A Student's First-Aid Kit

Part of the "Surviving College" series

Every college student needs a first-aid kit---from cutting yourself while preparing food to falling while trying to climb up stairs, accidents can happen anywhere, and do need to be treated.

Don't think anything bad can happen to you from a tiny scratch, cut, or bug bite? Then consider this: In July 2006, I was bitten by a mosquito, and I scratched the bite so hard that it bled. 4 days later, the bite area was hot and painful to the touch, and had swelled to almost 4 inches wide and 3 inches long. Turns out, I had gotten a streptococcal bacterial infection from that small mosquito bite.

To make matters worse, the bacteria stayed in my body for 5 months after the initial infection--it took 3 rounds of high-powered antibiotics and a steroid shot to flush it out by the end of November 2006. Moral of the story: Don't let a bite, cut, or scratch get infected! Treat it right away.

Your college first-aid kit should include:

1. Adhesive bandages of all sizes (from the tiniest to the huge 2 inch x 3 inch variety)
2. Neosporin or some similar antibacterial ointment
3. Hydrogen peroxide for cleaning dirt and bacteria out of minor cuts and scratches. See below for usage.
4. Ace bandage for wrapping sore or sprained joints. (It's a brown, cloth-like, stretchy material, usually packaged all rolled up)
5. Antibacterial wipes or gel for quick cleaning of area around wounds
6. Anti-inflammation pain relievers (like Advil, Tylenol, or Aleve) to get fevers down and reduce swelling

The kit can also include:

• Heating pad for cramped or sore muscles and stomach troubles
• Cold pack for reducing swelling of sprained or twisted joints
• Oral thermometer to check for fever
• Multi-vitamins for boosting the immune system
• Cough drops, throat sprays, or hot teas to ease sore throats
• Vitamin C and zinc lozenges for enhanced immunity from colds/better recovery time from colds

Usage of hydrogen peroxide: Get to a sink, bathtub, or shower area, or just put a towel underneath the area which needs the peroxide on it to catch excess. Pour a small amount (NOT like half the bottle or something) over the wound. It will sting a bit. Watch how much the wound bubbles--the more bubbles, the dirtier and germier the wound was. When the stinging sensation and bubbles start to go down, pat the surrounding area of the wound dry with a tissue or paper towel. DO NOT use peroxide over a large area of affected skin (like burns, rashes, or fungal infections)--it's best for small or penetrative wounds.

Treatment of Cut/Scratch/Bug Bite

1. Wash wound and surrounding area with antibacterial soap and warm to hot water. If you are not near readily available tap water, wipe the wound with an antibacterial wipe or smooth on some antibacterial hand gel of any kind.
2. If there is visible dirt in the wound, if the wound came from an animal, or if the wound is a bug bite, use hydrogen peroxide as instructed above.
3. After area is dry from washing, wiping, and possibly using peroxide, apply a small amount of Neosporin or other antibacterial ointment to the wound and small surrounding area (not too much, or a bandage won't stick).
4. Place a well-fitting bandage over wound, making sure to keep the bandage tight but not constrictive of blood flow to the area.
5. Continuing treatment: Take off old bandage once each day and redress the wound (wash, apply ointment, put on new bandage). In 4-6 days, the wound should be much better.