ARE YOU PREPARED?

By David Kierski

03/08

In tailgating, as in life, it pays to be prepared. You don't want to let some cuts and scrapes - or worse - ruin your otherwise happy game day. So here are some first aid basics to help you come up with a game plan.

The kit: The backbone of any good first aid plan is your first aid kit. Sure, you can buy a store-bought kit, or you could prepare your own so you know exactly what you do and don't have in there. It's cheaper too! Your first aid kit should include:
Sterile Gauze Pads, various sizes
Adhesive Bandages (i.e. Band-Aids)
Butterfly bandage
White medical tape
Elastic tape
Triangular badges/pads
Disposable gloves
First Aid Scissors
Tweezers
Lighter
Suction bulb
Flashlight
CPR mask
Eye cup/small plastic cup
Cold packs/instant ice packs
Sterile solution
Sterile swabs
Rubbing alcohol/hand sanitizer
Thermometer
Soap
Hydrogen peroxide
Safety pins
Space blanket
Trial size or travel size of:

• Petroleum jelly
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Benadryl Cream
• Painkillers (Ibuprofen, aspirin)
• Benadryl
• Burn gel
• Antacids
• Antibiotic Cream (i.e. Neosporin)

Pack all of this gear in a water-tight box and keep it in your vehicle. Pack a first aid manual along with all these supplies; just make sure you read it first. That way you'll know what to do in an emergency situation, or you'll be able to look it up quickly. Keep all your supplies fresh. Replace old and expired items at the beginning of each season.

Remember that you're there to have fun, not to be a hero. If somebody gets themselves into a situation you don't feel very comfortable about, call 911 and let the professionals handle it. It's their job. Even doctors call for help when they need to.

Prevention is the best bet for handling any emergency. Know your surroundings, and use some common sense. Don't leave hot coals out where people might touch or walk on them. Make sure tables are sturdy, there are no tent pegs, low coolers, or any other tripping hazards in heavily-traveled areas. Tell people if any of your food has nuts, shellfish, dairy, or any other foods people are commonly allergic to. Check the weather forecast in the morning before you leave, and be sure everyone is prepared for whatever Mother Nature might send your way.

If you're the host of the party, keep an eye on how many drinks everyone is having. If they've had too many, cut them off. Alcohol poisoning and alcohol related accidents are serious business, so nip it in the bud. Don't worry, they won't remember what you did to them the next day anyway, and you may just have saved someone's life.

Do not let anyone who has been drinking behind the wheel of a car, under any circumstances. Take their keys, let the air out of their tires, knock them out: just do whatever it takes to ensure they don't get themselves or an innocent person killed.

With common sense and a little thinking ahead, your game day should be free of accidents and injuries. But if for some reason you should run into trouble, you will no how to handle it. Or you'll call somebody who can. Happy tailgating!