be helpful in stabilizing injured joints until you get to a doctor’s office.
Now that you have a more extensive list of medical supplies in mind, make a list of what you need and how much of each thing you’ll want to have available. You can use this list later to double check that you have all the supplies you need at frequent intervals so that you never run out of anything.
Finally, when you get all your supplies together – whether you buy them in bulk for a daycare or just buy small packages for home use – be sure that everything is easily accessible and well-organized. You should be able to send an older child to pull a bandage or an ice pack from your medical supplies area without wondering whether she’ll be able to find what she’s looking for. Be sure, though, that the supplies are out of reach of younger children when you put them away.