First Aid Kits for the Home and the Car

The majority of cases you encounter will require little more than a band-aid.

However, you need to learn how to take care of basic emergencies.

I once heard a story about a man whose son had fallen off a bike and severely cut his arm. No one had any first aid experience. So, off they went to the hospital.

Unfortunately by the time they got to the hospital, the boy had died from loss of blood. No one thought or knew to apply direct pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. As far fetched as this sounds, I believe it.

There are very few people trained to handle even simple medical problems.

Contact your local Red Cross chapter and find out if they offer classes and take one.

In fact, have the entire family enroll in the class.

It could save a life.

Where to put a first aid kit or kits in the home!

We keep a medium size (two inside shelves) wall mounted kit in the laundry room.

It is readily accessible to the entire family (we have no small children) and stocked to handle most situations.

As situations change around the house, the items in the kit change.

Below is a picture of a medium size first aid kit. We keep smaller kits in the cars and truck.

These have fewer items in them (antiseptic, band-aids, bandages, medicated ointment, tweezers, etc.).

The most important item in it is a book on First Aid directions.

These “mobile” kits are metal or plastic boxes and have rubber seals making them weatherproof. That way, I know the contents are ready to use at a moments notice without any surprises.

We keep a three-shelf kit available for the houses we rehab.

As soon as work starts, the box is placed in the kitchen area for anyone to use. It never ceases to amaze me how many contractors do not carry first aid material on their vehicles.

This kit contains the usual assortment of bandages, dressings, antiseptic, medicated ointment, etc. Plus, it contains aspirin, antacid, cough drops, antihistamine, eye wash, rubber gloves, tweezers, a protective airway mask, ice packs, burn relief spray and adhesive tapes. And, of course, the instruction guide with a quick reference index.

Below is a picture of the larger first aid kits.

Most first aid kit providers recommend the following as a good starting point, then add items as necessary for your application.

1 Plastic Strip 3/4" X 3"
1 Fingertip Bandage
1 Knuckle Bandage
1 First Aid Antiseptic Spray
1 Burn Relief Aerosol Spray
1 Gauze Pads 3" X 3"

1 Roll Gauze, 2 inch X 5yd
1 Small Ice Pack
2 Eyewash bottles
1 Triangular-Bandage
1 Emergency Compress Bandage
1 3-Cut Tape White Cloth Roll Waterproof 3/8”, 5/8” and 1” widths
1 Non-Aspirin tablets
1 Ibuprofen tablets
1 Cold/Sinus tablets
10 Antacid Tablet
10 Antibiotic Ointment Packets
10 Hydrocortisone Packets
1 Tweezers, Plastic
1 Scissors
5 Burn Relief 3.5 gm Packets
10 Alcohol Prep Pads
1 Splinter Out kit, tweezers and a magnifying glass
1 Nitrile or vinyl Gloves, 4/box
10 Antiseptic Wipe
1 Visine Pure Tears
1 Large Ice Pack 1/bx
1 3" Cotton tipped Applicator 100/vial
10 Skin Lotion Packets
10 Bandage Butterfly Med
1 First Aid Guide Book

You may be asking: Where can I get these kits?

There are many places. However, I have not had success in locating these items at the local big box or even the big blue store.

They carry small first aid kits only. Something designed for the kitchen drawer or the trunk of your car.

Look in the phone book under First Aid Supplies and if you are not successful there, check online. I found the prices are all over the place.

When I checked on e-bay, I found kits issued to the first Marines in Vietnam, WWII and even the original J and J kits of the 1930’s.

Not what we are looking for unless you are a collector.

Weigh your choices carefully and you can find exactly what you are seeking.

Another method I used in the past was I contacted a used office furniture supplier. These are the people that buy the left over material when a company goes out of business or moves.

Most times when a company relocates, they buy all new material and sell what they do not want to a wholesaler. I have picked up large first aid kits for $20.00 with the expiration dates still good.

Make sure the contents are what you are looking for. Mount the box in a convenient, safe location. It will be at you finger tips when you need it.

BE SAFE!

To Home Page