National Geographic Logo - Home
    Courtesy of Live Prepared
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Not All First Aid Kits Are Created Equal

    Our handy first-aid checklist will make sure you’re safe when you need it most.

    Published March 8, 2017
    • 2 min read
    This content was written by and is brought to you by our sponsor. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic or its editorial staff.

    There are first-aid kits . . . and then there are good first-aid kits. Some are inexpensive and filled with nearly useless plastic bandages and gauze. Others are built to be professional grade for first responders and medical personnel, and come with oxygen tanks AEDs.

    For your home, you want one somewhere in between, and when you travel, you should have a scaled down version of that. Live Prepared 72-Hour Emergency Kits and Premium Gear Kits each contain first-aid kits sourced and designed by experts to have everything you need in case of an emergency.

    Traveling with a well-curated first-aid kit is smart practice because many of the items you might have scattered about - yet accessible - at home won’t be quick or easy to find. And that can be a big problem if you find yourself injured while touring about, especially if you are out of the country.

    A well-curated first aid kit includes a good balance of necessary items that can help keep you alive and stable enough until medical attention is available.

    Dr. Daniel Carlin, who heads WorldClinic, which provides ‘round-the-clock personal medical care services, designed a top-of-the-line medical kit specifically tailored for emergencies and disasters. Here’s what’s in it:

    • Sunscreen
    • Bug repellent
    • Eye wash
    • Band-aids 1”x3”
    • Large band-aids
    • Waterproof band-aids
    • Bacitracin
    • Povidone iodine pads
    • Sting relief pads
    • Alcohol prep pads
    • Rolled gauze 2”
    • 1/2” tape
    • 3” x 3” gauze pads
    • 4” x 4” gauze pads
    • Burn gel
    • Potassium iodine capsules
    • Tylenol
    • Motrin
    • Benadryl
    • Bayer Aspirin
    • Tums
    • Pepto Bismol
    • Splinter forceps
    • Trauma scissors
    • Any prescribed medications

    Pain and puncture are the two most common dangers. That means bandages and pain relief are of most common import. Don’t forget stomach issues. They, too, can be treated with a good first aid kit.

    To be sure, the average traveler likely won’t want to get stuck at security checkpoints with forceps or trauma scissors in their bag. But this list provides a great starting point for practical planning and preparedness.

    Emergencies aren’t always catastrophes, and a good first-aid kit can help ensure that. But remember that no matter how sophisticated your medical kit, any serious injury or trauma warrants professional medical attention.



    Read This Next

    How to see the green comet flying past Earth tonight
    • Science

    How to see the green comet flying past Earth tonight

    Get your binoculars: The last time this recently discovered comet was this close to the sun, Neanderthals and mammoths walked the lands.
    Can science help personalize your diet?
    • Science

    Can science help personalize your diet?

    An ambitious and inclusive nationwide health study aims to predict which diets will yield the best nutrition based on genes, microbes, and lifestyle.
    Hogs are running wild in the U.S.—and spreading disease
    • Animals

    Hogs are running wild in the U.S.—and spreading disease

    The nation's six million feral pigs are destroying crops and preying on endangered species. But the most serious threat they pose is to human health.
    Salman Rushdie on the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal
    • Travel

    Salman Rushdie on the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal

    The celebrated writer reminds us that the wonder of India’s iconic mausoleum transcends time—and tourist hordes.

    Legal

    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your California Privacy Rights
    • Children's Online Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    • About Nielsen Measurement
    • Do Not Sell My Info

    Our Sites

    • Nat Geo Home
    • Attend a Live Event
    • Book a Trip
    • Buy Maps
    • Inspire Your Kids
    • Shop Nat Geo
    • Visit the D.C. Museum
    • Watch TV
    • Learn About Our Impact
    • Support our Mission
    • Nat Geo Partners
    • Masthead
    • Press Room
    • Advertise With Us

    Join Us

    • Subscribe
    • Customer Service
    • Renew Subscription
    • Manage Your Subscription
    • Work at NatGeo
    • Signup for Our Newsletters
    • Contribute to Protect the Planet
    • Pitch a Story

    Follow us


    National Geographic Logo - Home

    Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved