First Aid Kit Contents

JRscooby wrote:
Are first aid kits like tool kits? Many want to carry everything. Some even carry tools they don't know how to use.

First aid is just that. Stop the bleeding, start the breathing treat for shock.


If it needs a bandaid it ain't life-threatening. A human can bleed out in 5 seconds. Shock kills and well breathing is essential.

bandages of your choice
tweezers
needle
benedryle
tylonal
alcohol
gauze
butterfly bandages
super glue
booze

A couple of the small airline sized bottles of bourbon. For internal use only.

A first aid kit would would not do me any good because I don't know any first aid ! I keep a few simple things on hand like: band aids, triple antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen,and things like that.

Some things you might want to add to your list though is some sunbrun cream of some kind. I try to be careful but, thee have been times when I got burnt. Something with aloevera (sp) is nice and also some sort of bug bite, anti itch cream is handy to have.

When you have the kit, put a card in it that has:
A - Specifics of those that travel with you
B - What you need to do to use your phone as a way to summon help
C - Have an App like iTriage that will provide direct medical support information.

Matt

dave54 wrote:
A couple of the small airline sized bottles of bourbon. For internal use only.

airline sized...……… amateur

I have been packing around a 12X16X3 inch metal box industrial first aid kit for over 10 years. I don't recall ever opening it.
The same goes for the roadside reflector/red flag gadgets. Never needed them.
Barbecue tool set in an aluminum box? used once or twice.
Yeah, I need to think about the stuff that is laying in the motorhome basement; Have I or will I ever use it?

^last year when we upgraded the trailer i was amazed how many things haddent seen daylight since i put them in when we got the old trailer

Those "First Aid Kits" sold as a kit-in-a-box are virtually worthless. Sure, they've got a "lot" of components but do they have what you need when you need it?

Make your own.

Ours is a smaller version of "Papa's Operating Room" box here on the farm, a largish plastic box with small bottles of peroxide and alcohol (rubbing alcohol, the good stuff is in a separate cabinet), assorted boxes of bandages (band-aides but not necessarily that brand), different size gauze pads, tape, etc etc. You got the idea.

FWIW, no gloves. Neither DW or I have a worry about treating anyone in the family and getting our hands bloody. If any one of us has a disease it's highly unlikely that any of the other of us doesn't have it too.

CavemanCharlie wrote:
A first aid kit would would not do me any good because I don't know any first aid !

I keep a few simple things on hand like: band aids, triple antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen,and things like that.

Bigredcav1 - followed by the ret doc covered things well.

What do you mean by, "I don't know any first aid !".....:R

C'mon, Charlie.

Do you know how to stop (serious) bleeding?

Do you know CPR?

How about breathing - choking?

Splint a broken bone?

Any of these things could apply to *YOU* or someone else.
You don't need to be a trained "professional", or take classes to render (or use) first aid practices.

Many can be performed without a "real" first aid kit - just some basic knowledge of what to do in an emergency.

The "simple things" you listed are just that....simple, and usually not requiring immediate action. They're most likely already in/on a shelf somewhere in your cave.

Call Fred Flintstone at your local Red Cross chapter or Fire Dept.,
find out when (free!) CPR classes are offered. The other stuff can be found in basic first aid books/pamphlets.

.