Traditional First Aid Kits

These are the most popular style of kit on the market. You might find this of first aid kit at work in a drawer or your home. Home centers regularly stock these kits. This it the type of kit you might remember seeing or using when you were a kid. Remember mercurichrom? At first glance, these kits may seem to be the quick “that is all I need” response. Please read all of the different types so you will be happy with whatever you decide to go with.

Unitized First Aid Kits

These Kits are found in places like boats, tool boxes at job sites, buses and swimming pools. The have small boxes that contain small amounts of supplies categorized by type. For example, there may be a “unit” of 1 x 3 bandages that contains 12 bandaids. Another “unit” could be a tourniquet. The “units” are thin and a unitized kit size is categorized by how many units it can hold. The kit pictured will hold 24 units. Notice that the size of the cold pack is the thickness of 2 units. So, even though you may have a 24 unit kit, you may have several units that are thicker and therefore only be able to hold 18 units. This is all determined by how you configure your kit.

Let’s take a look at the pro’s & con’s of a unitized first aid kit.

Pro’s:

• Organized
• Water tight. Great for messy or wet areas
• Easy to replenish
• Colorful and easy to recognize each item by name

Con’s:

• More expensive…. Your paying for packaging
• only holds small quantities of each item
• You won’t find any name brand products in here
• Somewhat limited to only stocking “Unit” type items. The kit is very shallow.

Dispensing First Aid Kits

My favorite of all of the kit types…. This type of first aid kit is really meant to be hung on a wall somewhere. It is deeper (about 5 1/2 inches) and the various items that go in the cabinet are packaged in special boxes that have perforations on the tops. When you need to access the kit, you simply open the door, slip out 1 single bandaid and that it is…… you don’t make a mess of things. See the picture for a more visual explanation. I will say that many places of business have these types of kits mounted throughout.

Let me clarify that this dispensing first aid kit pictured is very large. Notice that this one has 5 shelves. that is how you determine the size. 2,3,4 and 5 shelf cabines are available. A 2 shelf cabinet is perfect for a home as it will hold everything you could ever imagine you would need for your family.

Pro’s:

• Doors include pouches for small or lose items
• Cabinet is deep and will hold dispensing packaging nicely
• Easy to keep organized and clean
• Easily visible when hung on a wall
• Will usually hold a larger number of items compared to most kits
• Companies can be contacted to manage these types of cabinets & supplies for businesses

Con’s:

• Tend to be more expensive than most cabinets
• The smallest dispensing cabinet is larger than most traditional kits. May be to large for small home applications.
• Isn’t really designed to be portable.

First Responder First Aid Kits

These types of kits are not necessarily meant for a medical professional. Remember, it is all about the packaging and the intended use for your first aid kit. Will you kit be used strictly at home? Will be be taking it camping or hiking? Will your kit need to be waterproof? These are all very important questions to keep in mind. This first responder kit is designed to be carried quickly to the injured person. They come in a variety of sizes, but almost always have 1 or 2 shelves inside. This box is very similar to a fishing tackle box accept that it is bright orange.

The packaging used in this type of kit is usually similar to a “traditional” first aid kit except this kit usually has a limited number of types of items. Mostly gauze, pressure bandages, irrigate solutions, wraps and other various items are included in this kit. Bandaids and ointments are not usually very plentiful in this kit as it is really designed to be used for “bigger” situations. Having said that, you can put whatever you want in this box and use it for your intended purpose. This kit is available in both Hard & Soft Shell. The soft shell case is like a duffel bag and is a great alternative to the hard box unless you need to keep in clean from blood….. then opt for the hard box.

Pro’s:

• Easy to carry and transport
• Orange plastic box is colorful and strong
• Box desing helps organize various types of supplies
• Larger items like multi-trama dressings & utility shears fit well in this size box

 Con’s:

• Somewhat bulky
• Kit can get trashed quickly
• Somewhat expensive compared to other kits in a similar size
• Doesn’t have many dividing compartments to help organize

Specialized/Custom Kits

The sky is the limit. Don’t be limited by “what I had with I grew up” or what you may have seen somewhere. You determine what is the best packaging. Many companies may not always have just the empty container for purchase. You may have to buy the type of container you want first, and then focus on the types of supplies that would best meet your needs.

The picture to the left here is an example of a “fanny pack” type kit. Many companies will offer a “pre-filled” kit, but for those who know what they want, they will want to order select items to be included in their kit.

For example, let’s say you want a kit for a softball team. Think of the types of injuries that are common during this type of activity. Hmm, bumped heads, hit arms or legs, scrapes, bee stings, poisin ivy, punctures (from cleats) contusions that may require stiches. So, you would want to have a pressure bandage to stop bleeding, cold packs to help with swelling, gauze pads & gauze roll for scrapes and cuts, bandaids, triple antibiotic ointment and antiseptic wipes to clean the wound. You would also want an insect sting relief

Here are a few examples of custom kits:

• Automobile First Aid Kit - Designed for traveling and Auto Emergencies
• Owie Kit - designed for little children
• Sport Kit - kit designed for athletic applications
• Weekend Trip Kit -
• Pet First Aid Kit - yep, even a first aid kit for the animal lover.
• Fanny Pack First Aid Kit - great appliation for instant portable first aid