We were at Target picking up a prescription when my 7 year old daughter spotted this wacky first aid bag on clearance. She immediately wanted to make a first aid kit, but the only thing I bought for it that day was a little box of band aids. I didn’t want to spend $50 filling it.

Even though I am medically trained, I’m not really prepared for action. I’m more of an improviser. (Picture a less-sexy MacGyver, using twist ties and 7-Up to do first aid in the back of a moving truck.) Or I just let my family bleed, if I can tell they’re not dying.

We used to have a first aid kit in our travel trailer, and it was nice.  Too nice, since everything was packed so beautifully and tight that it made me never want to open it or use the uniformly marked white packages of gauze and benzalkonium wipes. No one ever really got band aids, or ibuprofen, even upon request.

In my house we do have some supplies and a few medicines in the cabinet. But I thought I would play along and help my girl put together something we can take with us when we camp.

Here’s what we got ($1 unless marked):

1. First aid bag $2.78
2. Bandages $1.89 (can get a box for $1)
3. Roll self-stick wrap
4. Roll gauze
5. Digital thermometer
6. Antibiotic ointment
7. Hydrocortisone ointment
8. Petroleum jelly mini tub
9. Antacids
10. Pill containers to fill with pain relievers, antihistamines
11. Super glue for stitching wounds (not recommending this for anyone else)
12. Alcohol wipes
13. Nitrile gloves
14. Antibacterial wipes $0.33

(Adding our own pills)

____________________

Total = $16.00

I tried to put items in that we would have a chance of actually needing, but depending on your activities the box could contain very different items. Going to the dollar store makes it easy to get supplies that you don’t feel bad about actually using, wasting, or replacing every 1-2 years.

Other “make your own dollar store first aid” items available:

• Lunch bag or food container to serve as a kit holder
• Ice pack
• Scissors or tweezers
• Safety pins or needles
• Duct tape for holding certain wounds closed. Also good for wrapping sprains or making splints and slings in a pinch. Removes hair wax-style if access to skin is needed.
• Medical tape
• Maxi pads. These are better than gauze for absorbing blood and can also be frozen for use as an ice pack. Ditto for diapers.
• Knee socks, for holding dressings on arms or legs. Can also be tied into a tourniquet or around the head for an eye patch.
• Cotton socks. Can be cut and used as a soft bandage, ice pack holder or protective sleeve.
• Pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.  Aspirin can be given for suspected cardiac chest pain until an ambulance arrives and can be helpful if having a heart attack. It can also be crushed and made into a sunburn remedy.
• Digestive aids
• Allergy medicine
• Eye drops
• Ziplock bags: puke bag, biohazard disposal, makeshift gloves, ice pack. (Not concurrently, or in that order.)
• Mini tissue packs
• Baby wipes
• Bottled water for wound cleansing or drinking
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Rubbing alcohol
• Witch hazel
• Epsom salt
• Aloe Vera gel
• Diaper rash cream (works great for hiker’s chafe)
• Cotton pads, balls, swabs
• Menthol rub or patches
• Sports drink for treating dehydration
• Flashlight and magnifying glass
• Lighter for disinfecting needles
• Neti-pot. Can also be used to make an eye wash.
• Surgical masks

I could make this list all day! Who needs hospitals when you have a dollar store nearby? 😉 Of course you can up your game by getting trained in first aid. I think everyone should be CPR trained too.

P.S.: Remember that if you store your kit in a non-temperature controlled space it can affect the medicines inside and freeze things or explode containers. Putting a piece of tape on the outside with the first expiration date of contents helps you know when to replenish. Keep the kit away from kids. And don’t start practicing mountain medicine or delivering babies unless you know what you are doing.  Although I’m a nurse I am not here to give you medical advice or training today, so if you need some go get some.  Any kit you make or use is at your own risk.