First Aid Kit Notes, by Kaffee Kulture
On top of this list, know that you need competent training. MechMedic is offering courses right around the corner including one here in NC. Get it while you can. -NCS
At the request of a friend, and in light of recent events and current social/political/economic trajectories, I present to you my Home Medical Kit list.
What follows is my version of a “ship’s medicine chest” based on my experiences, both
personally and professionally, in treating minor illnesses and injuries. While not all-inclusive, it should cover most illnesses and injuries your average person should encounter from day to
day, as well as mitigating more potentially catastrophic situations prior to receiving assistance
from your local Emergency Medical provider.
As always, please consult your healthcare provider with any questions you may have with
regards to the any of the items on this list, as well as their use and relevancy to your situation.
And always be sure to thoroughly read and understand the instructions on any of the
packaging of the supplies and Over The Counter (OTC) medications listed here, especially with
respect to their interactions with any medications you may be currently be taking. In addition, be sure to check the packaging of any of the listed items for expiration dates as well as signs of compromised sterility, and rotate your stocks accordingly. You are encouraged to stock away an abundant supply of the items listed here due to potential supply issues, as well as the possibility of frequent use in the future. Neither the author nor the owner(s) of this website assume any liability for the misuse of any of the items listed here. If you have any questions, concerns or confusion about the use of these items, please STOP and ask your healthcare provider for further instructions prior to their use.
You, the end user, are STRONGLY encouraged to seek basic and advanced first aid training. It
may save your life and the life of someone else, as well as prevent further injury.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS, AND DO NOT EXCEED THEM.
WOUND CARE:
– Bandaids, various sizes (I’ve had good luck with the generic “Top Care” brand fabric type,
as seen in most pharmacies and grocery stores, etc. They’re very durable, affordable and made
in the USA),
– Alcohol prep pads,
– 70% Rubbing Alcohol,
– Hydrogen Peroxide,
– Witch Hazel,
– Hand sanitizer,
– Antibacterial Soap,
– Normal Saline solution, available in small bottles or pink “bullet” form,
– Betadine*, in bottle or swab form,
– Triple Antibiotic Ointment/Polysporin/Bacitracin/Neosporin, in tube and packet form,
– 2% Hydrocortisone cream,
– Kerlix gauze,
– Gauze pads, bulk packed and single packed, 2×2 and 4×4 inch size,
– Abdominal (ABD) pads,
– ACE wraps, various sizes,
– Tape (paper, silk, and plastic types), various sizes,
– Coban wrap, various sizes,
– Non-Latex gloves, various sizes (Latex is a known allergen),
– Chux pads/polyabsorbent pads, disposable,
* Many individuals are allergic to Betadine, and Iodine, as well as Shellfish. Consult your
physician and/or pharmacist.
GI ISSUES:
– Magnesium Citrate,
– Milk of Magnesium,
– Fleets Enemas,
– Pedia-Lyte, brand name,
– Electrolyte powder, packet form,
– Pepto Bismol, liquid or tablet form,
– Activated Charcoal, capsule form,
– Antacid tablets,
– Imodium**, or generic equivalent,
– Calmoseptine cream
– Oatmeal bath solution,
– Chux pads/polyabsorbent pads, disposable,
** Imodium is known to interact with certain cardiac medications. Consult your physician and/
or pharmacist.
TRAUMA/EMERGENCIES:
– IDF bandages, small and large,
– Tourniquet,
– Quick Clot,
– Chest seals,
– Black Sharpie Marker,
– Scissors (not trauma shears),
– Space Blankets, heavy duty,
– Winter weight blankets (wool or synthetic; wool is a known allergen, however),
– CPR mouth shield,
– Blood Glucose Monitor, with lancets,
– Sharps container, small,
ASSESSMENT GEAR/HARD GOODS:
– BP cuff, automatic,
– thermometer, Temporal and/or Tympanic type,
– Pulseoximeter,
– Penlight,
– spare batteries (aa, aaa, 9volt, etc.)
– Germicidal wipes (NOT to be applied to human skin),
– Bleach,
– Notebook, small, spiral bound,
– Ball point pens, black,
OVER THE COUNTER (OTC) MEDS:
– Acetaminophen, 325mg and 500mg, in tablet and/or caplet form, and in suppository form,
– Ibuprofen, 200mg,
– Benadryl, 25mg, capsule or tablet form,
– Children’s Aspirin, 81mg, enteric coated,
– Epsom Salts,
– Glucose tablets.
