A basic first aid kit consists of 14 items

A small first aid kit consists of fourteen essential items used for toddler misadventures, accident-prone teenagers, and sleep-deprived adults who get minor cuts, scraps, or sprains. First aid brands claim to have 64 pieces in their small kits because they are stocked with multiple sizes of bandages, alcohol pads, safety pins, and a hand full of ear swabs, but it all converts down to a list of fourteen medical supplies.

So what are the contents of a typical first aid kit in the United States? 

Basic First Aid Kit Consists Of:

Skin Cleaning Wipes, Adhesive Bandages, Cotton Gauze Pads, Pressure Bandage, Triangular Bandage, Wound Closure Strips, Safety Pins, Medical Tape, Scissors, Tweezer, Cotton Ear Swabs, Medical Gloves, CPR Instructions, and First Aid Guide. See below for photos and more details on each item.

Example used in images: Surviveware Small First Aid Kit

1. Skin Cleaning Wipes (kills bacteria) & Sting Relief
2. Adhesive Bandages (small cuts)
3. Cotton Gauze Pads 3×3 (larger cuts)
4. Pressure Bandage (sprains and covering large wounds)
5. Triangular Bandage (arm splint)
6. Wound Closure Strips (pulls skin together to close wound)
7. Safety Pins (secure triangular bandage)
8. Medical Tape (secures cotton gauze pads)
9. Scissors (cuts stuff)
10. Tweezer (splinter remover)
11. Cotton Ear Swabs (able to cleans small areas)
12. Medical Gloves
13. CPR Instructions
14. First Aid Guide

Not every medical kit will have all of these items but these are the most common and useful medical supplies found in a store-bought kit. The big difference in kits is the quailty of supplies. The poorer the quailty the sooner you’ll need to replace items like adhesive bandages when the stickiness is less effective.

Once you have basic first aid supplies, consider customizing the kit based on where you plan on using it. You’ll want to add items depending on where the kit will be used: at home, in an office, for travel, or in an outdoor adventure.

Consider Adding These Items to a: 

HOME FIRST AID KIT

1. Thermometer (check temperature)
2. Antibiotic Ointment (kills bacteria)
3. Burn Cream (provides pain relief)

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OFFICE FIRST AID KIT

1. Instant Ice Pack
2. Pain Medicine 
3. Disposable Resuscitation Mask (included in Surviveware Kit)

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CAR KIT

1. Emergency Blanket (included in Surviveware Kit)
2. Disposable Resuscitation Mask (included in Surviveware Kit)
3. Personal Medication Mini Bags (included in Surviveware Kit)
4. Pain Medicine 
5. Burn Cream

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OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

1. Emergency Blanket (included in Surviveware Kit)
2. Whistle (included in Surviveware Kit)
3. Personal Medication Mini Bags (included in Surviveware Kit)
4. Pain Medicine  
5. Moleskin

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 TRAUMA FIRST AID KIT

1. Blood Clotting Powder or Gauze
2. Tourniquet
3. Pressure Bandage
4. Splint
5. Hyfin Vent Chest Seal 
6. Emergency Blanket
7. Trauma Shears

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Visit Surviveware to view all their emergency preparedness supplies!

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RAFFLE GIVEAWAY!!!

Surviveware Small First Aid Kit ($36 Value) 

Please note that the first aid kit being given away was the kit used for this article. Some packaging was opened.

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