What is in your first aid kit?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello fellow nurses,

Just curious what everyone has in their first aid kits? Do you have a smaller, personal kit that you keep with you for those just in case moments? Do you keep a larger family kit? Keep a big one in your car? Or did you pick one up at the store and it suits you just fine?

Just curious what everyone else has. I am trying to put together multiple kits: one for personal use for when I am alone doing outdoor things (hiking, hunting, shooting range, or just alone and I need to treat myself), a bigger kit to keep in my car for the family and the same kit to keep in the house for the family.

So let's hear it (AND SEE IT!).

Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

Caramel cone ice cream.

When that's not sufficient, soap, water and a band aid.

I keep a cell phone for calling 911. Unless there is a pocket sized O2 tank, IV fluid etc, I will just call the paramedics for true emergencies. I did just that today.

I was walking on the greenway and found a man writhing on the ground. He was clutching his chest and moaning in pain. The bandaids in my backpack were not enough.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Basic kit: baby wipes (great for cleaning up the mess, washing hands), pack of tissues (awesome for crocodile tears), bandaids of a variety of sizes & designs, gauze, garbage bag, gloves, pocket mask, instant ice pack, pen & paper. EMS prefers to take their own vital signs so no point in carrying the excess weight of BP cuff & scope. Not necessary. Oh and a charged cell phone.

Chest pain? Call 911.

Difficulty breathing? Call 911.

Car accident? Call 911

Broken bone? Call 911

Unresponsive? Call 911.

Seizure? Call 911, protect from harm

major trauma? Call 911.

The majority of 'emergencies' I've taken care of are dislodged scabs that re-bleed on 5 year old girls, dislodged tooth (fortunately a baby tooth that was loose) at a baseball game (gauze was awesome in this case), minor cuts & bruises, majority of injuries are boo boos made better with attention and a colorful bandaid. I think my kit may have a triangular bandage or ace wrap but not sure...

I just have a small first aid kit to keep on my husband's motorcycle with band aids, neosporin, burn gel, bandages, gauze, and emergency contact info. Maybe some saline. I can't remember now.

I bought one of the Johnson and Johnson ones because it had most of the supplies I needed, but I put the supplies in a little cosmetic bag for the bike.

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