How to Know Your Medical Kit

What is a medical kit?

Medical kit’s can include many different items depending on what the kit is designed for. Medical kits can include items such as; Gloves, tape, cotton balls or q-tips, band-aids, gauze, disinfectant, shears, instant ice packs, and much much more.

Why use a medical kit?
Medical kits are a good idea to always have with you, whether it is in your home, in your car, or with you on vacation. You can never be too sure when you or someone else may need some kind of medical assistance. A medical kit of some sort is a fundamental item that every person should consider carrying with them at all times.

Medical Kit Diagram: (Items are subject to change based on the type of kit)
Gloves – Gloves are generally made of latex material and also disposable. Gloves are used to prevent germs from spreading from the patient to the doctor or person providing assistance; they are especially important when someone is bleeding. Latex gloves are typically thin enough not to interfere with anything you may be trying to do.

Tape – A strip of fabric or other material evenly coated on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive material. Tape in the medical field is usually easy to tear, making it easier and quicker to use. Tape can be use in many different situations such as holding down bandages or gauze.

Cotton Balls – A small ball of soft cotton can have a variety of uses. You can use cotton balls to clean a wound or administer disinfectants. Cotton Balls are a good way to clean without infecting the wound as well as administering disinfectant without getting the wound dirty.

Q-Tip – Q-Tips, or cotton swab consist of a small wad of cotton wrapped around the end of a small rod, made of wood, rolled paper, or plastic. Q-Tips are good for small cuts that may have dirt or other unwanted things inside the wound. Q-tips are also good for administering disinfectant onto a wound.

Hand Sanitizer – Antibacterial hand wash is designed to decrease bacteria on the skin. Hand Sanitizer can be used without water for convenient hand cleaning. When outdoors it is good to clean your hands with Hand Sanitizer before you do anything with food, wounds, or personal care.

Hydrocortisone Cream – A cream that can temporary provide relief of itching from minor skin irritations, inflammation from eczema, bug bites and many other skin type irritations.

Alcohol Pad – Pre-moistened with 70% isopropyl alcohol, these disposable pads were originally produced and packaged for alcohol cleaning of skin. After cuts, or scrapes it is a good idea to wash the area with an alcohol pad, to ensure cleanliness.

Disinfectant cream/spray – Used on minor cuts, scrapes or burns to clean the area and help prevent infection. For just about any open wound of any sort it is a very good idea to clean the area with some sort of disinfecting cleaner.

Gauze – A white cotton cloth made in different sizes and different forms. Generally used to clean or cover wounds. The threads are loose enough to provide some ventilation to the wound, making open wounds breathe and produce a scab.

Band-aids – An adhesive bandage is used to cover a wound, and to protect it from infection. Band-aids come in many different sizes and forms, which can appeal to all types of wounds.

Glucose – A thick, syrupy, sweet liquid, consisting chiefly of dextrose, with dextrin, maltose and water. It is obtained by incomplete hydrolysis of starch, used as a flavoring agent in items such as food and in the treatment of dehydration. Glucose is a good idea to have especially if someone you are with is diabetic.

Aloe Vera – Can be used to treat various skin conditions such as cuts, burns and eczema. The sap from the Aloe plant eases pain and reduces inflammation. The cool feeling when applying the aloe makes the application process less painful.

Ace Bandage – A stretchable bandage is used to create localized pressure. Good with muscle sprains and strains by reducing the flow of blood to that particular area, which will reduce swelling, inflamed muscles, and tendons. Ace Bandages are good for numerous uses and can be very handy in most situations.

Thermometer – A device that measures ones body temperature. Thermometers can be digital or have a mercury bulb, in which heat changes the temperature and moves the mercury to read the ending temperature. Thermometers come in two general types: oral, which is inserted into the mouth under the tongue and anal, which in inserted into the rectum (this is generally used with infants).

Shears – A type of tool used to cut thin material with little force. These are generally used to cut things such as bandages or gauze. If you have shears for your medical kit, you don’t really want to use them on other things aside from medical use. It is important to try to keep them as clean as possible, seeing as how there may not always be the resources to sanitize the blades.

Instant Ice Pack – A pack that is squeezed to pop the center, which turns the pack into ice. These packs are good for sprains and many other accidents that may cause swelling. These are disposable and not designed to be frozen for reuse.

Types of Medical Kits

Expedition Medical Kit - A professional style medical kit intended for long travel. Ideally designed with all of the components needed for any travel guide or mountaineer. This is very good medical kit for any type of activity in third world countries or rugged adventures, whether it is trekking or just an extended stay.

Mountain Medical Kit - Designed for mountain trips in which any medical assistance may be far away. The kit has a detachable watertight and ultra light kit that can be removed for small day trips. This is also a good kit for any extended trips as well as things such as trekking.

Ultra Light Medical Kit - Originally designed for mountain guides, but ideally made for any type of guide or trip leader. This kit is light and watertight, weighing only about 3lbs. Good when your trip is designed for you to move consistently and quickly.

Fundamentals Medical Kit - A very popular kit that has many of the basic components, is very lightweight and designed to be very organized. The fundamentals kit is good for trips such as camping, backcountry trips, or backpacking. This kit is also designed with a water resistant zipper, which helps to keep the supplies dry and ready for use.

World Travel Medical Kit - The world travel kit is designed for trips to countries where the infection risk can be very high. This is a good kit for those who go on short or extended trips to exotic or remote locations that have high infection rates.

Weekender Medical Kit - A weekender kit is designed for a fun weekend get-away trip. The kit includes a good variety of supplies to fit your needs on small trips. However, this kit is only designed for small groups and contains only basic supplies.

Paddler Medical Kit - The Paddler kit is designed to be waterproof and lightweight; it’s made for trips such as kayaking, canoeing or white water rafting. All the medical supplies are packed away tightly in a dry bag. This kit also includes gear repair and survival items, basically all your essential needs when doing any activity that may include water.

Savvy Traveler Medical Kit - The Savvy traveler kit is designed with the key components you may need when traveling in foreign countries. This kit is good for trips to places where the risk on any type of infection is high. This is a good kit to take on trips to third world countries.

Adventurer Medical Kit - The adventurer kits is designed for the adventurous person who loves backpacking or hiking in the mountains or parks. The kit’s sleek design is light enough that it won’t weigh you down as you go. However, this kit is not designed for one to stay out multiple days with any type of trauma. Meaning, if you get hurt and are far away from any help, this kit may not be able to help you longer than a couple of days.

Family Medical Kit - The family kit is your average kit designed for family use. This kit is good for multiple day trips for the average family size of four. Contains your generic medical supplies for cuts, scrapes, abrasions etc. This kit is designed for family trips such as camping, backpacking or hiking.