…… How to Organize first aide Gear? Home, vehicular kits

[Siskiyoumom]

I am going through our first aide gear in the house. Tossing out decades out of date over the counter items.
Bit and pieces scattered in different rooms.
I bought a small sized red tackle box to put the trauma blood kit for dear hubby (he is on blood thinners). CPR mask, gloves.
I have a duplicate in his garage as well. A minor boo boo kit in the main bathroom.
I have a three drawer plastic organizer in the guest bath. One drawer has cold compresses, burn kit, splinting gear. Barf bag.
Top drawer ladies sanitizer products.
Bottom drawer has nitrile gloves, betadine, hibi cleanse, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide. Gauze pads, tapes, pressure bandages.
I plan on putting labels on it.
In the closet I have a tub of home health care items. Chux, folding cane, urinal, lift belt, elbow knee braces, arm slings. Adult diapers, shower curtain.
How do you organize your first aide gear and home health gear?

 

[Illini Warrior]

what you describe is OK for your everyday usage and eazy access >>> but you need to go deep with your stockpile of first aid and pandemic supplies - one bad injury requiring bandaging calls for bushels of 4 X 4s & wrapping ...

if you haven't started your tote or bucket stockpile >>> med supplies is a good starting point

look online at Shop MedVet - get a paper catalog for backup >>> buy in bulk

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

I doubt I have anywhere near the medical/first aid supplies. that I should have.

But I have a fish tackle box of first aid supplies in both my truck and my wife’s car (along with another box that holds some ready to eat food, bottles of water, two flashlights, a set of jumper cables, a car jack and wrenches, and a wool blanket).

At home I have more medical supplies - which I store inside several hefty trash bags that lines each of my 5 gallon buckets, with lid.

 

[moldy]

I would suggest a blow out kit for each vehicle, along with practice in using said items.

 

[connie]

Yes my parents used lots of gauze and bandages as they aged.
Last year while CV was bad I tried to slice off the end of my finger. Could have used stitches but I was not going to urgent care. Stopped bleeding, cleaned it well and used steri strips and bandage. Healed with no visible scar.

 

[Crusty Echo 7]

Build multiple kits that are all identical; no matter where you are (home, car BO location) you’re most likely to be under stress. Removing the factor of knowing where what you need is helps to focus on what you need and how to use it under stress.

 

[Toosh]

I like categories:

• Eyes/Ears/Dental/Nose,
• Stomach/Butt,
• Bones/Joints/Muscle,
• Cold/Flu/Sinus/Allergy,
• Skin,
• Band-aids/Bandages/Gauze,
• Wound Cleanse,
• Hot & Cold Packs,
• Tools,
• PPE,
• Pain Relief,
• Vitamins/Antibiotics/Homeopathy
• you get the idea...

Bandages and gauze are removed from cardboard boxes and vacuum sealed to save space and keep clean.

Each category is stored in a "cube" those 12"x12"x12" canvas squares that fit into cube shelves. 2 9-cube sections - one sits on top of the other. In a cool, dry, dark area. Only a 3'x12" footprint for a lot of organized storage. This is my re-supply station for various trauma IFAKs and boo-boo kits as appropriate for the shed, garage, vehicles, range bag and other risky areas. A few large items (O2 generator, crutches, etc.) are in a nearby closet. Several good medical reference books on a nearby shelf.

Keep an alpha listing of everything in the cubes and inventory it every September to purge and re-supply. Best time of year to shop for medical items is September, ahead of cold and flu season when nearly all OTCs go on sale. Purge/re-supply kits every-other year in September. Hubby and I alternate, one of us doing some sort of medical training every year.

One important medical emergency item is an "emergency card" with your I.C.E., medical history, meds and other related info for your wallet in the event that you are unconscious arriving at the hospital.

 

[Infoscout]

Great post thank you!