First Aid Items (72hr List)
Updated Octobber 22, 2001
1 Basic First Aid Book, in plain language
2 Bandages (Ace) elastic, 4" (10cm)
4 Bandages, gauze, 2" (5cm) x 2"
2 Bandages, gauze, 3" (8cm) x 3" and 4" (10cm) x 4"
1 Bandages, gauze, 18" (45cm) x 36" (90cm)
2 Bandages for burns (Second Skin) 3" (8cm) x 3.5" (9cm)
3 Triangular Bandages
1 box Band-Aids in assorted sizes, flexible and moisture resistant best
1 box Bicarbonate of Soda
1 box Butterfly sutures or Leukostrips
1 Cold/heat Pack, reusable
1 box Cotton Swabs
1 box Dental Floss
1 box Eyedropper (additional to the one for chlorine bleach)
2 rolls First Aid Tape, .5" (1.25cm) x 10 yds (9m) and 1" (2.5cm) x 5 yds (4.5m)
3 pair Gloves, lightweight rubber, (for medical and hygiene purposes)
1 tube Insect Repellent
1 bottle Isopropyl Alcohol
1 bottle Meat Tenderizer for insect bites and stings
1 box Moistened Towelettes
1 Nail Clipper
1 bottle Potassium Iodide-[KI] or Potassium Iodate-[KIO3] (either is fine)
1 box Razor Blades, single edge
1 box Safety Pins, assorted sizes
1 SAM splint
1 Scissors, Surgical pointed
1 bottle Soap, liquid, antibacterial
6 Tongue Depressors
2 Thermometers, disposable OR 1 digital, (no breakables with mercury)
1 Tweezers
1 tube Analgesic Cream (Camphophenique, Paraderm Plus)
1 box Antacid (Mylanta, Tums, Pepto-Bismal)
1 Antibiotic (Tetracycline for general infections)
1 box Anti-Diarrheal (Imodium, Diasorb, Lomotil)
1 tube Anti-Fungal (Desenex, Micatin, Tinactin, Lotrimin)
1 box Antihistamine (Benadryl, Claratyne)
1 tube Antiseptic Ointment (Neosporin, Dettol)
1 tube Burns (Hydrocortisone, Derm-Aid)
1 box Cold/Flu Tablets (Nyquil, Repetabs)
1 box Constipation (Ex-Lax, Dulcolax, Durolax)
1 box Cough Syrup (Robitussen, Dimetap)
1 box Decongestant (Actifed, Sudafed, Repetabs)
1 bottle Eye Drops (Visine)
1 tube Hemorrhoid Relief (Preparation H, Anusol)
1 box Ibuprofen (Advil, Nurofen, Peracetamol)
1 bottle Itching, Insect/Rash (Caladril, Calamine)
1 tube Itching (Dibucaine, Paraderm, Lanacane)
1 tube Lip Balm (ChapStick, Blistex)
1 tube Lubricant, Water Soluble (K-Y Jelly)
1 bottle Nasal Decongestant (Sinex, Ornex)
1 box Nausea, Motion Sickness (Kwells, Dramamine, Travacalm, Meclizine)
1 box Non-Aspirin Pain Reliever (Tylenol)
1 box Pain, Fever Reducer (Panadeine, Mobigesic)
1 Prescription(s) (A supply of any you are taking)
1 jar Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline)
1 bottle Poison Ivy/Oak
1 packet Poison Absorber (Activated Charcoal)
1 can Sunburn Relief (Solarcaine, Paxyl)
1 bottle Sunscreen (SPF 15 at least)
1 bottle Vomit Inducer (Ipecac Activated charcoal)
1 tube Yeast Infection Treatment (Monistat, Gyne-Lotrimin)
Before You Say "Too Hard"...
Many items can be obtained at discount stores like Sam's, Costco, Target, K-Mart and Wal-Mart. Other supply sources are second-hand stores, Salvation Army, Army Surplus stores and garage sales. This does not have to be a "Cadillac" set of gear. Supplies are for survival. Nothing has to be "designer", only functional.
If your first inclination is to say, "I can't AFFORD this!" Think practically where corners can be cut in the weekly budget. If your family goes out to the movies, why not rent a video and "rat-hole" those $$ spent for the show? If nothing else, bring your refreshments from home - expensive candy bars, soft drinks and popcorn CAN cut into the wallet! Put those extra dollars toward survival gear. A few less nights of fast food can pay for your 72-hour survival food! In the area of Personal Hygiene, discount stores offer travel sizes which can reduce not only the carrying weight of your backpack, but space taken up and $$ spent.
Stored water doesn't have to be Perrier or some other expensive brand. Treated tap water stored in empty 2-litre soft drink bottles suffice nicely. In fact, mineral water will only make a person thirstier. (See our Long Term Storage area for other ideas.)
The most expensive item on this list is the compass. Good hand-held compasses range from US$50 - $250. A decent Boy Scout compass can be purchased for around US$50. If you are completely lost, there can be no dollar value placed on this item. It is not cheap, but we have several ideas.
Talk to other folks of like mind, possibly you can put together a group purchase and bring down individual cost. Try this approach with Army surplus stores. If you have a Sam's Club or other bulk food warehouse in your area, ask them about supplying some of the desired items for large purchases. Apply this strategy to the First Aid Kit and General Supplies as well as the Food Items.
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hollydeyo@millennium-ark.net
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Contents © 1997-2002 Holly Deyo. All rights reserved.