What should a licensee possess for a proper emergency response kit?

An emergency response kit for a licensed optometrist should include items that are critical for managing medical emergencies that may arise in a clinical setting. Allergy medication is essential because patients may experience severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, during their visit. In such cases, having access to antihistamines or epinephrine auto-injectors could potentially save a patient's life.

While oxygen masks are important in other medical settings, they are not typically a primary consideration specifically for an optometry practice, where allergy medications would more directly address the types of emergencies that might occur. Pain relief medicine and cough suppressants may have their uses but are less critical in acute emergency situations compared to addressing life-threatening allergic reactions. Thus, possessing allergy medication serves as a crucial component of an effective emergency response kit in optometry.