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 Finding a first aid kit to have available for your home or business should be at the top of everyone's list. Accidents & injuries can happen to anyone ,anywhere and at anytime. Selecting the right kit for you might seem difficult for some while others might decide to cobble together their own kit using anything from a shoe box to zip lock bags for a holding container. Whatever you decide to use for a container, selecting the right supplies for your needs can be a challenge. We have included a few important suggestions below.
How will this kit be used?
Depending on how your first aid kit will be use will determine the type of container and the supplies you will need. We have listed a few kits below with a link that will list the contents you can decide what style/type of kit you need. Basic Home Kit | Recreational Kit | Emergency Response Kit | | | | Automobile Type Kit | Construction/Marine First Kit | Business/Industrial Kit |  | | |
Starting with a complete kit
If you want to start off without alot of effort, purchase a complete kit ready to go stocked with all of the basics. There are hundreds of different kits to pick from and we have found a good site to make your initial investment. FirstAidKitSource.com is a online merchant that sells nothing but first aid kits, first aid supplies and first aid refills. We like them because of their variety, pricing and fast delivery. You can check out their offering of first aid kits here or do a google search for the keywords "first aid kit". Bandages
Band-Aid's are the brand name given by Johnson & Johnson. These come in a wide variety of materials, shapes and sizes. Cloth (elastic) is regarded as the all-around best choice. Fingertip, knuckle, spots, strips and patch bandages all have particular applications so we suggest that smaller kits have a variety pack. Generally speaking, the 1 X 3 strip type are used the most. Here is a link to a page showing a variety pack. If you have small children, there are also fun bandages with different themes that can be viewed here. Ointments
Neosporin is the brand name for antibiotic ointment. it is applyed onto the site after the wound has been cleaned and just before you put the bandage on. It helps stop the growth of bacteria so the wound won't be as likely to get infected. The main ingredients are Polymyxin B Sulfate, Bacitracin Zinc and Neomycin Sulfate. If you use an ointment like Polysporin or a generic name like Bacitracin, don't worry, it is all good. Generally, an ointmet with all three ingredients is most commonly used. By the way, 1 oz. tubes or individual single use packets are the most common packaging for ointments. Individual packets are prefered so germs are not shared between people! Here is a link to a page that lists these products. Disinfectant Wipes
Alcohol, peroxide or benzakonium wipes are most commonly found in disinfectant wipes. These convenient wipes look like "wet naps" that you might be given after eating spare ribs but have ingredients to cleans the wound. Alcohol stings, peroxide fizzes and benzalkonium doesn't do either. Individual foil packed wipes are a handy item to keep in all first aid kits. Here are a few examples. Cold Packs
Sometimes ice isn't available. Instant cold packs are the next best thing so you can apply cold therapy to a swollen lip, smashed thumb or an area that has inflamation. You can see some examples here. They have a long shelf life and are easy to use. The liquid inside the cold pack is water. In the water is another plastic bag or tube containing ammonium-nitrate beads. When you firmly squeeze the cold pack, it breaks the tube so that the water mixes with the beads. This mixture creates an endothermic reaction -- it absorbs heat. The temperature of the solution falls to about 35 F for 10 to 15 minutes. First aid Tape
White first aid tape is used to to hold gauze pads gauze rolls, cold packs or any other type of would care. It is generally waterproof and easy to use. There are several types of tape that can be used. Some use "self sticking" elastic bandages instead of tape. We like both. Gauze Pads & Rolls
These are used to protect a wound and absorb blood weeping wound fluids. They come in a variety of sizes. A nice selection can be viewed here. If you are trying to keep your first aid kit simple, consider about 10 3 X 3 gauze pads and a couple of 3" gauze rolls. If you have a large "bloody" would that will need emergency attention, you can layer several gauze pads over the wound, take one of the gauze rolls and place it on top of the gauze pads (directly over the wound) and then hold it all together by using the left over gauze roll. You just created a Pressure Bandage! Thermometer
If you don't like the idea of glass because it could break, take a look at the choices of thermometer available. Every first aid kit should have one of these. If the kit will be shared by others (outside your family), disposable thermometers are recommended. Hand Sanitizers
Germs are the enemy. Keeping a good hand sanitizer in your first aid kit is a must. With the exception of home, most of the time there is no good place to wash/sanitize your hands before or after you have finish treating a wound. We like the individual packets of sanitizer because they won't leak all over the inside of your first aid kit. Gloves
It is always good to keep the wound area clean. Protect the person you are helping. Gloves will also help protect you from their bodily fluids. They are available in Latex, Nitrile or Vinyl. Scissors
Scissors are great for trimming a piece of gauze or cutting tape. If you want some really cool scissors, maybe even consider utility shears. They could come in handy if you need to cut open a pant leg or shirt....... Medicines
Convenience items like antacids, cold & sinus medicines, pain relievers and other commonly used products are necessary to keep handy. When you are away from home, keeping these items in a first aid kit makes sense. Some of these items are even available in small single use packages What about a CheckList?
We found that http://www.firstaidkitsource.com/ lets you create your own personal checklist. When it comes time to re-stock your first aid kit, simply login, pull up your checklist, select the items you need and checkout! See how you can create your own custom first aid checlklist here. |
