![]() | Smart Travel Medical Kit
Buy new: $52.99 This is a good essentials kit by itself, and includes slightly more thorough than average instructions. It comes in a pretty good grab and go bag too, with room for a couple of additions inside.
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![]() | Sam Splint 36 inch orange/blue
Buy new: $13.95 These inspired the list. They are amazing, are commonly included in high end med kits, and I don't know why most kits don't have them. While they are most commonly used as a temporary cast or brace, they are flexible and handy in a pinch. Pick a size that suits your needs and space.
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![]() | Adventure Medical Kits/Tender Corporation QuikClot¿ Travel hemostatic clotting bag
Buy new: $8.99 When you see bleeding, you'll probably reach for this first. Celox and Quikclot are starting to become quite common. I consider one of these an absolute basic (unless you are splurging on Celox Trauma Gauze).
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![]() | Lil' Drugstore Products Dramamine Tablets, 2-Count Boxes (Pack of 12)
Buy new: $11.58 Put a week's worth of dramamine in your go bag, it can turn a bad day good, and save a trip. Stick to a low dose to avoid drowsiness.
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![]() | Neosporin First Aid Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Spray 0.26 fl oz .26 oz
Buy new: $8.75 This is fun to add to a go bag because it is a quick fix for small painful problems, and the instant pain relief for little scrapes is good for the kid in all of us.
This is a perk, not a must.
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![]() | Hydrogen Peroxide --- 32 Oz
Buy new: $1.69 While this is not for your go bag, this is great to keep in the bathroom cabinet at home, as an affordable, effective disinfectant.
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![]() | NEW SKIN LIQUID BANDAGE BOTTLE .3 OZ
Buy new: $6.59 This is a perk, not a must, but is used so commonly that I don't see a reason not to include it in practically all first aid kits. I use it most for cuts and scrapes on the hand, and other places where a bandage would be awkward.
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![]() | Emergency Thermal Blankets (4 Pack)
Buy new: $5.70 These are particularly useful for people exposed to cold or wet, and sometimes used with shock as well. This can also help an ambulance or park ranger spot you quickly. Just pop one in your kit (if it doesn't have one or two already). A few of them are also very handy for your car in the winter.
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![]() | First Aid for Babies & Children Fast by DK Publishing
Buy new: $10.20 / Used from: $8.67 First aid for kids can be a little different, and this is doubly true for babies. Give it a quick read before you need it if possible.
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![]() | ACEP First Aid Manual, 2nd edition by DK Publishing
Buy new: $10.20 / Used from: $4.92 Reviewing your first aid book will help you to be more calm and effective, and also recognize the difference between a minor injury and a serious one.
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![]() | The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats (Prevention Pets) by Amy D. Shojai
Buy new: $14.93 / Used from: $9.00 Let's face it, your dog is more likely to eat or do something dangerous than you are, and it can be much harder to get medical care for a pet quickly.
(There are a variety of these books for different types of animals.)
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![]() | The Pill Book (13th Edition) by Harold M. Silverman
Buy new: $7.50 / Used from: $3.38 This gives you a better understanding of medicine, particularly the pills your family is taking now, what might happen if you miss a dose, common herbs that might interact, and whether to ask for a generic version. It can also help you to know ahead of time that a pill is likely to be important in emergency medical care decisions.
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![]() | The Merck Manual of Medical Information, Second Edition: The World's Most Widely Used Medical Reference - Now In Everyday Language by Mark H. Beers
Buy used from: $3.80 The Merck Manual is one of the classics. It is understandable, covers all kinds of medical topics, and designed for the average person to be able to follow it. This does have a section on first aid, so if you don't have one of the quick reference first aid books with your bag, pack it.
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![]() | Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook by Jane Maxwell
Buy new: $14.52 / Used from: $10.00 For travelers: This regularly makes it onto the lists of books doctors and nurses pack when setting up medical clinics, but is designed for non-doctors. It has been translated into many languages, and may be very useful on extended trips or travel into the third world.
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![]() | U.S. Army Special Forces Medical Handbook by Craig Glen K.
Buy new: $21.90 / Used from: $16.99 If you are likely to end up leading a camping group, or want to learn more than cpr, this is interesting.
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![]() | American Red Cross FR150 Microlink Solar-Powered, Self-Powered AM/FM/Weatherband Portable Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (Red)
Any planning for medical care should include being ready to call a doctor, poison control or 911. Preferably, this should include a cell phone charger. A light can also come in handy.
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![]() | Victorinox Swiss Army Ranger Pocket Knife
Buy new: $30.98 A swiss knife includes tools that you otherwise may not have, such as basic tweezers. It can be amazingly handy for people leading a camping group. If you'd like to splurge, choose a multitool with a magnifying glass, to make tackling splinters, ticks and stingers easy. (Note, if you get a med kit with forceps, never mind the tweezers.)
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![]() | Bag Balm Purse size 1oz Tin
Buy new: $4.27 This is a perk, one of my favorite home remedies. Nice for very chapped skin, I always have it at home, not for emergencies.
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![]() | Polar Pure Water Disinfectant
Buy new: $13.34 If your kit is designed for camping, emergency preparedness, or anyplace you might not have clean water, being prepared for water treatment is very important. (You probably also want to bring your favorite hand sanitizer.)
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![]() | Celox Trauma Gauze
Buy new: $49.00 This is a dual purpose gauze for treating wounds and burns. Pricing makes it more suited to professional kits, but it is certainly worth considering, especially if you're doing high risk activities.
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![]() | Sawyer Products Swp Ext Pump Bite Kit Md.# B4
Buy new: $15.75 If you react badly to insect bites, or are heading out where you're likely to be bitten by something dangerous, this may be worth considering. I would consult with local experts on their recommendations of likeliness of dangerous bites, and best treatments.
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![]() | HANDY DUCT TAPE
Buy new: $1.99 First aid tape and bandages are useful for the medical care itself. Duct tape is useful for everything else, such as taping up a hole in a shoe that causes a blister you're bandaging. (Though many would argue duct tape holds the world together, for our purposes, it is not a must.)
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![]() | Kwik Tek Dry Pak Multi-Purpose Nylon Case(12-Inchx16-Inchx4-Inch)
Buy new: $24.31 This is roughly twice the size of the basic kit. Opening a dry bag will cost you a few extra seconds, so if weatherproofing isn't required, consider a rothco bag instead. If having a dry bag is vital, this is a good choice.
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![]() | Orange EMT Response / Medical Rescue Bag
Buy new: $26.70 Easy to find, and great for finding what you need inside quickly.
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