Summertime: Update Your First Aid Kit

And it’s a good idea to take a first aid class.

Summer brings lots of outdoor activity. Outings to parks. Hikes in the woods. Home and garden maintenance. Outdoor activity also brings bumps, scrapes, and falls. So, summer is a great time to update or replace your home first aid kit.

Get out your kit and inspect all the items. Drop expired medicines in the disposal drop box at the Vashon Pharmacy. Get rid of any items that are broken or incomplete. Add fresh nitrile gloves, clean gauze, and bandaids. Wash or replace cloth bandages.

If you don’t have a first aid kit, there are many brands of ready-made kits you can purchase — Red Cross, FirstAidOnly, Johnson & Johnson — it’s an endless list. REI and other outdoor gear stores also carry first aid kits customized for backpacking, car camping, water sports, and more.

You can build your own customized first aid kit. You’ll need a container such as a backpack or even a big Ziplock-style bag. Check out the backpacks available inexpensively from Vashon’s own thrift shop, Granny’s Attic. There are many checklists online for items to put in your personally designed first aid kit. Two well-known sources are the Mayo Clinic and the American Red Cross.

Keep the kit in a place where teens and adults in the household can easily find it, in case it’s needed when you’re not at home. Keep it out of the reach of young children if it contains anything such as pills, scissors, or ointments that could cause them harm.

Finally, it’s a good idea to take a first aid class. Even if you’ve had some first-aid training, the guidelines for providing first aid change over time, and a refresher course will restore your first-aid memory banks. The Red Cross offers some classes online that can be taken at your convenience without going off the island. For information about certified Red Cross first aid training, go here.

VIFR Announces New CPR Classes

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue has opened registration for three new dates for the department’s popular two-hour CPR and basic first aid class. The non-certificate community classes include CPR training, practice using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and Stop the Bleed training. The three new dates are Sept. 18, Oct. 23, and Nov. 27.

The previous classes quickly filled, so it’s important to register soon before the slots are all taken. You can sign up online here.

Get Help with Health Insurance

You or someone you know can get personal help to sign up for Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) health insurance. Miguel Urquiza from Public Health — Seattle & King County (PHSKC) will be coming to Vashon this summer. You can meet with him at the Vashon library on July 26th or August 23rd from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. He can also assist with food stamps and ORCA Lift. If Wednesdays don’t work for you, call or email Miguel at 206-477-6965, 206-491-3761, or [email protected] Miguel speaks Spanish.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Is One-Year-Old

One year ago, Washington became one of the first states to implement the nationwide three-digit dialing code 988. Anyone calling the number in Washington will be connected directly with a counselor for mental health or substance use disorders. It’s for those seeking help for themselves, a friend, or a loved one. You can get more information here.

Vashon Risk Level: Still at Basic

The VashonBePrepared risk level tool aggregates hospitalization rates across our region of COVID exposure, including the three counties served by Vashon’s ferry routes — King, Kitsap, and Pierce. Hospitalization rates provide a good week-to-week indicator of changes in COVID rates because they are reliably reported to public health offices, unlike the incompletely reported home testing results. Some other factors are also evaluated, including COVID virus levels in wastewater in our region.

At the basic risk level, wear an N95 mask indoors in public if you have been exposed to COVID, are at risk for health or other reasons, or live or spend time with someone at high risk.

Keep vaccinations up to date, including boosters. Maintain good ventilation at home and at work. Avoid those with suspected or confirmed COVID. If exposed to COVID, wear a mask in public and avoid contact with those at high risk for 10 days.

Always home-test if you have symptoms. If you test positive, isolate for at least five days and until you test negative. If you are immunocompromised, discuss additional prevention actions with your healthcare provider.