One of the most important parts of preparedness is having the right first aid supplies. Because food storage and bug out bags always seem to steal the show, first aid sometimes gets overlooked. Having at least one first aid kit around the home is great, but that’s just the tip of the ice burgh.

You should always have some sort of medical kit with you at all times, and that includes your family members. We should all have first aid kits in our cars, our bug out/in bags, as well as in the home.

Our children know we’re “crazy preppers”, and it’s quickly becoming a tradition to give them a prepper gift at Christmas. This year it was first aid kits. We do this because 3 of them have recently moved out, and are ‘adulting” as they call it. They may not like them very much, but we do…and that’s all that matters.

SPP210 The Different Types of First Aid Kits

This week in the show we covered everything from what to have in your first aid kits, what to store them in, to where to store them. We also talked about first aid for pets, and the pros and cons of premade kits.

Basic First Aid Supplies

Here is a list of the basic first aid supplies from the Red Cross that you would want in every kit. After you have these, you will need to customize your first aid kits. What you add to them will depend on where they will be used, who will be using them, and their skill level.

* 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)

* 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)

* 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)

* 1 Tube Silvasorb Jel

* 5 antiseptic wipe packets

* 1 bottle of aspirin/Advil

* 1 blanket (space blanket)

* 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)

* 1 instant cold compress

* 1 box of nonlatex (Nitrile) gloves

* 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets

* Scissors & Tweezers

* 2 roller bandage (4 inches wide)

* 10 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)

* Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass)

* 2 triangular bandages

* First aid instruction booklet