CBS News has tips for creating a first aid kit for your pet and tips to help you in the event of an injury, bee sting, or heat exhaustion. I'm an animal lover, so I know how pets can quickly become part of the family. Protect yours by keeping them safe and out of the heat this summer, and by being prepared if something does go wrong.

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Hopefully, you practiced good sun safety this weekend and didn't end up with a painful sunburn. Staying in the shade, avoiding the hottest part of the day, wearing protective clothing, and slapping on the sunscreen are all good ways to keep your skin safe from the hot summertime sun.

If you did forget the sunscreen or stay out a little too long, however, it's always good to know how to soothe that painful burn. About.com has some good advice, including:

• Take a cool shower or bath.
• Check for blisters, which indicate second degree burns. If the burn covers a large portion of the body (like a whole arm), seek medical attention right away.
• Apply aloe to the affected area -- NOT butter or oil.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief.
• Wear natural, loose, breathable fabrics like cotton until you heal.
• Stay out of the sun, which will only make your burn worse.

Call 911 or head straight to the nearest ER if the person with the sunburn has trouble breathing or if swelling gets so bad that circulation to any area of the body (such as hands or feet) seems to be compromised.

Sunburns are painful and, in severe situations, can be serious. Refresh yourself on sun safety rules before the hottest days of summer arrive, and find a sunscreen that's right for you at the Environmental Working Group's database.

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I have a medicine cabinet full of bandages adorned with princesses, fairies, and even a yellow sponge man that lives under the sea. These colorful characters help my kids feel better when they fall down and hurt themselves. Soon, their tears dry up and they wear their bandage with pride.

But what about when I get hurt? Don't I deserve a little pick me up when I cut my finger slicing veggies? Help Remedies, Inc. thinks that grown ups deserve a little extra attention too, so they've created their Help line of pain relievers and bandages. Their packages are so kind and funny that you'll forget about your bleeding thumb (or your headache, caused by your radical thoughts and making you deserving of a raise) before you know it.

Not only are these products funny, they're made with recycled paper pulp and can be composted. Help will also donate 5% of profits to charity.

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If you were first on the scene of an accident, would you know what to do? What if your spouse started choking at dinner, or someone got burned while you were cooking? Hopefully, none of those things will happen, but if you find yourself in the middle of a situation and you're the only person available to help, you want to be prepared, right?

BBC has a great quiz to help you figure out just what you're prepared to handle (emergency-wise, anyway) and what areas you might need to work on. It's might not be as easy as you think -- I got several wrong answers that warned me in a very matter-of-fact way: No. Do not try that. Once you've taken the quiz, you can browse through BBC's first aid section to learn more, or if you really need some first aid education, look for a class in your area.

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Whether it's a toddler falling hard on a sidewalk or a more serious lawn care injury, knowledge of basic first aid is necessary in the summertime. It sounds so simple, but in the heat of a minor emergency, the coolest heads are those that are prepared and know exactly what to do. Cleaning a cut is pretty basic and doesn't require anything but good, careful hygiene. If you need a refresher, here's a list of simple steps outlining how to clean a cut.

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Add a little aromatherapy to your life . . . really! Essential oils are good for more than just stress relief (although that still remains one of the best uses), and lavender oil should be a part of your medicine cabinet.

From burns to bee stings, colic to bruises, lavender is a great first aid remedy. The Hipsters over at More Hip than Hippie have made a top ten list for uses of lavender that will have you putting lavender essential oil right next to the bandages in your first aid kit.

Just one word of caution, though. Even though lavender is one of the safest essential oils out there, you should never use it "neat", which means don't apply it directly to the skin undiluted, no matter what the situation or advice given. This can cause sensitization, an allergic response that can be permanent whenever you are exposed to that oil again. Why risk it when you can add essential oil to a vegetable oil for safety?

When using the appropriate caution, lavender essential oil is a great addition to your home remedy kit.

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