Gaye Levy
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Generally speaking, I have a fairly decent first aid kit. It includes everything from a large variety of bandages to pain killers, antibiotics, essential oils, trauma supplies, first aid books, and equipment such as braces, splints and a blood pressure monitor.
That being said, I put the kit together a few years ago and as they say, I wish I knew then what I know now. As with all things preparedness, my knowledge has increased over time and I now recognize that I need to go back and revisit my first aid kit, adding items that are missing and removing certain items I no longer consider appropriate or necessary.
Over the years, something I have learned is that in a survival situation, it may be the less common items in our supply closet that turn out to be the most useful. The same applies to a first aid kit.
Today Backdoor Survival Contributing Author Rob Hanus is back with us to share his take on 8 uncommon first aid items.
8 Items You May Have Overlooked In Your First-Aid Kit
Having a well-stocked first aid kit (FAK) is a given. You should have one in your home and one in your vehicle, as well as in each of your emergency packs.
Once you have a basic first aid kit, consider adding these 8 items:
Liquid Bandage: Though this has become more popular, surprisingly, many people still don’t know about it. Liquid bandage, like New Skin, is just like it sounds: you apply a the liquid to a small wound and within minutes, it dries into a protective bandage. It’s good for keeping out dirt, germs and water, without the annoyance of a bandage.
Link: New-Skin Liquid Bandage
Super Glue: This is a common household item that also has a use in first aid. You can buy the expensive, prescription-only version called Dermabond, but it’s far cheaper to use a common tube of super glue.
This works a lot like the liquid bandage above, in that you apply it to the wound and when it’s dry, it will hold the cut together. The glue doesn’t go into the wound, it’s suppose to go over the wound. Basically, you hold close the cut and apply the glue over it, to bond the two sides together. Most people do this wrong and don’t wait long enough for the glue to dry.
Just make sure not to use super glue on the following: eyes, lips, genitals, wounds with a high risk of infection like animal bites, and deep wounds that involve damage to muscles or tendons. Also, note that will sting more than Dermabond will.
Link: Super Glue – The Original
Tampons and Maxi-pads: While using these for their normal role is one aspect, they also have uses in first aid. Tampons are good for plugging up puncture wounds and the pads make good dressings. Just make sure you get the non-scented type so you’re not injecting the scent chemical into the wound.
Link: Playtex Unscented Tampons, Always Maxi Unscented Pads
Hand Sanitizer: You can’t always wash your hands in the wilderness, but you can sanitize them with the common alcohol hand sanitizer. This is good to use both before treating wounds and after your hands have been covered in blood. As an aside, it’s also a very good fire starter (it’s essentially gelled alcohol).
Link: Purell Hand Sanitizer
Safety Pins: While this seems like a common item found in first aid kits, you would be surprised at how many kits don’t have any. Not only can you hold bandages in place with these, but they are also good for digging out splinters. They’re safety design makes them easy to carry in your kit. One non-medical use for them is when you lose a button on your shirt or pants.
Link: Singer Safety Pins, Multisize
Tongue Depressors: While common in pediatrician’s offices, you should have a few of them in your FAK, too. The main use for them is as a finger split. The best way to treat a broken or severely sprained finger is to immobilize it. They’re also good for kindling if you need to make a fire
Link: Tongue Depressors
Self Adherent Bandage: Most of us have probably learned that the way to dress a wound is to put gauze dressing on it, then wrap in gauze roll bandage and secure with a safety pin, or tuck the end under one of the wraps.
In talking to a Navy corpsman, the preferred method is to use the self adherent bandage or cling wrap. This wrap looks much like an Ace bandage, only that it clings to itself. This makes it far easier to wrap, unwrap and rewrap a wound, as you’re not having to mess around with pins or other fasteners. A few rolls of these and some maxi-pads and you have some excellent field dressings.
Link: Pac-Kit Self-Adhering Cohesive Wrap, 2″ Wide
Hemostatic Agent: These go under several brand names, like QuikClot, Celox, and HemCon. What they do is quickly cause the blood to clot, stopping the bleeding much faster. These are best used in large wounds where the risk of death from blood loss is high. These can be more expensive than other first aid items, but they literally can mean the difference between life and death in severe trauma.
Link: Israeli Battle Dressing, 6-inch Compression Bandage, Quikclot Sport Brand Advanced Clotting Sponge
Whether you’re making a new kit or adding to your existing kit, the items above can add to the functionality of your first aid kit. And, if you don’t have any FAKs or want to run a quick check on them, I suggest starting here: The Preparedness Podcast: First Aid / Medical.
Essential Oils for the First Aid Kit
In addition to Rob’s suggestions, I would you to consider adding an assortment of health and wellness related essential oils to your first aid kit. At a minimum, include melaleuca (tea tree), lavender, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, and clove oils.
You can read about these and other healing essential oils in 20 All Purpose Remedies Using Essential Oils or other articles on this page: Interested in Learning About Essential Oils?.
For an even broader selection of oils consider this Spark Naturals Health and Wellness Kit which includes a total of 10 oils and blends, nicely packaged in a tin that is perfect for your first aid kit. And note that with any purchase from Spark Naturals you will enjoy a 10% discount by using code BACKDOORSURVIVAL at checkout.
The Final Word
As preppers, one thing we should strive to do is keep our eyes open for uncommon uses for everyday items. This includes the gadgets in your kitchen to the odds and ends that have found their way into the proverbial junk drawer. Come on – I just know you have one!
All kidding aside, a properly stocked first aid kit is an important addition to both your day to day and long-term preps. If it has been a while since you have taken inventory, do it now. And while you are at it, can you think of some additional uncommon items to include in a first aid kit?
For additional uncommon items for your first aid kit, see 6 More Uncommon First Aid Items.
