You don’t need to have a professional sports doctor waiting on the sidelines of your pick-up game, but you should most definitely have an athletic training kit. Even with all the safety equipment available today, injuries are just part of the sport. Most injuries need not stop your game if you have the appropriate medical supplies packed, but still the unexpected happens. While packing an athletic training kit full of bandages, gauze, and disinfectant is a must, there are a few more curious items that you may want to consider stashing inside.
Disposable Razor
Certainly your personal grooming could wait until you get home, but if you happen to be a particularly hairy person or have a fuzzy teammate, having a razor on hand to scrape away excess hair around a wound before applying a particularly sticky bandage is the gift that keeps on giving. The bandage will have a more comfortable seal and there will be a fraction of the eye-watering sting later when it is removed.
Tampons
While useful to have on hand for women athletes for their typical role, tampons can be handy in yet another aspect. As it turns out, a tampon is actually an excellent fit for a nostril that happens to be gushing blood after a particularly nasty (and hopefully accidental) elbow to the face. You may look a bit silly, but it is not silly if it works. Be sure to get the unscented kind, though.
Safety Pins
Many medical kits include safety pins, but not all. They do have an abundance of uses, though. Not only are they helpful to hold a bandage in place or dig out a particularly deep splinter, they can also be used to replace a lost button on your clothes or quickly mend a rip.
Tongue Depressors
While a common staple in most doctor offices, tongue depressors are surprisingly rare in athletic training kits. However, the best way to treat a sprained or broken finger is to immobilize it in a splint. The long, flat design of a tongue depressor makes them amazing for finger splints.
EpiPen
Having an Epipen is a must if you have any severe allergies, but even if you don’t, it is worthwhile to have on hand. Most athletic trainers would be surprised at the number of people with severe allergies that travel without one. Having an EpiPen packed and ready could literally make you a lifesaver someday.
Super Glue
For small, but deep cuts, super glue can come in handy. Even doctors use it when a cut is deep enough, but doesn’t merit the single stitch it would take to close it. Contrary to the popular belief, super glue is meant to go over the wound after it is pinched closed, not inside of it. Once it has had the chance to dry, the injury will have a chance to heal without being easily broken open. However, if a wound looks like it will take more than one or two stitches, it is best to just put the sport on hold and pay a quick visit to the doctor.
Duct Tape
Yes, duct tape. It fixes almost everything from binding a splint or taping on a bandage to quickly repairing sports equipment. It is always handy to have around.
Don’t have an athletic training kit at all? Well, the good news is you won’t need one right up until you really do. Those looking to put one together should contact us today to learn not only about what essentials to include, but to get your hands on one of our high-quality medical bags that are lightweight, yet durable enough to endure frequent travel.