Assembling a First Aid Kit
by Deborah Morris
First Responder

Most pre-packaged first aid kits are okay for small cuts or minor burns, but fall far short of what you'll need in any real emergency. The only commercial kits I've seen that come close to being complete are the ones sold by the American Red Cross.
The Red Cross kits come in several versions: a hard case, a zip-open "pillow" case, or the Sports Pak, a snug little hip-pack that also fits neatly into even the smallest saddlebag. Your local Red Cross chapter should have them in their central supply store.
To come up with a kit ideally suited to your purposes, you can go one of two ways: Start with a pre-packaged kit and add the items needed to make it more complete, or: Assemble your own kit from scratch. Whichever route you take, your kit should include the items listed if at all possible. I recommend for a variety of reasons that you divide your supplies into quart-size Ziploc bags and label them (a black laundry marker works fine) as noted below. In a real emergency, the more organized your supplies are, the calmer and more organized you will feel. This will also keep your supplies clean and protected from the elements, and will allow you to quickly grab what you need without rummaging through everything in your kit.
Kit Recommendations: "1 - SEVERE BLEEDING & BURNS" 5 large sterile gauze pads (4" x 4") 5 large Band-aid adhesive bandages (3" x 4") 5 medium sterile gauze pads (3" x 3") 5 medium Band-aid adhesive bandages (2-1/2" x 3") 4 non-deoderant feminine pads (cut down to 4" lengths) 1 pair of heavy-duty scissors (able to cut through leather!) 2 roller bandages (3" wide) small roll of medical adhesive tape If you're wondering about the feminine pads, they make great pressure pads for severe bleeding. It's best to make the first dressing (against the skin) a sterile gauze pad, but clean, non-sterile dressings can be used as a secondary dressing. The heavy-duty scissors are so you can (perish the thought!!) cut through boots, jackets, chaps, belts, and other clothing that impedes your ability to see and treat life-threatening injuries. If someone is bleeding out, you do NOT have time to unzip, unbuckle, unbutton and unsnap their clothing. If they're conscious, it would be wise to ask before you take your scissors to their leathers. I recommend Kling brand roller bandages from Johnson & Johnson, simply because they don't have to be taped or pinned in place. The bandage is self-clinging.
"2 - MEDIUM CUTS & SCRAPES" * 2 large sterile gauze pads (4" x 4") * 2 large Band-aid adhesive bandages (3" x 4") * 5 medium sterile gauze pads (3" x 3") * 5 medium Band-aid adhesive bandages (2-1/2" x 3") * 5 sml-med Band-aid adhesive bandages (1-1/2" x 2") * 1 roller bandage (2" wide) * 5 antiseptic towelettes (individual tear-packs) * 5 antibiotic ointments (individual tear-packs) "3 - SMALL CUTS & SCRAPES" * 5 sterile gauze pads (2" x 2") * 5 sml-med Band-aid adhesive bandages (1-1/2" x 2") * 10 1/2" Band-aid strips * 5 knuckle Band-aid bandages * 5 fingertip Band-aid bandages * 5 butterfly bandages * 5 "dot" bandages * 5 antiseptic towelettes (individual tear-packs) * 5 antibiotic ointments (individual tear-packs) "BARRIERS" * 4 (minimum) pairs of latex gloves * 5 waterless anti-bacterial hand cleaners (tear-packs) * 2 gallon-size (empty) Ziploc freezer bags * clear safety glasses (your goggles or face shield will also work) * [OPT] CPR mask (either disposable or reusable)
"TRIANGLE BANDAGES" * 3 (minimum) triangle bandages Triangle bandages are amazingly useful; in fact, a paramedic friend says he keeps at least 10 on hand. They can be used to hold dressings or splints in place, as a sling, or as a makeshift do-rag when the sun gets too hot. They're sold in the "Health/First Aid" aisle at most stores, or you can make your own by cutting 30" x 30" squares from unbleached muslin, then cutting each square in half diagonally to make two triangles. They fold up very small. "MISC." (How's that for a well-defined label?) * 1 pair tweezers * 1 eye cup (for eyewash) * 1 small bottle drinkable water (unopened) * 1 notepad & pen The eye cup combined with the bottled water can be used to flush stuff out of an eye. The eye cup can also be used if -- God forbid -- you encounter an accident where someone's eye has actually been dislodged from its socket.
For Personal Use Only: Several other things you might consider including in your kit if you need them for your own personal use only: * topical insect bite/sting treatment * Tylenol * Benadryl or another antihistamine * Tums or other antacid * Mineral Ice or other topical muscle cream * activated charcoal (poison antidote) Keep in mind that people have been successfully sued for "practicing medicine without a license" for doing nothing more than offering a friend (or stranger) an over-the-counter medicine. Unless you're working under specific protocols that allow you to legally administer medications, you're taking a risk by sharing your private medicine cabinet. Why Some Items Aren't Listed: Burn Cream. Although many pre-packaged kits come with a tube of burn cream, it is NOT recommended for use on anything beyond the mildest sunburn. Snake Bite Kit. The days of applying a tourniquet, cutting an "X" over the bite wound and using a little rubber cup to suck out the poison, icing the wound site, and/or finishing off the poor victim by zapping him/her with a stun gun are over. Tourniquet. None of the major health/first aid organizations are recommending use of tourniquets anymore.