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Complete First Aid Kits & Emergency Supplies for Home, Office,
& More!
A first aid kit & emergency supplies are essential to treating various injuries sustained during an emergency.
When it comes to a first aid kit & emergency supplies, you have two choices, put a first aid kit
together yourself or buy a ready-made
first aid kit.
The information contained on this page will give you an idea of
the types of emergency supplies you should consider including in your first aid
kit. You should assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each
vehicle you use.
In an emergency situation, you need to be able to tend to yourself first and then consider first aid for others immediately around you, including possibly assisting injured people to evacuate a building if necessary. You
should educate yourself on giving basic first aid by taking a first aid kit. To
learn more about first aid and CPR courses, see our public safety
links.
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Making Your Own First Aid Kit
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The list below contains items that are recommended for inclusion in your own first aid kit. All of the items can be found at your local drug store or pharmacy.
You don't have to spend a lot of money putting a first aid kit
together and
you may already have many of the emergency supplies needed for your
first aid kit
right at home.
Basic First Aid Supplies
The following list of supplies you should consider having in your first
aid kit.
- Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
- Assorted sizes of safety pins
- Cleansing agent/soap
- Latex gloves (2 pairs)
- Sunscreen
- 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
- 4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
- Triangular bandages (3)
- Non-prescription drugs
- 2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
- 3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Needle
- Moistened towelettes
- Antiseptic
- Thermometer
- Tongue blades (2)
- Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
- Medicine dropper
- Non-Prescription Drugs
- Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Antacid (for stomach upset)
- Syrup of Ipecac (used to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
- Laxative
- Activated charcoal (used in cases of accidental ingestion of harmful liquids)
For storage, you can buy a nice plastic toolbox or use a storage container you
may have. Just be sure it's durable and easy to move around. Check
out our "Emergency Tools, Supplies, & More" section for more information on putting
your own emergency supply kit.
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Ready-Made First Aid Kits &
Emergency Supplies
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Ready-made first aid kits run anywhere from $5.00 and up
to several hundred dollars depending on the size and what you want included. The
following are some tips to keep in mind if you choose to buy a ready-made first
aid kit.
When buying a first aid kit and emergency supplies:
- Components - Many first aid kits attempt to sell a kit comprised of a box of adhesive bandages and a few tablets. How many different type of injuries will this kit treat? Not very many! Don't be fooled by quantity of components, look for variety of components! The idea is to include components for real life emergencies, not what might let the kit sell for a few dollars less.
- Basic Categories -
Make sure all
Any first aid kit should contain at least something from the following groups: Antiseptics (something to kill germs to prevent infection), Injury treatment (items to deal with injuries such as
butterfly closures and cold compresses), Bandages (a variety of bandages to dress and cover a variety of wounds), Instruments (tweezers, barrier gloves), and Medicines (analgesics at a minimum).
- Kit Organization - First aid kits are only used in a time of need. If you, or someone you are near, are injured and need assistance a first aid kit won't do any good if you can't find what you need. Look for a kit that has its contents nicely organized so you can locate supplies readily.
- Quality - Adhesive bandages that don't stick, poorly shaped bandages, component packaging that falls apart, a case that doesn't stand up... a poor quality kit is the last thing you need in dealing with an emergency.
- Information - A first aid kit does no good if you don't know what to do with it. Frankly, most first aid kits include some kind of guide, but their usefulness can vary widely. Make sure the first aid guide in your kit is from a credible source, contains the latest medical advice, and make sure it its laid out in a way that can be understood when under stress.
Evaluate your household, keep a first aid kit everywhere there is likely to be an emergency... around the house, in each car, in backpacks, and in your RV or boat. You can also purchase ready-made first aid kits & emergency supplies through a
variety of online dealers listed above.
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