A First Aid Kit Should Include…
July 2, 2011, Submitted by: Ken Tweet
You may decide to make your own first aid kit, or you may rather purchase a ready-made first aid kit, perhaps designed for specific activities such as hiking, camping or boating. Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together, make sure it has all the items you may need.
Include any personal items such as medications and emergency phone numbers (your doctor, hospital, contacts…). Check the kit regularly. Make sure the flashlight batteries work (Include a small LED flashlight, which will last a very long time on a set of batteries). Check expiration dates and replace any used or out-of-date contents.
The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following:
2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
5 antiseptic wipe packets
2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
1 blanket (space blanket)
1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
1 instant cold compress
2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
Scissors
1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
2 triangular bandages
Tweezers
First aid instruction booklet
Personally, I would add a bit more to this minimum recommendation by the Red Cross… some Tylenol (fever), Ibuprofen (muscle pain), and a few more Aspirins (small-mg-dose tablets, good for kids and adults). When you think about it, there is a lot more you could add to cover more emergency situations, but what you carry will depend on how much room you have, where the kit will store, and it’s intended purpose.
Point is, think about it, and put one together, or purchase one, now (what better time?), at least one for your vehicle, and a smaller one to throw in a pack for a hike, bike ride, or other outdoor excursion.
What do you think? Any further suggestions?
Update from a reader, who is a doctor:
…i noticed that Aspirin (ASA) is recommended as “good for kids and adults”. Actually, Aspirin is quite dangerous for children under the age of 15 because of low probability of Reye’s syndrome (encephalopathy and liver failure, with mortality from 20 – 50%). Therefore Aspirin IS NOT recommended for kids. Tylenol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen are just fine for any age.
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I’d add your usual allergy meds, antacids and chapstick. The problem with First Aid kits is that a really good one is expensive, and the meds expire. If you don’t keep on top of it, a lot of the stuff may not be useful.
The one thing I did with my first aid kit was put it into a tough air tight Tupperware container, that is also waterproof. I have seen individuals go on camping and fishing trips and take along items of importance, such as a first aid kit, end up in the drink (lake, stream, ocean) accidentally. All those bandages and dressing that are usually in paper packages will be of no use and won’t be sterile anymore if your first aid kit gets water into it. Also an airtight container will probably float if your first aid kit goes over the boat by mistake.
First-aid, both supplies and a working knowledge of how to administer it is something that is severely lacking with most people.
I have always worked in places where either my employer required a current first aid/CPR certificate or I needed to know what I was doing because doctors and veterinarians (yes animals need first-aid to) were a long ways away. You absolutely had to to deal with things yourself, whether it be minor injuries or treating and stabilizing life threatening injuries until a medi-vac could be arranged.
When a SHTF situation occurs you will need to be able to handle whatever comes along, as emergency service people will be few and far between or non-existent.
I think everyone should go and take a first-aid course and get your CPR while you are at it. Just in everyday life help can be slow to get there at times and if you live in a rural area, knowing what to do can mean life or death with a severe injury.
I find most first-aid kits have too much SMALL stuff in them and they are meant for small cuts and minor breaks. Being able to stop bleeding is of utmost importance and I like to have a good supply of industrial type pressure bandages for that purpose. They are simple to use and they get the job done. A couple of packages of ladies unscented sanitary pads are a great item to have at hand as they work very well for bad cuts and they are reasonably priced.
I also keep a good supply of sutures, syringes and lidocaine on hand so that we can stitch cuts. You should also have a supply of broad spectrum antibiotics on hand.
As noted, you have to keep on top of expiry dates, but a lot of things will work okay well past their expiry dates and I know this from personal experience.
Peptobismal, Benadryl, Imodium, Dramamine (can be used as a general antiemetic), Eye wash, eye drops, Gyne-lotrimin. Also a rehydration pack or make your own using sugar and Morton’s lite salt and baking soda. Blister band aids (can also prevent blisters if applied early). Quik Clot. Burn gel and burn bandages.