In an emergency situation a good first aid kit will be invaluable to you and those around you. Below are the minimum recommendations for a first aid kit, followed by some of the more advanced options that should be used only by those who have the proper training. Where I am able, I have included a link to Amazon for each item listed.
If you would prefer to buy a kit to get started, I can highly recommend any of the following Lightning X products:
Lightning X Small Medic First Responder EMT Trauma Bag Stocked
Lightning X First Responder EMT/EMS Backpack Stocked
Lightning X Extra Large Medic First Responder EMT Trauma Bag Stocked
Lightning X Jumbo Medic First Responder EMT Trauma Bag Stocked
If you would like to pack your own bag so you can customize it to your needs, use the lists below as a starting point. You can add or remove as many items as you believe you will need in an emergency according to your skill level.
Minimum First Aid Kit Supplies
Qty Description
1 First Aid Guidebook
5 Pair Nitrile Exam Gloves (always use non-latex gloves)
1 Triple Antibiotic Ointment (tube or individual packets)
1 Hydrocortisone ointment (tube or individual packets)
1 Travel bottle or larger of Low-Dose Aspirin (81 mg each)
1 Travel bottle or larger of Tylenol (acetaminophen)
1 Travel bottle or larger of Motrin (ibuprofen)
1 Travel bottle or larger of Antacid tablets (Tums, Alka-Seltzer)
1 Travel bottle or larger of Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
1 Breathing barrier for CPR (with one-way valve)
25 Cloth Elastic Band-Aid Strips
5 Non-Adhering Pads (2×3, or 4×4)
5 Sterile Gauze Pads (3×3 or 4×4)
10 Antiseptic Wipes
10 Alcohol Wipes
2 Absorbent compress dressings (trauma pads – 5 x 9 inches)
2 Instant Cold Packs
1 Ophthalmic Eye wash
1 Trauma Sheers
5 Burn Gel or cream (individual packets, or 1 tube)
3 2″ Cohesive self-sticking bandage roll 2″ x 5 yards
3 3″ Cohesive Self Sticking bandage roll 3″ x 5 yards
1 Medical tape (1″ x 10 yards)
2 1″ Gauze Roll
2 2″ Gauze Roll
2 3″ Gauze Roll
2 Triangular Bandages
5 Wound Closure Strips (Steri-Strips or Butterfly bandages)
1 Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass)
1 BleedStop First Aid Powder
1 Multi Trauma Blood Stop Dressing
4 Ammonia Inhalants
4 Emergency Blankets
1 Stainless Steel Tweezers
10 PVP (Povidone) Iodine Swabs (or a bottle and 10 sterile swabs)
1 Penlight or small flashlight w/batteries (lithium recommended)
Advanced Supplies
Qty Description
1 Blood Pressure Cuff (Sphygmomanometer)
1 Stethoscope
1 Scalpel or another sanitary knife
1 Suture Practice Complete Kit
1 C-Collar
1 Large First Aid Splint
1 Tourniquet (more than one is better)
1 Trauma Pak First Aid Kit with QuikClot
2 6″ Israeli Style Emergency Bandage
1 Nasopharyngeal Airways with Surgilube
1 Fingertip Pulse and Blood Oxygen Monitor
1 Liquid I.V. or similar powdered rehydration product (Gatorade)