Everything You Need To Know About Horses

First Aid Kit For Horses

Regular checks of your first aid kit will ensure that you have the right resources on hand in an emergency

Chances are you have a box or cabinet in your tack room that contains ointments, bandages and other supplies to help you care for your horse’s minor scrapes and bumps. However, after time, improper storage or frequent use without replenishment can render your carefully assembled first-aid kit less effective or even useless.

To keep that from happening, set aside an hour to assess and overhaul your kit, perhaps allotting additional time to buy replacement items. Make this process a twice a year ritual, with periodic spot checks during particularly accident filled years, and you can be assured that you’ll be ready to soothe your horse’s hard knocks. Between reorganisations, and after every use, make sure that supplies are replaced as needed.

Check expirations dates

To avoid using products that have lost their effectiveness or become hazardous, throw away items that have expired. If a product will expire in the next six months, use it soon or give it to someone who can.

Look for physical changes

Examine every item and discard those that have deteriorated. Signs to look for include changes in colour, clear liquids that have became cloudy and ointments that have separated. Check containers for leakage, and make sure your gauze squares and wraps are clean.

Check your storage conditions

Scan labels and package inserts for storage directions and make sure they’ve been followed. For instance, items labeled ‘keep at room temperature’ can be seriously altered if stored in a hot car boot or a freezing tack box. If you’re unsure of how an item has been stored, especially if it will soon reach its expiration date, be on the safe side and throw it away.

Properly dispose of all old needles

There’s no reason to keep used hypodermic needles, reusing them can pass infection from horse to horse. Legally, however, you may not dispose of needles in the regular trash. Instead, find a metal container with a tight lid, label it ‘sharps’ and place your used needles in it. Store it in a place where it wont be tipped over or tempt curious children and animals. When you’re ready to dispose of the needles, give the container to your veterinarian who will be able to dispose of the contents properly.

Test your thermometer

If you have a mercury thermometer, examine it carefully, looking for any gaps in the mercury. Then shake it and place it under your armpit for two minutes and check the temperature reading. If the thermometer is not working, do not throw it in the bin. Mercury is highly toxic and requires special handling, call your state environmental agency and ask what programs are in place for mercury thermometer disposal. If your thermometer is digital, make sure the batteries are fresh and the device is on working order. If not it can be discarded with the household rubbish.

Make a shopping list

Once you’ve checked your first aid kit for outdated medications and contaminated materials, spend the remainder of the hour drawing up a list of items to be replaced. The standard items in any first aid kit are:

• thermometer
• antiseptic (either spray, ointment or liquid)
• an inexpensive adult stethoscope
• saline solution
• gauze squares and padding wrap
• self adhesive bandages or other wrapping materials
• eyewash
• scissors
• clean towel or three
• disposable latex gloves
• hand wipes for cleaning yourself before tending to a wound or eye

When your first-aid is restocked, post a list of contents inside the lid of the box or cabinet door to help you more easily keep track of your replacement needs !