The Skinny on a quintessential first aid kit!

So, there is not a large amount of information about first aid kits out there. Some are just slap together kits that have a lot of non essentials. There are kits that range from very small to basically O.R. room load outs. Which one is right for you? Will you really use everything in the larger bag? Or can we trim some weight on items not necessary? How about the "band-aid" kit? Is it enough or we missing vital components to be able to really give someone a fighting chance?

I have sat down with a close personal friend of mine who is a Certified NREMT Paramedic to get the skinny on what really needs to go into a bag. Though she did say that a pre-produced bag is a good start, we decided to break down a good kit you could build and hopefully save you a few dollars in the process. whether in the field, road trip or at home this kit will do it all!

-Backpack, good quality
-Thermometer if digital, make sure you purchase extra batteries
-liquid Benadryl
-Ziploc gallon bag 1-2 for chest wounds
-medical shears or good quality sharp knife
-30' paracord 550 7 strand
-(2) SAM splints
-(2) sterile water pouches
-(1) tube of triple antibiotic
-(4-5) 4'' SPONGE gauze pads not woven. (woven works it's way into wounds)
-(2) 4'' Kurlix rolled gauze
-2'' Coban  self adhesive bandage
-lighter or waterproof matches
-finger pulse oximeter battery operated ( more expensive item but well worth it.)make sure you          purchase extra batteries
-wristwatch to monitor pulse and record event times
-2-3 triangle bandages
-CAT tourniquet 1''-2''
-black sharpie for light skin, silver sharpie for darker skin. write a "T" on forehead for a tourniquet applied and for writing on the limb the time the tourniquet was applied.
-pocket mask for CPR
-NPA and OPA for CPR ( a flexible endotracheal tube that is designed to open a channel between the nostril or throat)
-baby aspirin for chest pain take 4 for chest pain. also makes platelets slippery (aspirin is not a blood thinner)
-Ibuprofen for swelling and pain relief
-Acetaminophen for pain relief and fever
-manual blood pressure cuff and stethoscope
-A bag of  hard candy or tubes of candy gel for diabetics and low blood sugar (simple carbs) Snickers or peanut M&Ms for complex carbs (NO SUGAR FREE)
-supplemental portable battery charger for your phone
-Glucose meter for diabetics
-medical clear tape and paper tape (paper in case of allergies)
-abdominal pads (maxi pads can be used in a pinch) for abdominal wounds
-flashlight at least 200 lumen with strobe feature
-mini notebook and pen
-nytril gloves that fit your hands not latex
quickclot impregnated gauze

this list is essentially everything you will need to cover your bases in any emergency to get you to a hospital. of course according to your own medical needs you may add other items as needed. Maybe an Epipen etc.

Though you must realize that education in first aid is a must when considering this. Without the instruction on how to use these items it just becomes a heavy bag filled with stuff you lug around and have a vague idea how to use.