There are a multitude of pre-built first aid kits on the market, available everywhere from your local pharmacy to Amazon, and ranging from a few bucks for no more than a pack of various Band-Aids and antibiotic ointments to several-hundred-dollar high-end specialized kits for the survivalist, tactical, and professional first responder markets.
While you may be able to find one of these pre-made kits that suit your needs, they present their own set of problems including, but certainly not limited to, low-quality products, unnecessary items, and a lack of (or poor) organization that makes finding what you need when you need it cumbersome at best.
Home first aid kits are usually used for treating these types of minor traumatic injuries:
Burns
Cuts
Abrasions (scrapes)
Stings
Splinters
Sprains
First aid kits for travel need to be more comprehensive because a drug store may or may not be accessible. In addition to personal medical items, the kit should contain items to help alleviate the common symptoms of viral respiratory infections such as fever, nasal congestion, cough, and sore throat. It should also include items to treat these ailments like cuts, mild pain, gastrointestinal problems, skin problems, and allergies.
Try to keep your kit small and simple. Stock it with multi-use items. Almost anything that provides good visibility of contents can be used for a household first aid kit. If your kit will be on the move, a water-resistant, drop-proof container is best. Inexpensive nylon bags, personal kits, fanny packs, or makeup cases serve very well.
You do not need to spend much money on a fancy “medical bag.” Use re-sealable sandwich or oven bags to the group and compartmentalize items. Put wound supplies in one pocket and medications in another. Make sure you know how to properly use all of the items in your kit, especially the medications.
The best place to keep your first aid kit is in the kitchen. Most family activities take place here. The bathroom has too much humidity, which shortens the shelf life of items. The travel kit is for true trips away from home. Please keep it in a suitcase, backpack, or dry bag, depending on the activity.
A first aid kit for everyday use in the car should be just like the home first aid kit. For that matter, you could keep similar kits in your boat (inside a waterproof bag), travel trailer, mobile home, camper, cabin, vacation home, and wherever you spend time.
A household first aid kit should include these items:
Adhesive tape
Anesthetic spray or lotion — for itching rashes and insect bites
4″ x 4″ sterile gauze pads — for covering and cleaning wounds, as a soft eye patch
2″, 3″, and 4″ Ace bandages — for wrapping sprained or strained joints, for wrapping gauze on to wounds, for wrapping on splints
Adhesive bandages (all sizes)
Oral antihistamines — diphenhydramine or loratadine — for allergic reactions, itching rashes (Avoid topical antihistamine creams because they may worsen the rash in some people.)
Topical corticosteroids, such as over the counter Hydrocortisone 1% for rashes
Polysporin antibiotic cream — to apply to simple wounds
Non-adhesive pads — for covering wounds and burns
Re-sealable oven bag — as a container for contaminated articles, can become an ice pack
Safety pins (large and small) — for splinter removal and for securing triangular bandage sling
Scissors
Triangular bandage — as a sling, towel, tourniquet
Tweezers — for splinter or stinger or tick removal
Almost everyone will need to use a first aid kit at some time. Make time to prepare home and travel kits for your family’s safety. First aid kits may be basic or comprehensive. What you need depends on your medical training and your distance from professional medical help. Ready-made first aid kits are commercially available from chain stores or outdoor retailers. However, it’s easy to make smart, inexpensive first aid kits yourself!
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!