First aid kits.

nOOky · Oct 23, 2024

I have a couple small kits in each of our cars, along with a USB jump charger. I am thinking of getting a bigger kit for at home, but the included stuff seems really cheap. To that end I am going to make my own and keep it in a plastic box.

The reason I post this is to ask what particular items would you put in yours? I'm looking for the useful but often overlooked things, such as sheepskin condoms or berry antacid tablets. Please advise.

JM Aggie08 · Oct 23, 2024

dullard · Oct 23, 2024

Start here for a list of what could go inside a first aid kit. Scroll down to the "What's inside" then hover over each image to see what is inside each pack that is inside the first aid kit. Note: this company is quite expensive, so unless you find a great sale you should probably go elsewhere, but it does have a nice list for you to start from.

MyFAK™ Pro | Waterproof

A waterproof first aid kit designed for your boat and more. The MyFAK is the best boat first aid kit. Designed for water sports, fishing, boating, and more. Buy now while supplies last.

mymedic.com

Then remove anything from that list that you don't know how to use. No reason to buy stuff, carry it around, and have them in your way when an emergency happens if you don't even know how to use that stuff.

Then add a few key items like a Sam splint and stuff like itch and rash treatments (insects, poisonous plants) that for some reason they leave out.

deadlyapp · Oct 23, 2024

I think adding an Israeli bandage is a good cheap addition, a CPR mask, a glass breaker.

If you're in a colder climate, a wool blanket.

BoomerD · Oct 23, 2024

dullard said:
Start here for a list of what could go inside a first aid kit. Scroll down to the "What's inside" then hover over each image to see what is inside each pack that is inside the first aid kit. Note: this company is quite expensive, so unless you find a great sale you should probably go elsewhere, but it does have a nice list for you to start from.

MyFAK™ Pro | Waterproof

A waterproof first aid kit designed for your boat and more. The MyFAK is the best boat first aid kit. Designed for water sports, fishing, boating, and more. Buy now while supplies last.

mymedic.com

Then remove anything from that list that you don't know how to use. No reason to buy stuff, carry it around, and have them in your way when an emergency happens if you don't even know how to use that stuff.

Then add a few key items like a Sam splint and stuff like itch and rash treatments (insects, poisonous plants) that for some reason they leave out.

Take a Red Cross first aid/CPR course.

dullard · Oct 23, 2024

BoomerD said:
Take a Red Cross first aid/CPR course.

I did (well close: a multi-day NOLS first aid course instead of Red Cross) and that is where I got that advice. They specifically say if you don't know how to use an item, then take it out of your first aid kit.

Stopsignhank · Oct 23, 2024

Former work safety guy. I would always tell people to have a home first aid kit and don't stock it full of band-aids, but to stock it with things for larger problems, like the large band-aids, 4x4 bandages, gauze, wraps. You know, things to take care of large cuts or broken things that you can stop the bleeding or hold broken things in place long enough to get you to the hospital or urgent care. Regular band-aids are for small cuts that you keep in a drawer with your razor.

Stopsignhank · Oct 23, 2024

dullard said:
I did (well close: a multi-day NOLS first aid course instead of Red Cross) and that is where I got that advice. They specifically say if you don't know how to use an item, then take it out of your first aid kit.

When I switched jobs one of the things I did at the new place was to take the smelling salts out of their first aid kits.

nOOky · Oct 23, 2024

I also have have had CPR and first aid training as I was a first responder type for our workplace. In all seriousness, I intend to make a kit that I can grab quickly to travel with to an event, but have at home in case of an injury over and above a small cut as dullard indicated. I attend a lot of trail running and road running races so some of it will include blister and hydrocolloidal Band-Aids and salt tabs/Tums etc.

My list as of now is gloves, CPR mask, tourniquet, large gauze bandages, elastic sports wrap, good scissors that can cut jeans etc., all of the normal nsaids, antibiotic creme, rash creme, bendryl, sling, emergency mylar blanket, etc.

waffleironhead · Oct 23, 2024

SAM splint

lxskllr · Oct 23, 2024

*Quality* bandaids is probably the most used item. Get some good ones that are kind of big. If your kit came with the tiny ones, just throw them out. Those are the bandaids for when you don't need a bandaid, and only take up room. I have trauma stuff in mine due to working with saws. RATS tourniquet, Israeli bandage, clotting powder(dubious use). If you have anything like that, learn how to properly use it NOW. You don't want to be in a time sensitive situation trying to comprehend printed directions if they're even there. In addition to what you listed, I'd add a gauze roll and tape.

dullard · Oct 23, 2024

lxskllr said:
*Quality* bandaids is probably the most used item.

I'd have to say that I'm quite impressed with Nexcare. They don't come out of the protective packaging very well, but once they are on, they stay on. Through thick and thin, through any sort of abuse, they stay on.

Whenever I get some time off, I like to go canyoneering. That is sliding down rough sandpaper-like sandstone into brown pools of unspeakably disgusting water with dead things floating in it (cows are not unheard of, alive or not, in the pools). Waterproof Nexcare bandages just brush that stuff aside. Sandpaper, underwater, tearing at the bandage at high speeds is nothing to it.

First aid kits.

nOOky

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JM Aggie08

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dullard

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deadlyapp

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BoomerD

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dullard

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Stopsignhank

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nOOky

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