What do you have in your first aid kit?

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Our family carries an emergency first aid kit in each car -- in case of accidents, soccer mishaps etc. We have not purchased the premade ones because they seem to have lots of pieces that we don't use.... so we have a "homemade" kit. Each car has a blanket (an older one -- clean and in a zipper case -- like you buy blankets in), a container of distilled water, maxi pads, bandaids, antispetic cleanser, triple antibiotic ointment, flashlight,jelly packets, a couple of ace wraps, butterflys/steri-strips, gause, 1/2 strength peroxide, "bite stick" tweezers, tape, small note pad and pen, and a CPR mask. ( I am sure that I am forgetting something here) There used to be flares in the trunk of the car, but I think we took those out -- were looking into getting a set of the reflective triangles to caution other drivers around a scene (recently had a guy die after falling from the bed of a pick-up -- cause of death -- being run over by another car who didn't see that he was lying in the street.)

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I don't include meds of any kind, since I might be charged with "practicing medicine without a license" if I used them. Also, the heat in Texas destroys the meds. So I just have scissors, tape, CPR mask, blanket, and stuff like that. Don't forget gloves. They come in handy when you change a tire and don't want grease all over your hands. I knew someone who carried Saran Wrap in the car, to act as a bandaid for large area. It really does stick!

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I don't include meds of any kind, since I might be charged with "practicing medicine without a license" if I used them. Also, the heat in Texas destroys the meds. So I just have scissors, tape, CPR mask, blanket, and stuff like that. Don't forget gloves. They come in handy when you change a tire and don't want grease all over your hands. I knew someone who carried Saran Wrap in the car, to act as a bandaid for large area. It really does stick!

GLOVES!! That was what I forgot to mention!! We have some in each kit too. There ae a couple of XL pares ( his box always lasts longer than mine does) and then a few pair of mediums for me!!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

everything but medicine. and i mean everything. it's a nice one. but i will not ever dispense meds to anyone outside my own kids.

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1L distilled water, flashlight, poncho, duct tape, assorted batteries, an MRE (army issue meals ready to eat) survival blankets, a couple of IV sets and bags, CPR mask, minor laceration suturing kit, an epipen (allergies), snakebite kit, 4x4s, and, yes, saran wrap works amazingly great for bandaging extremities. this is more for hiking and camping in unfamiliar country than for daily driving, and i switch items out a lot. batteries, for example, depending on what i have with me that could run out of juice (like a GPS in the middle of mark twain national forest, for example). i also always have a knife or multitool either in my car or on my person. i like to be prepared.

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I can't believe that you folks are so prepared you lmake me feel insufficient i didn't even have a fashlight the other night when i needed one. i think i will pull an old overnight and make me a list of what you are stocking...it sounds like a real smart thing for a person to do..

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

I carry the first aid kit for softball! I have bandaids of many shapes and sizes, Neosporin, some anesthetic wipes, H2O2 wipes, alcohol wipes, tweezers, little scissors, 4x4 and 2x2's, tape, an ace bandage, blister thingys from bandaid, tongue depressors for those jammed fingers on the way to the ER, steri-strips, gloves, CPR mask. Just basic stuff. I won't give out even a Tylenol to anyone...one mom, whose kid got whacked in the head with a bat, got made because I didn't have any in my kit..uh, she really needs to go to the ER, not take a stinkin' Tylenol!

I don't leave it in the car...the heat will kill the adhesives on stuff!

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I'm so glad you guys started this thread. Dh and I were just talking about starting our own kit....now I'm taking notes from all of you!

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In my first aide kit I have in my car some 2x2's, 4x4's, 3 abd pads, band aids, steristrips, tape, an ace wrap, kerlix, antibx ointment, a sling, several masks, gloves, a suture needle and silk. The only med I carry is benadryl.

Then I have a little travel bag with water, some food stuffs like crackers, chocolate bars, hard candies, one spare change of clothing(old sweat pants, sweat shirt, socks), a blanket, flashlight, radio and spare batteries and a swiss army knife. Also jumper cables. I love the little radio. It can pick up radio stations and tv stations and is small in size. All this goes into an old backpack, so I can be mobile if needed. In the winter I throw a bag of kitty litter in the trunk, in case I get stuck in the snow. The kitty litter works great as a way to get some traction.

I started it for earthquake readiness in Cali. In the midwest I have it in case of tornadoes.

One kit in the car, one in the basement. The one in my basement has more stuff. I even keep a small bag of dog food for my best friend. Which reminds me, I should be switching out some of the items, the food and water.

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