This list is presented with the purpose of not only informing the readership, but also for the
purpose of promoting discussion and feedback. You are invited to do so in the comments
section of this webpage.
Thank you for your time and attention. Be safe out there
Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!
About the Author: NC Scout
9 Comments
Comments are closed.
Related Posts
GUNS N GEAR
antibiotics for your fish tank :)
Great list! I like seeing activated charcoal listed as its effective for gut ailments. If you run a wood stove, you have the raw materials to make your own. Watch the net vids now to see how. Good stuff and always good learnin around here!
R
I would add Naproxin sodium to the OTC analgesics. It, too, is an NSAID but requires only a q12 hour dosing. In addition, remember the Rx version is 550 mg so I would start with 2 OTC tabs and use that if one is doing real treatment. As everything in medicine is some form of “trade-off” or other, especially in the conditions being considered, one must look at the risk to benefit ratio.
Lots of the basic supplies can be had inexpensively at your local feed store or equivalent, in the veterinary section. And some meds also. Don’t forget to read the labels and inserts, but for basic wound care, its all there.
That’s a fairly good list to address most self care issues. Thanks for posting.
For dressings, get much more than you think you will need. Last year we went through literally a case of kerlix and telfa type pads dealing with a couple severe cases of contact dermatitis. Changing dressings often will burn thru supplies quickly. Same goes for gloves and gowns if you use them in treatment. Get a lot now while it’s cheap. As others have noted, your local vet supply house is a bargain compared to a chain drug store.
Also consider keeping calamine lotion and the various soaps to deal with poison ivy/ oak/ sumac if its a concern for your tribe. Those spread easily and can cause real troubles for vision.
A bunch of disposable applicators are helpful: q-tips, cotton balls, etc.
Disposable irrigation syringes are helpful. 60ml size works for us. Cheap from vet supply house.
Also consider sunburn remedies. Useful for sunburn of course. Also for 1st degree burns. Silvadene cream is useful for more serious burns, such as welding slag or steam.
I have to second and even third the above referenced need for a LOT of bandages for significant trauma / wounds.
As an experienced “dumbass” who God has preserved through dozens of bloody incidents to include the loss of a leg… I encourage the reader to purchase gauze bandages by the case.
If you or an acquaintance have an LLC or similar corporate filing, ordering bulk / wholesale medical supplies through a business can save you 60% or more on the cost.
Once you receive the supplies, break them down and seal as many as possible in 1-gallon size ziplock bags.
The packaging / wrapper is flimsy and will break down, thus jeopardizing sterility.
Enough can’t be said for spray cans of saline as well. Rinsing a wound thoroughly before bandaging assists greatly with reducing the possibility of topical infection 2 or 3 days after.
Remain steadfast lads…
5
I’d supplement the automatic bp cuff with a large long regular and a medium long cuff and a stethascope. I’ve found that larger people have difficulty with the automatic ones. But then again I’m a nurse.
As for bandaids, the best I’ve tried are the Covidien brand. One bandaid generally lasts me all day, which I cant really say happens for any other brand.
Stay away from infrared thermometers- (the handheld point and shoot ones you see everywhere now) they are notoriously incorrect. The FDA issued a letter earlier this year saying that the average temp variation was plus or minus 8 degrees, meaning they are essentially worthless for human temperature taking.
I’d add trash bags with plastic electrical tape to seal them, in at least 2 different colors: black for general waste and a different color for infectious/bloody waste. You can buy red hazardous waste bags, but they are rather expensive.
Also a watch with a second hand- both as a backup for taking pulses and as a method of timing events in the notebook. Times are very important when transferring care of an individual and are quickly forgotten when things go to hell.
Small squirt bottle that can be sterilized. Useful to wash out wounds with saline or distilled water.
Honey- used for millenia to treat superficial wounds. Also reduces scarring.
4% lidocaine as numbing agent- not ideal, but better than nothing. Its the strongest you can get over the counter.
Your assessment is right on with one exception. The BP cuff issue is one of “wider vs. narrower”. The physiology of taking a BP has to do with obstructing the vessel in the upper arm and the heavier a person the more difficult that will be. What used to be called a “thigh cuff” is what you should use on a larger arm. If you do not the BP will appear higher than it really exists. This is NOT a criticism but a support. Electronics are good for some things but the real numbers were determined with more traditional equipment. I have mercury (Hg) thermometers since they do not require a battery. I doubt one can find them in the US anymore.