FIRST-AID KIT Be prepared to cope with minor emergencies

Basic medical supplies will help families deal with common mishaps.
By KATHY ANTONIOTTI
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
The human body is a marvelous machine, but it is apt to get banged up and bruised on occasion.
Skinned-knees and broken bones just seem to go hand in hand with warm weather and rough-and-tumble outdoor play -- even when you try to play safely. It is a good idea to take a lesson from the Boy Scouts' motto and "be prepared" in the event a minor medical emergency happens to you or a friend.
A first-aid kit is essential to have on hand for the safety of all the members of your family. You might choose to keep basic medical supplies at home, or place them in a container to take along on family outings. You can also call your local Red Cross agency to find out about basic first-aid courses where you can learn what to do in case of a medical emergency.
Recycle lunch box
Give an old plastic lunch box new life by filling it with all the necessary supplies to make a transportable first-aid kit with directions I found on the Web at www.kidsdomain.com/craft/firstaid.html. Supplies you will need:
URed plastic lunch box.
UNontoxic adhesive remover.
UMetal putty knife.
UInkjet full-page label OR self-adhesive paper and red markers.
UClear Con-Tact paper.
UScissors.
URuler.
UPen.
UFirst-aid supplies.
Directions for kit
You can print the pattern for the first-aid sticker from the directions at Kids Domain, or design your own using your computer and color printer. Or simply draw the pattern on a sheet of self-adhesive paper and color with red markers. Make two stickers, one for each side of the box.
Take old labels off the lunch box. Remove any leftover glue and paper with a nontoxic adhesive remover. Use the putty knife to scrap off the remaining label.
Wash and dry the lunch box.
Cut the label to fit the front and back of the box and attach one to each side.
Measure and cut Con-Tact paper slightly larger than the labels and apply over the label to keep them clean and dry.