First Aid Supplies

Adhesive dressings in more than one size, sterile gauze swabs, a couple of larger wound dressings, a conforming bandage, hypoallergenic tape, antiseptic or skin cleaning wipes, nitrile gloves, scissors or shears, and tweezers or splinter probes.

Then the Australian additions: a pressure bandage for snake and funnel-web bite, and something for burns.

Buy two of anything you would want two of. Running out halfway through is the failure that actually happens.

DRESSINGS AND BANDAGES

Adhesive dressings handle the everyday. Larger wound dressings handle bleeding. A conforming bandage holds a dressing in place and doubles as support for a sprain.

Transparent waterproof dressings are worth having if the wound is going to get wet, which in a kitchen or on a worksite is most of them.

TAPE MATTERS MORE THAN PEOPLE THINK

Standard adhesive lifts off skin that is sweaty, hairy or delicate, which covers most real situations.

Hypoallergenic tape is the one to keep. It suits sensitive skin, it suits repeat application to the same area, and it does not cause the reaction that has you dealing with two problems instead of one.

SHARPS DISPOSAL

Used needles should never go in a household or office bin. A rigid, puncture-resistant container with a secure lid is the only safe option.

Rules for disposing of a full container vary by state, and many councils and pharmacies accept them, so check locally. A 150ml screw-top suits a bag and a 1.4L container suits a fixed location.

CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY

Open your KIT first and write down what is missing, rather than ordering what you assume is missing.

The numbered labelling system inside every SURVIVAL KIT tells you how many of each item should be there, which makes that a two minute job. If you are refilling a whole KIT, a Restock Pack does it in one order and costs less than the items separately.

Also see First Aid Restock, First Aid Modules and First Aid Accessories.