I was wondering what are the essentials needed for my First aid kit. Obviously quite small as to fit in my BOB. There are three I am currently looking at which contain;

1
1 x Splinter Probe Disposeable
1 x Paper Tape 1.25cm x 5m
1 x Triangular Bandage
1 x Gloves Latex Large Pair
1 x First Aid Pamphlet
1 x Eye Pad Single FAC
2 x Sodium Chloride 0.9% 30ml Sachet
1 x Tweezers
1 x Wound Dressing No. 14
1 x Crepe Medium 5cm x 2m
1 x Scissors 11cm
2 x Wound Wipe with Cetrimide
1 x Magnifier Plastic
1 x Plastic Strips Pk10
1 x Emergency Thermal Blanket
1 x Non Adherent 5 x 7.5cm
1 x Safety Pins Pk12 Assorted

2
1. Adhesive tape 1.25cm -Hypoallergenic to secure dressings / bandages
2. Analgesics -24 paracetamol -Pain relief tablets
3. Bags -2 resealable -For waste, ice, water, severed parts ...
4. Bandage -conforming gauze 2.5cm -Secure dressings, apply even pressure
5. Bandage -conforming gauze 5cm -Secure dressings, apply even pressure
6. Bandage -conforming gauze 10cm -Secure dressings, apply even pressure
7. Bandage -crepe 5cm (heavy) -To support/apply pressure
8. Bandage -triangular, premium quality -Use as a bandage or sling
9. Cold pack -instant -Cold compress without the need for a freezer
10. Cotton tips -100 -General cosmetic cleaning
11. Dressing -7.5x10cm -Nonadherent, sterile, absorbent wound cover
12. Dressing strips -25 regular -Minor wound coverings
13. Eye pad -Eye dressing, sterile
14. Eye wash -Eye and wound saline irrigation
15. First Aid Notes Basic -General instructions - Workcover NSW Approval P0419
16. Gloves -4 latex -To help protect against disease
17. Safety pins -5 -As required
18. Scissors -To cut dressings / bandages
19. Splinter forceps -tweezers -To aid splinter removal
20. Splinter probe -To aid splinter removal
21. Swabs -15 alcohol -To clean instruments
22. Swabs -5 antiseptic cetrimide towelettes -To clean minor wound / graze

3
2 x Plastic Strips Pk 10, 19 x 72mm Sheer
1 x Triangular Bandage 96 x 96cm
2 x Eye Pad Single
1 x Instant Cold Pack
1 x Instant Heat Pack
3 x Gauze Pieces 7.5cm Pk 3 Sterile
1 x Crepe Bandage Heavy 7.5cm x 2m
1 x Flat Glass Thermometer
1 x Tape Paper 1.25cm x 5m Porous
6 x Wound Wipe with Cetrimide Single
2 x Sodium Chloride 15ml 0.9%
1 x Safety Pins Pk 12 Assorted
1 x Emergency Thermal Blanket
1 x Conforming Bandage 7.5cm x 1.8m
1 x Conforming Bandage 5cm x 1.8m
1 x Conforming Bandage 2.5cm x 1.8m
1 x Trafalgar First Aid Pamphlet
2 x Burnaid Sachet 3.5g
1 x Scissor S/S 12.5cm Sharp/Blunt
1 x Tweezers
1 x Gloves Latex Pair Large
1 x Non Adherent 5 x 7.5cm Single
1 x Non Adherent 7.5 x 10cm Single
1 x Rapaid Antiseptic Cream 25g
1 x Eye Bath Plastic
4 x Medi Swab

Please let me know which one would be best 1,2, or 3. At least tell me the essential items I need to inlcude if I make my own.

you forgot one of the most important things........duck tape. Its usefull in nearly every situation, yes even medical

I would go with #3.The more you have the better.And definitely get the duct tape!

Yep No3 for me aswell. I would even add in some extra thing that you might not strictly NEED but would help you out no end, like Sticking plasters - extra gloves and bandages etc. No3 seems to fit the bill, but take as much as you can - and know how to use it.

No point in taking things you cant use!

yup 3 would probably be best but get some pain killers. like go down to your local drug dealer and get a bottle of vicodin or morphine .you never know when it will come in handy.

Yes, you definitely need to add pain medication to any of these. Hopefully you can get a doctor to give you a prescription for maybe a couple hundred Tylenol with Codeine or Vicodin or something. I doubt they'll give you morphine.

Long shelf life antibiotics would be an important addition too.

[edit on 6/12/2007 by djohnsto77]

What you need in an emergency pack depends on where you are going and what needs are anticipated. If you go to the arctic you may not need diarrhea pills but you may need frostbite treatment. In the desert you often need tweesers to remove thorns and mupirocin ointment to treat skin infections. You will die in New Guinea without antimilarial pills but not in Ireland. If you go to Bavaria in October be sure to take headache pills! Oh yes, and if you go combat fishing on the Kenai river (Alaska) bring a set of hemostats to remove those bothersome fish hooks from your skin!

[edit on 12-6-2007 by plumranch]

If you're caught without antibiotics, and you need them, there's little that will do much good. In a bad situation, drug stores might already be looted, or guarded, and you be unable to find some.

There is an animal medication that has an extra long shelf life, and can be found at vet clinics and a lot of hardware/animal supply places. It's called "terramycin". It is a powder that is water soluble, and the dosage is determined by body weight.

Don't be put off by the fact that it's for animals, we're talking emergencies here. It's a wide spectrum antibiotic that is almost a clone to penicillin. It is recommended for beef, poultry,swine sheep and bees. It contains oxytetracycline, so check ahead of time to be sure you are not allergic.

I"M NOT A DOCTOR, and this is not medical advice, but your dog may get sick.

just wanted to bump this again since it's a good thread and definitely useful, as I'm wracking my brain now on creating one of these, really hope it's not to late, on a SUPER low budget.. I have 2 teenagers living at home, one 'might' be moving out by this coming may (2011)

I was thinking about making 2 actually..

1 for a earthquake/emergency prep ~3day minimum contents for each person
2 for pure BO (Bug Out) due to riots, Martial Law etc, (time will be of the essence depending on the situation, 30mins, 1hour or 3hours)

any assistance on this would be greatfull

I would go with #3

I also carry a bottle of eye wash solution

Maxi pads (best thing for pressure on a wound, they're sterile and absorb A LOT of blood....obviously)

Small bottle of saline solution for flushing wounds

Glucose paste or syrup for low blood sugar

A couple of suture kits ( #4 is a good compromise in size)

I'd throw some Amoxicillin in there. Has uses for a lot of infections.

A thread that was very much needed here, thanks~
Bump

excuse me no duct tape um-hem i give 2 yes 2 to my 4 kids to just fit in their school bags 2x year ones 1x year four and 1x year 7 but don't forget the 50+ rolls in the cupboard i would go with number 3 if i was you but get more for families