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
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Spotlight: From BDS contributor, Rob Hanus, The Preparedness Capability Checklist succeeds where other survival lists fail. You won’t find outdated or useless equipment here. Instead, the checklists in this book focus on the capabilities you need to do in order to survive any number of disasters or crisis events. With this book, you can actually answer the question, “Am I prepared?”
Bargain Bin: For your convenience, here are links to many of the items referenced in today’s article.
New-Skin Liquid Bandage, First Aid Liquid Antiseptic: I have been using New Skin for years. It is an antiseptic, invisible, flexible, and waterproof. It works.
Super Glue – The Original: This is the original Super Glue brand. Also, check out Krazy Glue or Gorilla Brand Super Glue.
Pac-Kit Self-Adhering Cohesive Wrap, 2″ Wide: I first learned about self-adhesive bandages when my dog came home from the vet such a bandage wrapped around his leg. A light went off telling me I needed to add some to my first-aid kit. And so I did.
Quikclot Sport Brand Advanced Clotting Sponge: A must for any first aid or emergency kit, Quikclot Sport stops moderate to severe bleeding until further medical help is available.
Israeli Battle Dressing, 6-inch Compression Bandage: This is another inexpensive, yet critical item. Combat medics, trauma doctors, and emergency responders all recommend this Israeli Battle Dressing (IBD) for the treatment of gunshot wounds, puncture wounds, deep cuts, and other traumatic hemorrhagic injuries.
Living Ready Pocket Manual – First Aid: Fundamentals for Survival: Whether you are miles from help or immersed in an urban disaster situation, every second count during a medical emergency. This book will help you take quick, effective action to stabilize the situation. One of the best things about this book (other than the information, of course) is its size. It is small enough to keep in your bug-out-bag and also in your first aid kit.
Spark Naturals Essential Oils: I use essential oils from Spark Naturals exclusively. They are of high quality yet reasonably priced. In addition, there are no membership fees and a distributor relationship is not necessary to get the best pricing. Interested in checking them out? Backdoor Survival readers get a 10% discount by using coupon code BACKDOORSURVIVAL at checkout!
Help support Backdoor Survival. Purchases earn a small commission and for that I thank you!
73 Responses to “Fast Track Tip #10: 8 Uncommon First Aid Items”
I notice it says you can’t use the glue on lips. Actually I was bitten on the lip by a ferret around 10 years ago and the doctor at the ER said he was not sure it would work, but that if it did it would not leave a scar like sutures would. The ferret had bitten completely through the lip. I told him go ahead and try it and it worked perfectly. No scar, no infection, you cannot even tell how badly it was cut. I have super glue in my kit, guess I might buy some of the approved for medical use stuff.
I also first found out about the adhesive wrap from my vet, about 12 years ago, who used it on me, to wrap a bad cut on my hand. Have kept some on hand ever since.
And like Robert says – colloidal silver is good to have on hand, so is the colloidal silver spray, which can cure those antibiotic resistant infections. I had a friend who was bitten by a cat and got a horrible infection. The stuff her doctor was giving her was not working so I gave her the spray I had, it worked almost immediately. A really good thing to have on hand it you were to be exposed to or develop one of those new killer infections.
Took my son in for a dog biteon the lip and face. Doc said no way to the super glue for an animal bite, you’re just sealing in potential infection.
You can also use vet-wrap from the local co-op or farm supply store. It is a type of self adhesive wrap and it comes in many colors and patterns including camo. I have stocked up on it because I am allergic to most adhesives.
Yes, vet wrap is MUCH cheaper than the beige-colored Corban or similar products. I purchased a handful of the camo rolls from my local Tractor Supply Store for very little money. It is also handy for wrapping rifles for a quick camo job – the firearm’s finish is completely safe from any residue as the vet wrap sticks only to itself!
Thanks for the info.
Collodial Silver Solution should also be in your first aid kit.
Robert, any idea which brand of colloidal silver is good stuff? I looked on Amazon for it and there’s like a million different ones. What am I looking for as far as specifications?
Online: UtopiaSilver.com; at store (ex- WF): Sovereign Silver
You can make your own Colloidal Silver for just pennies per gallon. You can buy an excellent colloidal silver generator from Independent Living at 1-877-371-1807. I bought one several years ago and haven’t had a problem with it. I make about a gallon per week for myself and family members. God Bless. Mike
PS — The generator also comes with everything to get started making colloidal silver and a 118 page manual that explains everything.
This is the best way and very easy.
Amazon has a book about Colloidal Silver by Max Crarer. It has all of the information as well how to make it yourself.
Oops forgot to add Some pharmacutical supply places have a generic surgical glue you can buy OTC with out a ‘script. I use it to glue on my costume prothetics as I am allergic to what actors usually use due to the acrylics in the glues they use.
Awesome list!
One thing though, hubby, who was in charge of assembling our medical kit, says there is a reason not to use regular superglue, if you can avoid it. I cannot remember the reason right now. He ordered us veterinary medical grade glue.
I haven’t used it and wouldn’t except in a dire emergency, but that was our solution. If nothing else we do have a dog.
My understanding is that the solvent used in regular SuperGlue is somewhat to quite irritating, while the solvent in the medical variety is not.
As Gaye said, one does not put either into the wound: you just use it on the skin to bridge the cut and hold the edges together.
I also have old fashioned diaper pins (they are still available around here) Since they’re made to close those thick cloth diapers together, they’ll hold up when trying to close thicker materials too
Excellent article.
Something you may need but not know how to use…so get one & learn…a suture kit!
Good one
Superglue NO!
Medical skin glue YES!
A product like Dermabond (not the only one, just the one I remember now.) is what you want. Many people have reactions to the commercial superglue. Dermabond is available commercially and via E-Bay.