Just Knowing how to take care of immediate medical needs as well as having the equipment to do so is vitally important whether in a SHTF situation, or just day-to-day living. So lets look at some types of first aid kits you might consider, and where to locate them.

Many folks have a basic first aid kit in the home or car, but if you want to be really prepared for any emergency or situation, you need to have certain first aid supplies located at key locations. They will range in size and contents depending on their purpose and where they are kept. Every individual and family situation is different, so I thought to publish my kits as a way to stimulate your thinking in this area, and allow you to select the level of first aid preparation that is right for you.

The size, location and contents of these kits are my own personal choices, and yours may differ depending on your needs. Some folks buy ready-made kits and add to them as needed. I chose to build mine from scratch. I highly recommend that you take a good first aid course like the ones the American Red Cross give.

Every Day Carry

My small EDC first aid kit I carry in my briefcase/computer bag at work. I put it together in a Cabellas gift card tin as it will hold slightly more than an Altoids tin and is flatter. It is just designed to handle the small owwwees I might experience and I need to put a small pair of tweezers in it. Alcohol pads and swab, small gauze, aspirin, burn gel, anti-itch creme, antacid, band aids, diarrhea tabs , Alka-Seltzer, decongestants, anti-biotic ointment, and a small credit card knife are the contents.

Driver’s Side Door in Jeep

This is a small first aid bag I got with my AAA membership and I added a few items to it. This is kept in the door next to me along with my escape tool (seatbelt cutter/glass breaker) and is designed to handle minor injuries so I don’t have to take items out of my IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) on my Bug Out Bag in the back, or to handle something serious in a hurry. In addition to the normal owwee items, I added a G.I. combat bandage, soon to be replaced by an Israeli bandage.

Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) on Bug Out Bag in Back of Jeep

I keep a mini-BOB in the back of my Jeep with additional items to give me a minimum 72hr survival capability no matter where I am. For my IFAK, I chose the Condor Rip-Away Pouch. It attaches easily to the outside of my BOB or on a belt. Contents include:

Scissors medical  1
Anti-Bacterial Cream  1 tube
Israeli Bandages  1
Combat Bandages 1
Cotton swabs (Q-tips) Pkt 1
Quick Clot  1
3″ rolled gauze  1
Ventolin Inhaler 1
Scissors small  1pr.
Latex Gloves 1pr
Band Aids (Various)  1 pkt.
Chap Stick  1
Mini Mag lite 1
Buck Lite Knife 1
4″x5″ transparent dressing  2
4″ x 4″ sterile gauze pads 2
2″ rolled gauze 1
2″ x 2″ sterile gauze pads 4
Forceps (tweezers)  1
Alcohol wipes  7
Anti-Bacterial Cream  1 tube
Burn gel (sml. Pkts.)  4
Self Sticking tape  1 roll
Sinus Tabs (pkts)  4
Ibuprofen (10)   2
Diarrhea medication  1pkt.
Cotton swabs (Q-tips)  10

I have ordered additional Israeli bandages and a combat tourniquet to complete this kit. I also have a tube of insect repellent as well as a one week supply of any prescription medication I am taking in it.

Bug In/Bug Out Medical Bag

For my major medical bag to use at home or to grab when bugging out, I opted for the military M-3 style as I was familiar with it, it can hold a lot of items, and is portable either by the carrying handle, shoulder strap, or belt loops. The one I chose was the MOLLE compatible M-3 bag by Voodoo. This is the list of items I have in it:

First Aid Manual   1
1″ roll of cloth adhesive tape  1
2″ elastic wrap   1
2″ rolled gauze   2
2″ x 2″ sterile gauze pads    4
4″x5″ transparent dressing   6
3″ rolled gauze   2
4″ x 4″ sterile gauze pads   4
36x36x51 Triangular bandage   1
Israeli Bandages  4
Combat Bandages  3
Alcohol wipes    23
Acetone swabs    6
Antacid (Alka Seltzer)   10
Aspirin  1 btl.
Anti-Bacterial Cream  1 tube
Aloe Gel   1btl.
Band Aids (Various) pkt.  1
Burn gel (sml. Pkts.)  4
Chapstick    1 tube
Chem Light   1
Cold Pack   1
Cotton balls (pkt) 1
Cotton swabs (Q-tips)  Pkt   1
Cough suppressant tabs  18
Diarrhea medication Box 1
Eyewash   1 btl.
Tweezers  1
Facial tissue pkt   1
Finger splint  1
Hand Sanitizer 2oz  1
Hydrogen peroxide (16 oz btl.) 1
Ibuprofen (50)  1
Iodine swabs  9
Insect repellant 1tube
Latex Gloves  2pr
Chap Stick  1
Molefoam or moleskin (for blisters)   1pkt.
Pain Killer btl  (prescription)  1
Quick Clot  2
Small knife.  1
Small Soap Bar  1
Small flash light  1
Safety pins  6
Scissors small  1
Scissors medical  1
Sinus Tabs  10
Self Sticking tape  1
Splint flexible  1
Blood Pressure Cup 1
Sunscreen  1 tube
Thermometer  1
Ventolin Inhaler 1

The above system gives me good overall coverage. My EDC handles minor owwees at work, and as there is a large first aid kit and AED (Automatic External Defibulator) on the wall behind me I am pretty well covered there. My Jeep has a mid-sized kit up front with me and a IFAK on my BOB in back that takes care of travel needs. My large bag at home covers day-to-day home needs and is ready to be grabbed with the rest of my pre postponed bug out gear.

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