Diverse Facets of Medical First Aid Kits
Since the earliest time of war, Medical First Aid Kits have always been a necessity. Its contents have been constantly changed and improvised, and now even its purpose. In the medical field, it is not solely for emergency purposes, it is now a tool for promotions and advertising. These have been common promotional desk items for drug companies given away to hospitals and physicians.
The Insignia of Medical First Aid Kits
Since Medical First Aid Kits have always been a part in the health care system, especially in emergency setups, there have been standard symbols used for Medical First Aid Kits or even as promotional desk items to be easily recognisable. Here are a few them:
- Star of life. This has been universally recognised to be associated with emergency care, which has always been linked to first aid.
- Green background with a white cross. This has been the customary symbol recommended by the International Organization for Standardization.
- Red cross with white background. This was the emblem recommended by the International Committee of the Red Cross in all its affiliated countries.
- Trauma injuries. This is the most common use of first aid treatment. This includes sterile dressings, adhesive bandages, antiseptics, butterfly closure strips, and adhesive tapes.
- Instruments. There are many instances where medical instruments and equipments are needed. These instruments are scissors, penlight, syringe, lighter, thermometer, and tweezers.
- Airway, breathing, circulation. This perhaps is the fundamental of first aid, and some specialised Medical First Aid Kits focus on these. Thus the kits contain bag valve mask, pocket mask, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways, and face shields.
- Personal protective equipment. Patient care is the primary concern in first aid, but the health care providers should also be taken into consideration. So equipments intended to protect them is also necessary such as surgical masks for protection from airborne transmission, gloves to prevent cross infection, and goggles for eye protection on potential infectious or foreign material that can invade the eyes.



