Welcome!
Welcome to week #11 in the “72 Hour Kit Ideas: A week by week approach” series.
This series is all about making it simple and do-able to get a 72 hour kit put together for you and your family.
Creating such a kit can be overwhelming and financially difficult to do all at once. But through this series, I’ve broken it down for you into 26 small steps! You can see all the steps here. Just take one small baby step each week and in 6 months you will have a well stocked, personalized kit!
You can even go through the series a few times over a year or two adding just the most basic supplies the first six months and then a few more “extra” supplies each time you cycle through it again.
Want even more help?
This series is also available as an e-book. Purchasing the e-book gives you a few additional benefits over just reading the free series:
- Additional details and tips
- The ability to print the entire book!
- Pictures of my own kit showing just how I pack each week.
Download “Your Own 72 Hour Kit Plan” E-Book Now!
*Some links in this post are affiliate links meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may get a small commission if you make a purchase. Some links (those to Thrive Life) actually provide you with a discounted price. Thanks for your support in this way!
Last Week:
I hope all of you were able to add some bandages to your kit last week.
Week #11: First Aid
Now that you have supplies to keep your family sanitary and supplies to clean their wounds if necessary, you will need items to care for other injuries as well.
This is an area of your kit where it can be easy to get carried away. The list below is very comprehensive. Prioritize what is most important and add more expensive things when you are able. There may be some things you never add, such as the snake bite kit if you don’t live near snakes!
If you are just starting your 72 hour kit, add just the most important first aid supplies to your 72 hour pack. If you already have a kit, add just a few additional things not in your kit yet.
Suggestions:
I’ve found that the least expensive way to build your first aid supplies is by buying one or more pre-made first aid kits. I have looked into purchasing things separately or in a pre-made kit many times, and it is always less expensive to order the pre-made kit. Check Walmart, Galls.com, and Amazon.
Once you have a basic kit, consider adding to it. If your basic kit does not include some of the following items, decide how important they are to your family. Prioritize things and add what you can separately a little at a time.
There is only one item I believe you should absolutely have in your kit and that is a good first aid book. Here are a few other ideas:
- Butterfly bandages
- Various sized “band-aid type” boxed bandages: from 1 in x .25 in up to 4 in x 2 in, circular, square.
- Various size gauze dressings and adhesive tape
- Large wound dressing (feminine need supplies are great for this).
- Triangular bandages (I just use a cloth diaper…also good for other uses).
- Quik Clot (this is incredible for stopping severe bleeding, but be careful. It is extremely hard to remove from the skin. Only use it in a true, severe bleeding emergency when you don’t have access to an emergency room).
- Sting Relief Gel / Cream.
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Finger Splints
- Soft Splints
- Moleskin.
- Tweezers
- Iodine Tablets (very important if you live near a nuclear power plant).
- Scissors (I got a simple pair at the dollar store)
- Cold Pack
- Suture Kit
- Snake Bite Kit and / or Poison extractor.
- Exam Gloves (blue nitrile would be best in case you need to help someone with
a latex allergy). - Burn Relief Gel or Dressing (or both). The one I’ve linked to is amazing…..seriously a miracle worker!
- Disposable Thermometers
- Dust Masks.
- Poison ivy treatment.
- Sunburn ointment
- A pen light to check pupils.
- Super Glue (can help hold wounds together and keep them clean)
What we have done in our family:
We have most of what is listed above. We do not yet have a soft splint or a pen light. I’m using the antiseptic towelettes and alcohol pads that came with my first aid kit. I’ve separated them out into the 4 packs we have. I have Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, and soap that I found in the travel section at Target in each kit. I purchased boxes of distilled water and latex gloves separately. We have gloves in each adult kit and water in all four kits.
Many have asked why I have additional water here in my kit. My answer is that I simply like to have it separated out in my mind: some water is for drinking; other is for cleaning wounds if needed. I like packaging it with my first aid supplies so that it would be easily accessible were I to need it quickly. Most of our drinking water is at the very bottom of our packs while this water sits with our first aid supplies right at the top.
How About You?
Leave me a comment and tell me what you will be adding to your kit. Why? Do you know how to clean a wound?
