First Aid Kits
We all have first aid items in our home — boxes of bandaids, bandages and ointments. But if your house is like mine, then you have occasionally ended up with just an empty box of bandaids … or the ointments and other first aid items have disappeared. It’s good to have a first aid kit dedicated to a disaster situation so that you know it is equipped with all of the needed items. I put mine in my Bug Out Bin so that it is ready for an evacuation scenario. Below are my recommendations for building a good supply for first aid. Almost all of these items are recommended for both humans and pets. I provide a comparison of Human and Pet First Aid kits below.
Lessons Learned
Lesson 1 - Separate out items that expire from those that don't ...
Bandages don’t expire. Medications do. I purchased a gigantic first aid kit many years ago … back in 2006 to be exact. The problem with these kits is that the meds inside the kit are minimal AND expire within 3-5 years (even faster if they are sitting in a hot area). You run the risk of letting the first aid kit become too old, which is dangerous if you ever need to use it. The bandages and other items are fine, so it seems like a waste to replace the entire kit.
I’ve learned to separate the items that expire so that I can easily replace them. I store all of the meds in a small plastic bin so that they are easy to access and replace. The rest of the items (which are mostly bandages and wraps) are with the over-the-counter first aid kit.
Lesson 2 - Meds don't always expire on the expiration date ...
Medications can last beyond the expiration date: Here is an interesting article from the Harvard Medical School on Drug Expiration Dates–Do they mean anything?. The US Military asked the FDA to study the effectiveness of drugs past their expiration date because they had a stockpile of drugs. The FDA found that 90% of the 100+ drugs that they tested were good to use even after 15 years past their expiration date! The key is to store the medications in a cool location. The article talks about the exceptions to these findings. I set a reminder in my electronic calendar to check all the medications on a certain date, but I set that date way past the expiration dates on the containers.
Lesson 3 - First Aid Kits don't have everything ...
Over the counter First Aid kits often don’t include important items: Most first aid kits come with a compact supply of first aid items. Some of the smaller kits don’t include things like blood clotters, burn kits and dental kits. Others have a small supply of these things. But you can imagine how helpful those items would be after a disaster when emergency responders are overwhelmed! I provide a detailed list below of great additions to a first aid kit.
Lesson 4 - Pet First Aid Kits are not worth it ...
Human vs Pet First Aid Kits. If you have a pet, then you’ll also be thinking about first aid for your animal. Pet First Aid Kits tend to me more expensive than human ones. I also discovered that there is a BIG overlap between the Pet First Aid kit and the Human First Aid Kit. Check out our web page on Preparing your Pets to see a full comparison of a Human First Aid Kit vs a Pet First Aid Kit. After looking at the comparison, you may reconsider purchasing one of those expensive Pet First Aid kits.
ACTION 1: Start with a good first aid kit
You want to start with a First Aid Kit that has a large supply of the basics. I really like the First Only All Purpose 299 kit. It is reasonably priced, compact and includes a wide range of bandages.
ACTION 2: Add important first aid items to kit
The additional items listed in the links below will allow you to respond to a variety of injuries after a disaster. A lot of these are recommended for Pet First aid as well. Be sure to organize the items that expire in their own plastic bin. That way, you only have to check in one spot.
Make sure you have a good first manual. You could be dealing with injuries after a disaster. Emergency responders and hospitals will be overloaded. It will be important to know how to treat both minor and major injuries until you can get help. I provide a link to the American College of Emergency Physicians First Aid Manual below. I like that it includes lots of photos with its instructions.
I also recommend purchasing a manual that is specific to nuclear or chemical attacks. This has sadly become more relevant with increasing threats of nuclear attacks. I recommend the U.S. Armed Forces Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Survival Manual.
