How to Build a Home First Aid Kit

Everyone should have a home first aid kit that is capable of saving a life and treating minor trauma. In this DIY tutorial I will teach you how to put together your own kit based on my own philosophy. A list of every Item mentioned in the video can be found below.

Core Items (the Items that every kit should contain): Tourniquet, z-fold gauze, compression bandage, chest seal, NPA, CPR mask/BVM, PPE.

Home kit specific items: Roller gauze, SAM splint, abd trauma dressing, flush, eye shield, triangular bandages, tape, trauma shears.

Minor wound items: Band-Aids, Tampons, Tweezers.

Medications: Tylenol, ibuprofen, aspirin, Benadryl, Tums, triple antibiotic ointment, prescribed emergency medications.

[ThePreparedNorseman]

A video on car crash first aid/first on scene, main things to look out for and so on would be great. Probaly the most likely massive trauma one may stumble upon in day to day life. Thanks!

[coconutads]

If you already have a kit. Don't forget to go through it to make sure everything is still good.

[mwbgaming]

If your kit is going into a car, caravan, or some other vehicle, you definitely want to add a pulse oximeter, a few telescopic splints, and a few reflective thermal blankets (thermal blankets have a number of uses beyond first aid)

[catz]

I have made an extensive kit in a two tier (stacked) clear plastic Sterilite box. It works as a human and pet first aid kit in my house. I would add Styptic pencil or powder, ORS packets, knee brace, wrist brace, ankle brace, Hydrogen peroxide 3% soln, gloves, instant ice pack, thermometer, Petroleum jelly, Imodium, liquid bandage, emergency blanket, and instant hand and feet warmers. In addition to that, I made a handwritten list of everything in my kit along with the quantity and expiration date and stuck that list to the inside of the lid. This will help me keep the kit up-to-date and fresh.

[nvellette]

Handy tip for those learning/still trying to master CPR: I like to sing "Staying Alive" in my head to get 100 BPM. The irony makes it easy to remember. Just don't sing it out loud...

[galaxcsy]

Your channel really needs more recognition, it's awesome!

[michaelcolloton]

I don't agree with everything you say in your videos, but I sure do appreciate the time you invest in making them. You're doing a great service. My only serious gripe about your videos is that you never mention the most important factor in successful first aid: training. I could have an EMT-level FAK, but if I don't know how to use the stuff that's in it, I could watch somebody die. I really son't want that to happen.

[ArkamasRoss]

• Stethoscope
• Pulse oximeter
• Blood pressure cuff
Being able to check some of your own vitals is nice. I don't want to pay out an absurd amount of money just to get my blood pressure checked.
• I found some stainless steel hemostats and bandage scissors in the vet section of CAL ranch if you want a few instruments of that kind. Of course there are plenty of other places to find those. I also like simple Swiss Army knives in first aid kits just because the blades, scissors and tweezers can be very useful, and they all have tiny holes behind the screwdrivers for stainless pins.
• Colloidal silver gel like Sovereign Silver if you’re not a fan of antibiotic ointment. It also doesn't expire, unlike antibiotic ointment but it is antibacterial. I actually like to use 3mL syringes to store it in my car kit.
• Lavender, clove bud and peppermint essential oils can also be very useful. Essential oils is another subject altogether, and unfortunately the way essential oils are generally portrayed by their more common hippie dippy users makes it easy to discredit them, however, they do have legitimate uses with legitimate science behind them like any medicine. And like any medicine they do have restrictions and cautions. Just make sure to do your research from a knowledgeable source and not some homely mom's blog on how to make your home smell nice.
I've used lavender in conjunction with witch hazel like a facial cleanser to treat sunburns frequently and it's been very effective with minimal to no peeling. Lavender can also be very useful for cuts (I don't just use it on any minor cut) and more serious burns and this is something that it's known for. Be aware, even though it is classified as an oil, it absorbs into the skin and is much lower viscosity than cooking oils, so it won't sit on top and trap the burn, so it is safe for this purpose. Peppermint can be used to ease nausea and help with stomach issues by sniffing it. I've taken it on hikes to help with altitude sickness and used it for gas and nausea in the middle of the night. Clove bud is used commonly in dentist offices as part of a topical anesthetic prior to shots and is very useful for dealing with a toothache prior to a dental visit. It's also very useful for numbing the area prior to cutting an ingrown toenail, speaking from experience.
Make sure to buy from a good brand. Some name brands more commonly advertised are more expensive and they're not necessary compared to some that you can find at a health food store. Don’t buy essential oils from Walmart. If they all cost the same cheap price they’re garbage. Valerie Ann Worwood has a good book on the subject that gets into the properties and uses, but these few Oils are some of the most common, generally least expensive, and you don't have to get too invested in the subject to use them. They have some other uses as well, but they’re more outside the first aid realm.