Skip to:
| Week #10: Sanitation | Week #13: Other First Aid | Week #1: Packaging Your Kit | Series Into: Survival Kit Series, A Week by Week Approach |
Becky is a wildlife enthusiast and pet and livestock care expert with a diploma in canine nutrition. With over a decade of experience in animal welfare, Becky lends her expertise to Simple Family Preparedness through insightful info about pets, livestock, bee keeping, and the practicalities of homesteading.
We keep first aid kits in each of the vehicles, as well as one in the kitchen and refill supplies in our bedroom closet. I have figured out thru trial and error that our kids are much more willing to sit still and let us clean a wound if they know they are getting a character bandaid afterwards. Im thinking of trying just a sticker and a plain bandaid since that would be cheaper. We also hang onto some of our older sheets that have been boiled and bleached for extra bandages. I really want to get more gauze and first aid tape to add to our supplies. Its amazing how quickly kids go thru bandages.
I’ve been a Boy Scout leader for years. We always have an extensive first aid kit handy. Thankfully, we only very rarely need the big bandages. Far more common is much simpler needs like band-aids, splinter removal, mild analgesics, anti-histamine and even sun-screen and bug spray. It’s nice to know these minor remedies are always available and by actually using the kit regularly keeps everyone familiar with its contents. We re-supply it regularly. We also maintain a far less often used kit with more bandages and even a canvas stretcher.
I just found your site. Thanks for breaking things down. It can be very overwhelming. I’m still trying to put together all our bags including a small first aid kit (I finally got enough canvas bags from Target freebies!) Bandages… variety of small bandaids of course. And a few larger wound bandages. In all of them, I have (I hope I don’t offend here) panty liners and pads. They’re incredibly absorbant… that is their purpose after all.
And as if to prove their worth, a friend of mine recently stubbed her toe at the supermarket and was bleeding all of the place with her 2 little boys and a cart full of groceries. She didn’t have a bandage in her purse (though she should have), but she did have a panty liner and it worked like a charm. A little unsightly, maybe, but I think it was better than the bleeding. =)
I stumbled upon your blog and it is incredible and so complete! I started to compile things last fall and want to go back through it now as I read your strategies!
I’ve been collecting first aid supplies for a while now & hope to add mini first aid kit tins to our 72 hr. kits. Thanks for the heads-up on Quik Clot…had never heard of it, but will add it to our stash. One of the best places I’ve found for affordable bandages & first aid supplies is Dollar General Stores. They carry the Rexall brand, which is reasonably priced. We’ve also stocked up on things like alcohol & peroxide when Kroger has their 10 for $10 sales. Another must for us is disposable gloves…aside from medical uses, they’re useful in the kitchen as well. Love reading all the posts, thanks to everyone for sharing!
Misty, thanks for this great site!! So many helpful resources.
My husband was in an accident a few years ago (he’s fine now) but we have quite a few left over bandages and gauze from that. It’s amazing how many items you have around the house that can be used in your emergency kits!
My first aid kts keep disappearing! I know I have some gauze, adhesive tape, antibiotic ointment and some bandages, but I really just need to buy or make new kits for the vehicles and house.
DH is a teacher and keeps a large supply of fingertip and knuckles bandages and antibiotic ointment in his classroom. We replenish them frequently. I have wondered if we should add other supplies, but other things should probably be left to the school nurse.
I have a hefty supply for bandages in various sizes and tape and sterile scissors and wrapps. Have to get alcohol swab.s unfortunately it’s all in the bathroom but not in a kit. need to make kit for car and house- have a good start though. Loving the blog!!
I have been feeling the urge to update/revamp our 72 hr kits and I’m so glad I found your website! I need to add band aids, ace bandages, gauze pads, etc. to our kit. We’ve used up most of our first aid kit!
Don’t forget to look for the really small take and go bandage/First Aid kits that are available in your drug stores and dollar stores – I keep them everywhere, in beach bags, glove compartment, etc. and there are lots of small containers of neosporin and bactine that fit inside to supplement a quick kit.
RIght now in my very inadequette kit i have a few random boxes of bandaids, and if i remember to put it back after using it a depleted first aid kit. For sure need to add more bigger ones (love the idea of sheets etc, easy to find and would make a bunch if needed!)
