The first aid kit from my truck is approaching 9 years old, and I'm looking to both "refresh" and expand it. The contents of the existing kit are:
1"x3" adhesive bandages, 9 pieces
4" sterile compression bandage with attached wrap, 1 piece
2" sterile compression bandages with attached wrap, 2 pieces
2"x5 yard sterile gauze rolls, 2 pieces
3"x3" sterile pads, 4 pieces
Benzalkonium Chloride towelettes (no-sting equivalent to an alcohol wipe), 3 pieces
non-sterile triangular bandage, 1 piece
small roll of adhesive tape
pair of blunt-nose scissors
first aid guide
What should I add to the kit, what are the shelf lives, and what can I "cheap out" on by using dollar store items and what should I go for the "good stuff" on?
Stuff I'm thinking of adding:
- New box (would need a bigger one)
- Dispenser with roll of first aid tape (any preference for paper or plastic?)
- Refill roll of tape (not immediately - add it after roughly 1/3 of the shelf life of the roll in the dispenser, and rotate stock)
- More adhesive bandages (bundled in a paper wrapper with the date added, rotate stock)
- Lots of 2"x3" non-stick sterile pads (can get them cheap - 20 should be a good number)
- 10 3"x4" non-stick sterile pads (come 10 in a box)
- Bunch of 3"x5 yard gauze rolls (size the dollar store sells - since these are for holding pads in place, do they need to be sterile?)
- Bunch of 4" square non-sterile gauze pads (repackaged into sets of 10 - sold in a pack of 100)
- Bottle of Betadine disinfectant
- Tweezers
- Safety pins
- Flashlights and spare batteries (I have flashlights in my truck already, but this would make it a "grab and go" for night-time use rather than need to search for one of my "everyday" flashlights)
- Tube of PolySporin ointment or generic clone
Any ideas from people in the health care field? Thanks.
1"x3" adhesive bandages, 9 pieces
4" sterile compression bandage with attached wrap, 1 piece
2" sterile compression bandages with attached wrap, 2 pieces
2"x5 yard sterile gauze rolls, 2 pieces
3"x3" sterile pads, 4 pieces
Benzalkonium Chloride towelettes (no-sting equivalent to an alcohol wipe), 3 pieces
non-sterile triangular bandage, 1 piece
small roll of adhesive tape
pair of blunt-nose scissors
first aid guide
What should I add to the kit, what are the shelf lives, and what can I "cheap out" on by using dollar store items and what should I go for the "good stuff" on?
Stuff I'm thinking of adding:
- New box (would need a bigger one)
- Dispenser with roll of first aid tape (any preference for paper or plastic?)
- Refill roll of tape (not immediately - add it after roughly 1/3 of the shelf life of the roll in the dispenser, and rotate stock)
- More adhesive bandages (bundled in a paper wrapper with the date added, rotate stock)
- Lots of 2"x3" non-stick sterile pads (can get them cheap - 20 should be a good number)
- 10 3"x4" non-stick sterile pads (come 10 in a box)
- Bunch of 3"x5 yard gauze rolls (size the dollar store sells - since these are for holding pads in place, do they need to be sterile?)
- Bunch of 4" square non-sterile gauze pads (repackaged into sets of 10 - sold in a pack of 100)
- Bottle of Betadine disinfectant
- Tweezers
- Safety pins
- Flashlights and spare batteries (I have flashlights in my truck already, but this would make it a "grab and go" for night-time use rather than need to search for one of my "everyday" flashlights)
- Tube of PolySporin ointment or generic clone
Any ideas from people in the health care field? Thanks.
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