Home Medical Kit: Beyond Band-Aids

Objective

Build a home kit prioritizing life threats and common injuries with clear layout and response order.

Kit Layout

1. Trauma: tourniquet, pressure bandage, hemostatic gauze, chest seals.
2. Wounds: gauze, tape, irrigation syringe, antiseptic.
3. Meds: pain/fever reducer, antihistamine, loperamide, ORS.
4. Tools: gloves, shears, tweezers, thermometer, flashlight, CPR barrier.

Response Steps

1. Scene safe; gloves on.
2. MARCH: control bleeding; airway; breathing; circulation; keep warm.
3. Irrigate and dress wounds; tape properly.
4. Document TQ time, meds, allergies, events.

Storage & Checks

• Bright, labeled case in accessible spot.
• Quarterly restock and flashlight test.

Real Example

Kitchen cut managed with irrigation and pressure dressing; urgent care later. Pre-built “bleed kit” cut response time in half.

Checklist

• TQ (CAT/SOF-T), pressure bandage, hemostatic gauze
• Chest seals, triangular bandage
• Gauze pads/rolls, antiseptic, tape
• Gloves, shears, tweezers, thermometer, flashlight
• Common meds + dosing chart

Contingencies

• Bleed persists → second TQ proximal; pack wound.
• Anaphylaxis → epinephrine auto-injector; call EMS.

After-Action

Log what you used; restock and update the kit map inside the lid.

← Previous | All Articles | Next →