Great tips. Thanks!!! We have mini-kits in the vehicles & a drawer in the house, but I need to get things for the bags I just ordered.
I will be making sure there is a mini first aid kit in each person’s kit this week. Considering how many bandages we go through normally, I can only imagine what we would need in an emergency situation. I think I will also make sure each vehicle is well stocked, mainly with the “Band-aid” size bandages and a few larger ones for skinned knees, etc.
Yes, the regular “band-aid” types are definitely the most used at our house too!
And sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
SInce my husband is a nurse and outdoors man, we have an awesome tackle box first aid kit. However, our portable ones haven’t been assessed and restocked in quite some time. Def time to do that!
Sounds great Julie!
And sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
I will be adding some Quik Clot to our kit. I love this stuff! I’m a nurse so I am pretty familiar with how to use it and the rest of the stuff in our small kit. Would love to win this giveaway!
Glad you know how to use it Stephanie! I’ve heard quik clot can create quite the mess when not used correctly!
And sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
My hubby worked construction when we were first married and I took a firstaide class when helping out when my boys were in school. I have a folder of in the closet next to the first aide supplies. (Add 2 stocked Take along Kit) Folder Has “How To” sheets I recieved from classes on how to address different emergencies. In the kits along with the usual supplies, we also have super glue (Which can be used to hold togather wounds) and duct tape (For splints and turned ankles)
Sounds like a great folder / kit Debra!
And sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
We have gauze, tape and splints stocked. Need to increase our bandage supply as well as organize them and get them into bags. Right now they are sadly just sitting in a bag in our closet.
Getting it all organized into bags is the most difficult part! Hence the “week at a time” approach…feels much less overwhelming to me! (-:
And sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
We have some triangle bandages so far and some 4×4 gauze pads with tape. Definitely would like to add some butterfly bandages and quick clot.
Sounds great Marie!
And sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
I have just started putting together a survival kit in the last couple of weeks. I have one premade first aid kit. It is not much but it is a start. I would like to add some more bandages. I looked up quick clot and it seems like a great product to add to my kit especially in a emergency when you may not be able to seek medical help right away.
Yes, best to use ONLY in an emergency as it can be quite difficult to get out of a wound.
And sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
I agree a pre made kit gives you a quick start…. I keep burn gel in mine. I some how get to close to fires….. Lol
So do I! I use my burn gel more than anything else in my kit other than bandages! We will go over that next week.
Sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
I just discovered your blog. I am just going through the older posts and pulling some more items together.
Welcome Tracy!
Sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
Great thoughts. Since we do cloth diapering I can easy re-purpose a couple for bandages! I love it when there is something I can reuse. Also, black pepper is great to stop bleeding. We always keep some in the car since it holds up well in the heat. Thanks for the suggestions.
Never knew that about black pepper Kelli! Thanks! I love all the great reader tips!
Sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
Ive added many butterfly bandages, but will def add the quick clot! That stuff looks amazing! Thank you for this wonderful blog as well!
You are welcome Alyn! Thanks for contributing!
Sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
this is a great idea to always check on, I think I have band-aids, and such, but my son or little nieces always seem to be raiding our stash of first aid supplies. I followed your suggestion and bought a first aid kit just for our survival kit, out of the usual place in the hallway closet where little ones are used to finding band aids and such.
thanks,
Kelly T.
Sounds great Kelly! And I get the kid’s raiding your stash! (-:
Sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-:
We have mini first aid kits in one daughter’s 72 hr kit and in mine. My husband carries the pre-packaged first aid kit in his 72 hr kit. We also keep a pre-packaged first aid kit in my van. Sadly, I’m not keeping my regular supply as stocked as we need.
One tip I was given years ago was to include either diapers (I had small children at the time) or feminine napkins as they can be used as bandages. And since I should them in my 72 hr kit anyway, there’s a double purpose. I consider myself blessed now that I don’t have to have the diapers anymore so they’re coming out…especially since they’re normally bulkier than just plain bandages.
yes, I keep diapers and feminine pads as well. Great tip!
Sorry for the late response. I’m on vacation and a bit behind! (-: