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.
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 Pads
2 Absorbent compress dressings (trauma pads – 5 x 9 inches)
2 Cold Packs
1 16 oz Saline Eye and Skin Flushing Solution
1 Utility Scissors
5 Burn Gel or cream (individual packets, or 1 tube)
3 Cohesive Self Sticking Roll Bandage 3 inch by 5 yards
1 Adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
2 Gauze Roll 2 inch
2 Gauze Roll 4 inch
2 Triangular Bandages
5 Wound Closure Strips (Steri-Strips or Butterfly bandages)
1 Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass)
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)