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A Basic First Aid Kit for Everything

A Basic Car First Aid Kit

It is important that everyone has a first aid kit in their vehicle at all times. We never know when the car will break down, run out of gas, or we will get stranded or lost in route. A few essentials are nessesary. Homemade first aid kits can be fairly inexpensive and tailored to meet the needs of your family.

First, water. You can include a gallon or two of drinking water and a gallon or two of distilled water for the car, in case it overheats. Be sure to replace these gallon jugs twice per year.

Thermal blankets. While wool works well, it is no help if it is hot out or conditions are wet. So keep one large fabric blanket, in addition to one thermal blanket, for each member of the family, plus an extra one. Thermal blankets are reflective and usually come folded in a pouch the size of personal size tissue packs. They are metallic and both reflect body heat back inside to keep one warm and can be used as a tent to keep solar energy out during extreme heat.

Hand and foot warming pouches. These are chemical pouches which, when the inner pouch is broken, create heat. They are essential in most parts of the world, especially when temperatures can dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. They can be purchased in bulk; keep at least two per family member, in the vehicle. They are not reusable, one use and toss them out. They do last several hours.

One first aid pocket mask. This is a mask to protect the first aid recipient and the person doing CPR from cross contamination. First aid courses can be effective in knowing how to properly administer first aid and CPR. Local charities, hospitals, and even YMCA groups offer these classes at reduced rates or even for free. Be Smart. Be Prepared.

Most other items can be purchased cheaply in a kit. These are usually red, zipped up pouches with straps. However, if you want to make your own, here's what you will need:

1 - pocket first aid guide
2 – instant cold compress packs (like the heating packs, internal chemical activated)
10 – individually sealed cotton cloths.
2+ individually wrapped sterile extra absorbent pads, 5x9 inch
10 – latex gloves, individually wrapped
10 – vinyl goves (for those with latex allergies)
10 – nitrile gloves (anti-microbial)
10 – rolls of gauze
5 - sterile non-woven 2x4 inch, 4-ply gauze packs
5 – sterile gauze dressing, 4x4 inch packs
2 – personal packs of facial tissue
5 – sterile eye pads
1 - pair of small scissors
1 - pair of large scissors
1 – pair of metal tweezers
1 – travel kits of cotton swabs (50 count)
4 – tongue depressors
2 – rolls medical tape

Individually wrapped:

10 – poison ivy, oak, & sumac cleanser toilettes
10 – insect sting relief antiseptic ointments
10 – lip ointments packs
10 – insect protection packs
10 – splinter removers
10 – burn cream with aloe vera
10 – sunscreen lotions at least SPF 30+
10 – hydrocortisone cream, 1.0%
10 – antibiotic ointments
10 – aspirin packs
10 – non-aspirin pain reliever packs
20+ moist cleaning toweletts
20+ alcohol prep pads
1 or 2 boxes of variety pack band-aids, preferably one latex and one vinyl or cloth adhesives.

A Home First Aid Kit

Your at-home first aid kit should include everything in the above lists plus wrist splints and bandages, ace bandages in multiple widths and sizes, freezer pack cold compresses, and rice or corn filled pouches, which can be warmed in the microwave to provide heat therapy.

Be sure to have the numbers for local emergency units, epecially if your home country is not in the US and 911 or other direct emergency relay numbers are not common. Non-emergency numbers can also be helpful.

If your family takes any medications, epi-pens, or uses any inhalers, be sure that everyone in the family or whom you travel with, has the instructions on how to assist you to use them in an emergency.

Additionally, you may decide to keep larger, full size bottles of insect repellent and sunscreen at home, in addition to full size tubes of antibiotic ointments and hydrocortisone creams, Calamine lotion, topical Benadryl, and other ingredients in your first aid kit.

A Camping or Traveling Kit

In addition to the above lists, it is essential to have these items on hand when camping or traveling:

~ Flares

~ Spare tire, car jack, and tools to make small repairs to your vehicle

~ Emergency cell phone, more and more emergency roadside phones are becoming a thing of the past. A prepaid cell phone costs just $15 every 45 days (longer periods can be bought for more) and can provide essential emergency assistance.

~ Dehydrated food, non-perishable food, and other dry goods. In case of being stranded, keeping food on hand may prove lifesaving when camping or traveling. Freeze-dried food can usually be found in the camping section at your local store.

~ Strike-on box matches in a water tight container. These are essential when camping or hiking. Have at least two containers.

~ Flashlights with extra batteries. There are now solar powered, rechargable flashlights and flashlights with hand mechanisms for recharging them.

~ A tent or pop up shelter, if hiking or long distance road traveling.

~ Life jackets, if the travel or play ends up near a body of water.

~ A pocket knife or utility knife. These have several purposes and can be used in self-defense against wild animals, to pry things open with, as screw drivers, and much more.

~ Extra gallons of water, if camping or traveling long distance. Also, consider investing in a small personal water purification device, these are usually the size of a plastic water bottle and can be essential to maintaining hydration, if out in the wild. Other options may be to purchase disinfecting additives which kill bacteria and other pathogens in the water and make it safe to drink.

~ An emergency credit card or rechargeable debit card used only in emergencies, such as auto repairs, when long distance traveling. (keep this in a safe place, like the first aid kit or glove box, or hidden compartment.)

~ Notify friends and family if going hiking, camping, long distance traveling, or to nature reserves or parks. Let them know when you are leaving, when you will get back, and when to contact the authorities if you have not returned in a certain time period without communication. Be sure to let them know of your planned travel route and where you will be. Even if it’s a rough estimate of an itinerary, let somebody know who is responsible enough to take action.

Being prepared could save a life. In addition to the above ingredients, herbal remedies can be added to your first aid kits. We will provide more information on what is essential in the coming newsletters, in the series on wound care.