Let's Be Prepared!

You know that moment, when you know your kid is going to get hurt, and your heart stops for a second. You brace yourself for the impact and BAM it happens. That's exactly how I felt last Saturday when we were playing at the park.

Makenna and Matthew were running around the tennis court, like they do every time we go to the park. They chase each other around and around the tennis net. Makenna had her head turned back and was calling for Matthew to follow her. I saw her cutting in towards the pole that holds the net. Before I could even yell out, she turned her head and ran straight into the pole at full speed. I honestly thought she was going to be missing some of her front teeth. I ran over to her and just saw blood covering her nose and mouth area. I picked her up and yelled for Matthew to follow us to the car. Of course Matthew had other ideas that included going down the slide a few more times before he followed. 

Now the park is absolutely packed. Not one parent offered their assistance in getting Matthew or asking if we needed help. Makenna was bleeding and screaming hysterically and I was yelling across the park for Matthew to get to the car. Maybe it's just the way I am, but I would have gone to get a little kid that a mother/nanny/grandparent, was calling for. Especially since it was very obvious that I was holding another hurt child. 

I put Makenna in my front seat and got Matthew buckled in his seat. When I got a chance to look closely at her face, I noticed that she made impact above her lip and below her nose. Thank God!! No missing teeth. Just a chunk of skin hanging off, that I was 95% positive would not need stitches. Also, she had a huge bump above her eyebrow. I sat there just staring at her thinking, "What the hell do I do now?" The only thing I had in my car was baby wipes. I was totally flustered and unprepared. I tired wiping up the blood that was dripping down as best as I could and told her to hold the wipe to her face. A trip to the doctors and a few stickers later, she was as good as new.

I on the other hand will be scared for life. I thought over and over again, "I can't believe I do not have a first-aid kit in my car!" Three days later, Matthew rolled the car window up right onto the tip on his middle finger. Again, having a first-aid kit would have been handy. Thankfully, we were right outside some place that had an ice pack readily available. But that sealed the deal, I was making a first-aid kit for the car! 

I saw once on Pinterest, a first-aid kit with all the supplies fitting in a baby wipe container. Who doesn't have one or 50 of these things laying around? Here is a picture of my first-aid kit all packed up. 

Here is what it includes:

• Scissors (every parent needs scissors in their car! I have read numerous stories about kids getting seat belts stuck around their necks and almost dying) 
• Gauze pads 
• Various size bandages
• Butterfly banages
• Tweezers
• Safety pins 
• Medical tape
• Alcohol wipes
• Burn Cream
• Antibacterial ointment 
• Antibacterial wipes
• Gloves
• Q-tips
• Ice Packs
• Ace bandage (not pictured bc the kids stole it) 

I had some of this stuff already at home, but you can buy most of it from the dollar store and Wal-Mart. You can also buy a pre made car first-aid kit at just about any store and online. 

Makenna is fine and loves reenacting, to everyone who asks her about her nose, how she ran into the "pool" aka the pole.  Matthew is also fine. Just broken blood vessels on the tip of his finger. What a few days it has been! Hopefully I won't have to use my new first-aid kit any time soon!! Next time something happens though, I'm hoping I won't feel so flustered and unprepared!  

Please fell free to tell us your stories and share anything else you think should be added to a car first-aid kit