SARAH: What are some essentials for an equine first aid kit?
DR LYDIA GRAY: I did pull one from our inventory.
If you will help me go through that.
SARAH: I would be happy to.
DR LYDIA GRAY: There's a blog that we did, and the Horse Health Library has a lot of
good articles.
And there's one on equine first aid.
At the end of that article, there's the list that I'm going to use that lists what should
be in your first aid kit.
And I have a couple first aid kits.
So I have one in my trailer.
SARAH: That does not surprise me.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Yeah.
I have one in the barn.
I think I have one in my house.
Yeah.
They're everywhere.
And they have different things in them, and they're different sizes.
So this one is sort of a medium.
It's more than the basics, but it's not the big one.
So I'll start reading.
I know the first thing on my list is not in here, and that's OK because this bag has so
many pockets.
You're doing a great job.
SARAH: Thank you.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Look at these pockets.
They're everywhere.
So you can stay really super organized with this first aid kit that we sell even if you
have to add some things and replace some things.
Oh before I forget.
If you or someone else, your friend, uses something from the kit, replace it right away.
Because there's nothing worse than saying, oh, I bought this great first aid kit.
I know where it is.
And then you go to use it, and the very thing that you need is not in there.
So if you use it, replace it.
So the first thing is a thermometer.
And the little gadgets are down in here, and they have really good things like hoof picks
and tweezers and bandage scissors.
But there's no thermometer.
So buy this, and then go to Walgreens or CVS, get a digital thermometer, drop it in here.
Done.
SARAH: People thermometer is good enough?
DR LYDIA GRAY: Oh, yeah.
Digital is fine.
The scissors are right there.
They have a lot of antibiotic ointment.
This is nice, because they have it for people and for horses.
They were really thinking ahead there.
SARAH: Yeah.
People do get injured.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Yeah.
When horses get injured, probably sometimes the people do, too.
Saline, I use for cleaning out wounds.
There's iodine scrub.
I think there's something-- maybe it's in this pocket.
Yeah!
This is really cool.
This is a sponge that already has iodine in it.
So it's very fast.
You don't have to go gather a sponge and iodine and water.
SARAH: And try to make it sterile.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Yeah.
You just peel the top and ready to go.
This is great!
This pocket also has some Vetrap and some Elastikon.
What does your pocket have?
Oh, more Vetrap Yeah.
SARAH: Good colors, too.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Yeah.
Mine's hot pink.
SARAH: Oh, nice for the mares.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Electrolytes.
OK.
What else?
SARAH: I think that's all we got going on over here.
More Vetrap More electrolytes.
DR LYDIA GRAY: That's the next thing on my list is Vetrap
SARAH: Can't get enough.
DR LYDIA GRAY: There's gauze all in the middle here.
Tape.
Is there tape in this one?
I'm not sure if there's a tape.
SARAH: I don't know.
DR LYDIA GRAY: I have on my list several different types of tape.
The next thing is needles and syringes.
And my caution with those-- while she's still looking for the tape-- with needles and syringes,
only have them in your kit if you know how to use them.
That advice actually applies to everything.
So what I don't have on my list is a brace for a broken leg.
Well, because not a lot of people know how to properly use it.
So don't put anything in here that you're going to do more harm than good with.
So if you know how to give a shot, fine.
Have needles and syringes.
If you don't, wait for the veterinarian.
SARAH: There is not tape in this kit.
I think most riders hear tape, think duct tape.
I'm guessing that's not what you're looking for.
DR LYDIA GRAY: No!
No!
Right here.
Duct tape.
SARAH: Duct tape.
DR LYDIA GRAY: You should have it everywhere, but I also have white bandage tape, medical
tape, first aid tape.
Have lots of tape.
Tape is always good.
The hoof pick was here.
I saw it.
Gloves.
I saw gloves somewhere back there.
They have a flashlight in here.
SARAH: They do.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Check the battery.
They don't have in here pens or markers, but-- thank you-- pens and markers.
But that's easy to add.
I would add paper, too.
Tweezers I saw.
And then I have stethoscope-- question mark.
So I know how to use it and it's a nice thing to put in there.
If you want to, great.
If not, that's fine, too.
So check these out.
We have three or four, five different ones.
Check out the article on the Horse Health Library, but I think that everything you need
is on this list, in the bag, and you're all set.
SARAH: Good place to start.