[tonyad]

I am living on my own for the first time & trying to build a good first-aid cabinet, had some ideas but you pointed out stuff I never would've thought of. This video helped so much, love that it's simple & straight to the point! Thank you!

[lfakerson]

Thanks for finally mentioning the gloves! At my school in construction class we had to deal with a arterial bleed without gloves in the first aid kit!

[Anonymous]

Important things to add are non-adherent pads or island dressings to cover superficial wounds too large for band-aids. Also an elastic compression bandage (e.g. ACE Bandage) for sprains and strains.
Sterile splinter probe needles are also a good idea to remove embedded splinters that can't be grasped with tweezers.

[guisspino]

Damn dude. I’ve been a medic for 5 years, EMT 3 before that. Every motorcycle crash I’ve ever been to, when the patient is conscious, the first thing they do is scream not to cut their gear. You must have been jacked up lol glad you’ve recovered.

[samuelrizzari]

This channel will save lives if it hasn't already. Thank you for your service!

[RonBudLlamaDrama]

Killin' it man. Future video ideas, have some vlog-ish types videos where you show a day in a life as a reserve deputy, SWAT medic, or paramedic!

[seanie]

Icepacks
Cheap ring cutting tool
Some high glucose paste/snack
Some isotonic type drink for vomiting or diarrhoea

NSAIDs can be funky with some larger burns too

[brianpage]

I really like your 3 tier approach. The idea of being able to customise a portion of a kit to handle most likely scenarios is great. It also makes storage and travel more manageable. I have been watching videos about people building trauma kits but haven't found anything that meets my requirements. My kids are my priority and I live in a rural area. Really big bugs, everything bites, lots of stinging nettle. My wife burns herself every time she uses the oven. I get lots of slivers from woodworking. I have several chain saws which I use around my property. We shoot at Bisley very often, but it is a world class facility and very closely supervised. New shooters go through a rigorous membership course and certification process. I don't think there has been a serious range incident since WWII. Here in the UK, my chances of running into a gun-shot induced trauma situation are about the same as getting hit by lightening. We do have lots of flooding due to climate change and we do have social health care. Roads get closed. The wait time for an ambulance can be quite long, especially in my area (20 miles from nearest hospital). I think your kit would be a great starting point for my home. Storing it in 3 bags would work for me. Depending on the activity and risk, I could take 1, 2 or all 3 kits with me. I could always duplicate the 'minor' kit and keep one in my EDC bag. That would probably deal with 99% of what I would require. The core kit would stay at home most of the time. I think your approach is quite flexible. Thank you very much for this!

PS. I might add a cold pack as I have sprained my ankle a couple of times this year.

[dotcassilles]

Everyone should have some first aid training and keep it updated. Many community organisations will offer free first aid courses and they are usually held over a few nights or even a weekend.
Knowing what to do to help someone before an ambulance arrives can help a loved one survive a scary situation.
Also check your first aid kits every 3 to 6 months and restock after you use items.

[animanota]

The bag I use is a red tackle box. Cheap, plenty of room with dividers and plastic walls protect contents.

[mauralawton]

I have a kit and it’s bulging with supplies 😂 People ask me why I have it, but are grateful when I do!

[brad]

Awesome vid man. One thing I would add, and you touched on this briefly is to only carry equipment you feel confident using. And...everyone should take at least some formal first aid training.