Make up your own first-aid kit

Every home needs a well-stocked first-aid kit.

You can buy a standard one but if you prefer to compile your own, St John Ambulance offers a list of must-haves:

• wound cleaner / antiseptic
• swabs for cleaning wounds
• cotton wool for padding
• sterile gauze
• tweezers (to remove splinters)
• scissors
• safety pins
• triangular bandages
• roller bandages
• roll of elastic adhesive
• non allergenic adhesive strip
• plasters in various sizes
• dressings
• splints
• disposable latex gloves
• CPR mouth pieces or similar devices

A few tips:

1. Keep these together in a big plastic container with a sealable lid.
2. Regularly check the kit and replace anything past its expiry date, nothing is leaking and the sterile packinging is undamaged.
3. Ensure it's stored well out of reach of children.
4. Familiarise yourself with all the items and know what they're used for. Also show your nanny and other caregivers.
5. Enroll yourself, your partner, older children and caregivers in a first-aid course. For details, contact St John Ambulance.
6. You can buy smaller travel kits, which are handy to keep in the car.