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14 Essentials to Build Your Own First-aid Kit

14 Essentials to Build Your Own First-aid Kit

Summer is a great time to refresh your first-aid kit—or build a new one. If you need to treat an illness or injury—at home or on the road—you’ll thank yourself later for having all of the essentials in one place.

If you’re building a new kit, here are a few tips:

First, find something to keep all of your kit items together. You’ll want something that can be securely closed with a snap, clasp, bands or zipper. Depending on how big you want your kit, you could find the perfect container in your cupboard, at a garage sale or the dollar store. Consider one of the following:

  • Old lunch box or cookie tin
  • An empty diaper wipe container
  • Small toolbox or fishing tackle box
  • Craft or make-up organizer
  • Cosmetic bag or small backpack
  • Pencil box or plastic food container

If you re-purpose a disposable or used item, paint or cover it with duct tape and label it as a first aid kit.

Second, you might want a few small empty containers to keep the items from jostling around and becoming lost or damaged. Here are some inexpensive options:

  • Empty mint boxes or tubes (tin or plastic)
  • Very small resealable baggies (available in craft stores)
  • Old pill bottles or film canisters (thoroughly washed and dried)

Now, you’re ready to pull together everything you’ll want in your kit. Here are the essentials, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians:

Supplies you’ll need to replace periodically:

  1. Acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen tablets for headaches, pain, fever, and simple sprains or strains. Drug stores and groceries sell travel-size packets. Or you can put a few from your medicine cabinet into small baggies—just be sure to clearly label the bag with the medication name, dosing instructions and expiration date. And if you have children, include medicines that are safe for their age group(s) in your kit.
  1. Antibiotic ointment for burns, cuts and scrapes. A small tube will do. Otherwise, boxes of single-dose packets are also available online. In either case, watch the expiration date.
  1. Bandages of assorted sizes for covering minor cuts and scrapes. If the bandages in your current kit are more than a few years old or if they’ve been in repeatedly hot/freezing situations, test one of the bandages for stickiness. If there’s any doubt, buy new.
  1. Gauze in a roll and pads (small and large sizes) for bandaging wounds. If there are any holes or tears in the packaging, you’ll want to replace them.
  1. Adhesive bandaging tape for securing a bandage over an injury. If the tape is old, check to see if the “adhesive” is still sticky enough to be effective. There are different types—clear, plastic and cloth. Choose the kind that works best for you.
  1. Bandage closures or “butterflies” for taping cuts closed. You can buy these at drug stores or make them—as needed—out of adhesive bandage tape.
  1. Instant cold compress for icing injuries and treating high fevers. You can find these at large chain stores or drug stores or buy them in bulk online. If your compress is more than a few years old, consider replacing it, to be on the safe side.

Supplies that will last until they have been used:

  1. Elastic wraps for wrapping wrist, ankle, knee and elbow injuries. You can use either the “self-adhering” kind or one that requires a hook closure.
  1. Triangular bandage for wrapping injuries and making an arm sling. You can make one from a white cotton sheet. Cut the cloth into a triangle that’s about 56 inches on one side and 40 inches across on the other two.
  1. Rubber gloves to protect against infection when treating open wounds. Consider non-latex gloves, in case anyone who might use the kit has a latex allergy.

Items that will last indefinitely:

  1. Scissors with rounded tips for cutting wraps and gauze. You can often find small scissors at garage sales or the dollar store.
  1. Tweezers to remove small splinters and ticks. Drug and discount stores carry a variety of styles and prices to suit your needs.
  1. Safety pins to fasten splints and bandages. Look for a package of assorted sizes in drug, discount or sewing stores.
  1. Thermometer with case for checking for fever. A lot of options are available when it comes to thermometers—old-fashioned mercury, digital oral, temporal and even disposable. What you choose will depend on how much you want to spend and where you will use the kit.

Additional tips:

  • Label the packaged items with the date purchased or packed.
  • How many bandages you pack will depend on how many people your kit is meant to serve.
  • Use resealable baggies or other water-tight containers to keep the dry or sterile items separate from things that could leak or cause other damage.
  • First-aid apps are available for phones. But in case you’re without power or service, consider including a small first-aid manual or tip card.
  • If your kit will be used away from home, add a bottle of water or wipes for cleaning wounds.
  • If your kit will be used on the trail, vacuum-sealing can further protect your dry items.

Get OutHost a “Kit Building” Party

If you’re hosting a summer party, why not celebrate by organizing a first-aid kit building party?

A lot of items on the first-aid kit list are cheaper when bought in bulk. You can buy enough supplies to share with your friends, family and neighbors and spread the cost.

Invite everyone to bring one or more empty containers to build a kit for themselves or to give away.

And ask guests to sign up to contribute (or share the cost of) enough of a given item that everyone can use to complete their kits.

It’s a fun way to share time together and create something that might one day be a life-saver.

PeaceHealth's core values of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice define how they provide service, and support their vision of, “Every person receives safe, compassionate care every time, every touch."

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