What First Aid Kit to Buy?

The best way to buy a first aid kit is to consider how many people will be using it.

Do not pay too much attention to the count of items in a pre-packaged kit. More is not always better. Here's what to look for.

Consider These Things When Buying a Kit

• Buy a first aid kit based on how many people it needs to cover. This is the best way to buy a kit. The count of a kit is not as important.
• Coaches, both amateur or professional should buy a professional first aid kit and not try and put one together themselves. This goes for school athletics as will. Basic first aid kits just can't cut it when it comes to sports injuries both in frequency and intensity.
• Where do you plan to use the kit? Is it for your house, car, boat? Consider all the possible situations your first aid kit needs to cover. If you are using the kit outdoors look for water resistant, durable bags. A house kit can be larger and hard sided.
• What activities does the kit need to cover? Hiking, biking, couch potato. Look for kits that are specific to the activity. In cycling kits you'll find sunscreen and extra bandages. Hiking kits usually carry moleskin and salt tablets.
• Hard sided or soft sided? Look for hard sided cases if the kit will be subject to a lot of abuse and space is not an issue. A hard sided case is also good for homes and cars. They are more durable and won't get crushed. If space is an issue look for soft sided cases. They are light weight and easy to pack into any small available space.
• More is not always better. Don't just pick up a kit that has 100 or 200 pieces and think you will be covered. Pre-packed kits often are stuffed with items you don't need just to bump up the count. When do you ever need 30 dot band-aids? A kit with just 10 high quality items is a better bet then a 250 piece kit stuffed with cheap bandages and 75 mini q-tips.
• Consider any special needs you might have to cover? If your kit needs to cover persons who suffer from allergic reactions, diabetes, asthma or chronic illnesses make sure you include medications and supplies to look after them.
• A few small kits are better than one big kit you are never near. I live in Los Angeles and I spend most of my life in my car. But for years I only had a huge home kit under my bathroom sink, what good does that do me? I never used it and all the supplies eventually expired. Now I have a small kit in my car, one in my house and another in the backpack I use on my bicycle. I now use them all. All three kits only set me back about $40. And I could have covered myself for much less if I made the kits myself.
• Every kit needs to have a first aid book. It doesn't need to be War and Peace, in fact, it's better if it's not. First aid instruction cards or a small first aid manual is perfect. Common sense tends to fly right out the window when we are in an emergency situation. You don't need the added stress of thumbing through a 200 page first aid encyclopedia.

Still Confused?

Have a look in our store. We have divided our products into specialty kits. So buying for your kitchen or your car is easy. Just click on the link and pick one of the kits we have hand selected for you.

Return to Homepage from What First Aid Kit Should I Buy?