Personal and Home First Aid Kit

There are numerous incidents that a person may encounter throughout the course of a day. Some incidents may be of positive effect, yet others may be of a negative one. It is for this reason that it is of benefit to organize a personal and home first aid kit to help address some the discomforts that incidents may present to you.

Personal First Aid Kit
It consists of basic supplies that attend to scrapes and cuts as well as slight body discomfort that may occur throughout the day; anything beyond that may require professional medical attention. Please note that there is a difference between a Personal First Aid Kit (PFAK) and an Improved First Aid Kit (IFAK). The biggest difference is the IFAK is an acronym used by the military for a trauma kit that is now being issued to soldiers. All the major components of the IFAK address major battle-related wounds. Sadly though, several retired military soldiers and fans of military gear have adopted the acronym and have impressed upon civilians that IFAK is the equivalent of a PFAK, which it is not.
 
There are different containers that may be used to store, organize, and carry the supplies of a Personal First Aid Kit.  Some basic containers are plastic zip-lock bags (snack and/or quart size), travel organization bag with zipper closure, and arts and crafts bags with zipper closure. Other containers may be, but not limited to a: belt pouch or pack, fanny or waist pack, cosmetic pouch or case, a diabetes case, GPS or external hard drive case,  digital camera case, handheld game pouch or case, compact toiletry case, bicycle pouch or case, water bottle pouch, and tool belt pouch.
 
Personal First Aid Kit List
1 - storage container that meets your needs
1 - First Aid guide (booklet, card, etc.)
1 - card with personal and medical information
1 - writing set (notepad with pen or pencil)
1 or 2 - pairs of latex or nitrile gloves
1 - small or compact scissors
2 - tweezers (pointed and slanted; may be bought as a set)
4 - antibacterial wipe packets
4 - alcohol prep pad packets
9 - self-adhesive bandages (3 different sizes)
2 - 2"x2" sterile gauze pad packets
2 - 3"x3" sterile gauze pad packets (optional)
1 - self-adhering elastic bandage roll
1 - elastic wrap roll (used on hurt ankles or wrists, optional)
1 or 2 - dog waste bags (for general or medical garbage)
- triple antibiotic ointment (tube or packets)
- Hydrocortisone Topical cream (tube or packets)
 
Optional - according to need and available storage space:
- pen light or compact flashlight
- bottle of eye drops (pick and eye wash solution)
- chapstick or lip balm
- - small medicine zip-lock bags (for storing tablets)
- pain-relief tablets
- anti-allergy tablets
- anti-diarrhea tablets
- antacid tablets
 
 Home First Aid Kit
It consists of many components that are already available in the Personal First Aid Kit. However, the quantities are higher for the number of bandages as well as the size options.  In addition, there are several components that may not be otherwise carried in a PFAK, yet still carried in the Home First Aid Kit. Like with the PFAK, there are different options available for storing supplies in the HFAK. Here are the container options: plastic box (fishing tackle, ammo box, toolbox), soft-shell food or drink bag, soft-shell lunch bag or box, backpack, or tool bag.
 
Home First Aid Kit list:
Tools
1 - storage container that meets your needs
1- First Aid guide (book, booklet, card, etc.)
1- card with emergency numbers and medical information of residents
1 - compact scissors or bandage scissors
2 - tweezers (pointed and slanted; may be bought as a set)
1 - penlight or compact flashlight
1 - thermometer (with a pack of plastic sleeves)
1 - small cold pack (that fills with ice)
1 - irrigation syringe
1 or 2 - nail clippers (small and/or large)
1 or 2 - nail files (metal or board)
- wood splinters (different sizes)
 
Sanitation
2 to 4 - pairs of latex or nitrile gloves
6 to 10 - antibacterial wipe packets
1 - bottle of hand sanitizer (small or medium size)
6 to 10 - alcohol prep pad packets
1 - bag of 10 to 12 cotton balls
1 - bag of 10 to 12 cotton-tipped swabs
1 - bottle of hydrogen peroxide (small)
1 - bottle of alcohol (small)
1 - roll of dog waste bags (for general or medical garbage)
 
Bandages and Gauze
15 to 20 - self-adhesive bandages (different sizes)
4 - 2"x2" sterile gauze pad packets
4 - 3"x3" sterile gauze pad packets
4 - 4"x4" sterile gauze pad packets
1 - gauze roll (1", 2", or 3")
1 - self-adhering elastic bandage roll (1", 2", or 3")
1 - elastic bandage roll with clips, non-adhering (1", 2" or 3")
2 - tape rolls (1", 2", or both: paper, athletic, waterproof, or medical)
- moleskin sheets (different sizes or large, but cut to size)
 
Over-the-Counter Medications
- triple antibiotic ointment (tube or packets)
- Hydrocortisone Topical cream (tube or packets)
- Bottle of eye drops (for washing eye)
- chapstick or lip balm
- - small medicine zip-lock bags (for storing tablets)
- pain relief tablets
- anti-allergy tablets
- anti-diarrhea tablets
- antacid tablets

Closing
In closing, a person never knows what form of incident they may encounter throughout a day. However, if they are aware of their body's health status and their environment, they may be properly prepared to attend to their body's need. First Aid is not a substitute for professional medical attention.  However, it is a set of skills and components that can be used to help yourself and others when professional medical attention is not readily available. It is hope that these to kits will assist you in organizing your own First Aid Kit.