First Aid Kit

Precautionary Notes:  ! - may have expiration date
▲- do not allow to freeze
 		 ►  Return to First Aid Kit
U OK U = item required     
OK = when item is present, fully operational or completed		 NOTES:
Inventory List of included items, annotated wherever there are expiration dates   
good first aid booklet or manual
 		 -  available from American Red Cross
 -  military field manual on first aid,  The SAS Survival Handbook, Boy Scout Manual,
any special medications that you or family members require  
small notebook & pencil to keep a record of treatments
● large triangular sling or large handkerchief (~36x36) - used as sling, head binder or tourniquet  
● 2 or 3 inch elastic wrap (i.e. Ace Bandage®)    
● latex or nitrile gloves sterile packed is preferable
● ▲small sealed water pouch(es) - often sold in recreation outlets, survival or army surplus stores  emergency water, wound cleaning, mixing of dextrose and/or saline solutions
surgical mask sterile packed is preferable
▲thermometer or thermometer strips  
● 'survival or 'space' blanket especially useful for treating shock
● lip balm  
▲insect repellent (high % of DEET®)  
● tongue depressors / finger splints  
straight pins & needles These items just seem to come in handy for all sorts of first aid needs, repairing clothing and general fix-ups. They really come in handy when large wounds must be treated.
thread & fine wire
assortment of safety pins & paper clips
long shoelace or length of strong string
assortment of rubber bands & twist ties
hemostats
nail clippers, nail file
round & flat toothpicks
a small tube of super glue
● quality surgical scissors, not those 'cheap kindergarten scissors'
razor blades or hobby-type knife & extra blades
(i.e. X-Acto® )		  
● cotton tip applicators ( i.e. Q-Tips ® )  
waterproof matches and/or cigarette lighter  
emergency candle  
● tweezers  
● roll cloth tape - athletic tape works well and is more versatile  
● roll gauze, one ~1-2 inch; one ~3-4 inch  
● 2x2, 3x3, 4x4 sponges, gauze pads, or compresses  
● at least one large wound dressing ( ~7x9 inches) - often called a trauma dressing or military field dressing, the kind often sold in military surplus stores  
● assorted band aids- don't forget two or three big enough to cover a knee or elbow  
 ! ▲wound irrigation solution - iodine or antiseptic, antibiotic-type - 2 to 4 ounces in a squirt bottle  
 ! ▲ eyewash solution - 2 to 4 ounces in a squirt bottle  
▲ hand sanitizer in a small bottle or wipes  
●  ! antibacterial ointment (i.e. Neosporin® )  
● alcohol prep pads to clean small wounds & area around wound in preparation for bandaids or bandaging tape  
 ! ▲ anesthetic liquid, gel or paste
(i.e. Anbesol®, Oral gel® )		 put some of this on the area around a wood tick and see how fast he lets go!
● burn ointment - Vaseline®  
●  ! antibacterial wipes  
●  ! acetaminophen tablets (non aspirin)  
●  ! aspirin / acetaminophen  
●  ! ibuprofen tablets (pain relief)  
●  ! electrolyte tablets  
! ▲ cold medicine in gel tabs  
antihistamine tablets  
●  ! anti-itch solution containing antihistamine for insect bites (i.e. StingEz®)  
● antacid tablets  
1 gal. ziplock bag(s) emergency water carry bag - solution mixing bag - vomit bag - contaminated items bag - victim's personal items bag, etc. etc. etc.
1 qt. ziplock bag(s)
I usually throw in a few individual serving packets of coffee, tea, sugar, salt, etc. These can be very soothing in times of stress.  
travel-size tube of skin moisturizer  
mole-skin pad - if you do any hiking  
small roll of toilet paper