Be ready for any season: building your first aid kit

The essentials: what’s in your kit?

A great first aid kit is organised, easily accessible and well stocked. To make sure you’re prepared for everything, your kit should include:

• Sun Protection: A non-negotiable in the harsh Aussie sun. High-quality SPF 50+ sunscreen protection is a must. Don’t forget - slip, slop, slap and seek shade is still one of most effective ways to protect your health, especially during an intense South Aussie heatwave.
• Pain Relief: For those unexpected headaches or fevers, keep some paracetamol and ibuprofen on hand. You never know when you might need them!
• Hydralyte or electrolyte replacements: These are essential when someone's dealing with dehydration or gastro, replacing lost fluids and electrolytes more effectively than water alone.
• Allergy & Bite Relief: Antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays, eye drops, and anti-itch creams to send hay fever packing and calm those pesky insect stings.
• Ear Care: Aquaear solution is brilliant for drying out ears and preventing swimmer's ear.
• Hot and cold compresses: Ice packs and cold compresses help with swelling and heat relief, while heat packs work well for sore muscles and cramps.

“Keep some RAT tests in your first aid kit for peace of mind, and, if you have asthma, check your puffer is in date and not running low”, says Xin Ng, Pharmacist Manager at Health Partners Participating Pharmacy, Blooms the Chemist.

Expert Tip: Round out your kit with sterile gauze, various sized bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers for splinters, and saline solution for flushing eyes or wounds. And always remember to restock items when you use them. "It's important to regularly check your items' expiry dates in your first aid kit to ensure they remain safe and effective," advises Xin.

Everyday health essentials, made simpler and more affordable

Building your first aid kit is easy when you visit one of our Health Partners participating pharmacies across South Australia. Our members enjoy 20% off the full price of most non-prescription pharmacy products. Find full terms, conditions and exclusions here.

Our members save every day on the good stuff like cosmetics, vitamins, hair care and skincare, and some items you’ll find in a first aid kit:

• Vitamins & supplements
• Pain relief and minor ailment products
• Perfume and beauty products
• Skincare & hair care
• Sports medicine and wound care items.

Find your nearest Health Partners participating pharmacy here.

Now let’s take a look at why these items matter and when you'll actually need them.

Handling the heat and sun

We all love soaking up the sunshine, but you've got to be smart about it. If someone's showing signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, the priority is to cool them down quickly. Move them into the shade, use cold compresses from your kit, and make sure they're drinking plenty of fluids (this is where those electrolytes come in handy). If symptoms are severe, call 000 immediately.

When it comes to sunburn, the best approach is always prevention. Always remember to slip, slop, slap, and seek shade. "For optimal sun protection, sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours or more frequently if swimming or sweating”, Xin says. If you do get caught out, your cold compresses and sunburn relief products will help.

And don’t forget about your eyes! Eye sunburn is real, so always wear polarising sunglasses and keep some soothing eye drops in your kit. With selected Extras cover, Health Partners members can take advantage of 30% off non-prescription sunglasses (some exclusions apply) every day at Health Partners Optical. If you end up with severe sunburn, blistering, or a fever, go and visit your doctor.

Tummy troubles and seasonal sniffles

If you or a loved one is experiencing vomiting or diarrhoea, focus on replacing those electrolytes with your hydration supplies. If the pain is severe or symptoms persist, time to see your GP.

Swimmer's ear can be a real pain during the warmer months. Using earplugs and Aquaear solution helps keep the ear canal dry. If you do develop an infection, you may need antibiotic drops from your doctor. Similarly, colds and influenza can strike when you least expect them, and when they do, your kit's pain relief plus plenty of rest and fluids will help you recover.

Bites, stings, and allergies

For insect bites and stings, ice packs help with swelling and soothing creams tackle the itch. If you've got known allergies, make sure your antihistamines and sprays are always on hand.

Important Note: If someone experiences an anaphylactic reaction, get medical help immediately and use an Epipen if available.

Extra member benefits at the pharmacy

Being prepared means getting back to enjoying life sooner when something goes wrong. Drop by your local Health Partners participating pharmacy to grab what you need to build a first aid kid today. If you're a member, you'll save 20% off the full price of most non-prescription items every day. Your future self will thank you!