Easy DIY First Aid Kits

I keep an assortment of med kits for man and beast. Some are pocket-sized for quick fixes. Others are bigger for short day trips and vacations. The biggest ones are for the farm animals. Those I keep in full sized buckets and carry everything from syringes to plastic tubing to birthing supplies.

For this post though, I want to concentrate on mini kits. The kind you can stick in your pocket or luggage.

Only you know for sure what you'll need so your mileage may vary.

The bigger your kit, the more you can vary your medical arsenal. If you have kids you might want to include kid-specific products, like thermometers and baby aspirin.

Even if you never travel with a kit, you should build one just for home use. When someone is sick or injured, you don't want to be scouring all over the house for this or that. I've been there and it's frustrating. If someone is bleeding, you don't have time to search for bandages and antiseptic.

The first part of a good kit is the container, and it can be anything that closes tightly and preferably waterproof.

I've used sturdy Tupperware and an assortment of smaller containers for quick fixes and short trips. Look around your house and see what will fit the bill. I'm willing to bet you'll have something that'll serve.

The next step is to list the things you'll probably need depending on your situation. Here are some suggestions:

• adhesive bandages
• moist towelettes
• aspirin or ibuprofen
• Benadryl cream or pills
• Neosporin
• antacids
• antiseptics like alcohol or hydrogen peroxide
• cotton pads (good for cleaning wounds)
• gauze pads or roll
• small pair of scissors
• latex gloves
• tweezers
• thermometer
• waterless cleaner
• dental floss
• hard candy (for dry mouth or hypoglycemics)

If you're absent minded like me, you'll also carry a small notebook and pen in case you need to take down information.

If you feel safer buying a real first aid kit, here's one from Amazon that's a best seller and has great reviews. The nice thing about a pre-made case is that it's easily identifiable in a crisis.

PS  Be sure to recycle little containers when you get them. They're immensely useful for pocket first aid kits.

Shopping at Amazon? Start Here.