First Aid - first aid kit and additional Items that don't expire ...
| Product | Description/Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First Only All Purpose First Aid Kit (299 Pieces) | FEMA Basic Kit Item You want to start with a First Aid Kit that has a large supply of the basics. I really like the First Only All Purpose 299 kit. It is reasonably priced, compact and includes a wide range of bandages. |
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| ACEP First Aid Manual | I know how to apply a bandaid. OK, I could probably handle a sprained ankle, but my nursing skills are limited. This is a very comprehensive book that will be my medical go-to-book if we can’t get to medical staff. | |
| U.S. Armed Forces Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Survival Manual | Surviving a nuclear or chemical attack is a concern as tensions increase with North Korea (particularly for Hawaii and the west coast). The U.S. Armed Forces Nuclear, Biological And Chemical Survival Manualis a book that provides guidance on how to survive a nuclear, biological or chemical attack. | |
| Small First Aid Kit for car | FEMA Basic Kit Item Injuries can happen when you are away from home. A first aid kit in the car keeps your family prepared! |
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| N95 Mask-Regular Size Box of 20 | FEMA Basic Kit Item Dust masks are on Ready America list. Upgrading to N95 masks makes them pandemic ready as well. |
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| Disposable Gloves | ||
| Digital Medical Thermometer Box of 20 | If you have pets, make sure you get TWO thermometers. You won't want to be sharing that! | |
| Iodine Prep Pads | Used for antiseptic skin preparation. Recommended for both human and pet first aid. | |
| QuikClot Clotting Gauze | ||
| CELOX Blood-Clotting Crystals | ||
| Green Stix-Disposable styptic pencils | Use to stop bleeding. Recommended for humans and pets. | |
| Cotton Balls | Cotton balls are useful when using the rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and Betadine. Purchase these at your local pharmacy. | |
| Petroleum Jelly | ||
| Recommended for both human and pet first aid. | ||
| Can be used for humans and pets. | ||
| Instant Ice Packs (This is the best deal on ice packs but it's more ice packs that you need. Try to split with someone. | ||
| HotHands 18 hr Warmers (instant heat pack) | It can get really cold if your car breaks down in the winter! These heat packs last 18 hours and will keep everyone warm as you wait for help to arrive. They are especially great when combined with the Reflective Thermal Blankets below. These can also be used as heat packs for your First Aid Kit. |
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| HotFeet 18 hr Warmers | ||
| Glasses Repair Kit (if anyone wears glasses) | ||
| Needle Nose Pliers | Use these to remove foreign objects. Recommended for Pet first aid. |
First Aid - first aid items that DO expire ...
| Product | Description/Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets-5 PACKETS 5 Packet Supply 10 Packet Supply | The thyroid gland is sensitive to radioactive iodide during a nuclear incident. These tablets are used in a nuclear radiation emergency to block access to the thyroid. We live in California. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster, there was a period where we didn’t know if the west coast would be exposed to radiation. These tablets immediately sold out. They were selling on Craigslist for $100 a packet!!! I was happy that I had these in my kit and had paid much less! I highly recommend adding this to your First Aid Kit, especially given the current climate with nuclear weapons. I also recommend a book on surviving Nuclear, Biological and Chemical disasters. The duct tape and sheeting are for sheltering in place during a biological or chemical disaster. Click here for the CDC sheet on taking Potassium Iodide. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission provides Frequently Asked Questions About Potassium Iodide that includes information on it's shelf life. You may want to add this to your binder. Plan for one packet for each family member for use in nuclear emergencies. Each packet has a 2 week supply. |
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| Burn Dressing | ||
| Dental Repair Kit | ||
| Saline Eye Wash | Recommended for both human and pet first aid kits. | |
| Cortizone | Cortizone for treating skin irritations. | |
| Polysporin | Antibiotic ointment. | |
| Imodium AD | Used to relieve symptoms of diarrhea, cramps, bloating and gas. | |
| Activated Charcoal | Helps with digestion issues. | |
| Recover ORS | This is a great product to address hydration after diarrhea or vomiting. It helps replenish electrolytes. | |
| Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cold/flu meds | You probably have these on hand. Put some in small pill boxes and store with your Bug Out Bin. More information on this at the First Aid Page | |
| Rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and Betadine | You probably have these on hand. Put some in travel bottles and store with your Bug Out Bin. More information on this at the First Aid Page |
Use what you already own!
You probably own a lot of the items listed above. If you rely on your medicine cabinet, then you run the chance of not having an item when a disaster hits. Plus you might not think to pack the medicine cabinet before a quick evacuation. It’s better to keep a small supply of these items in your Bug Out Bin.
I purchased THREE travel-sized plastic bottles and put rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and Betadine in each bottle. I put all three bottles in a plastic zip bag in case there is any leakage. I bought ibuprofen in travel sizes and put other meds (e.g. aspirin and diphenhydramine) in small, round travel cases. I wrote expiration dates on the pill boxes.
