Recommend me a good first aid kit
Discussion
After slicing my thumb pretty badly on a feather blade by accident and finding out that my first aid kit consisted of bog roll and Tesco value plasters, I really need to pick up a good first aid kit.
I see Boots have some good first aid kits, but can anyone in the know recommend some good priced and well stocked first aid kits?
I see Boots have some good first aid kits, but can anyone in the know recommend some good priced and well stocked first aid kits?
most commerically produced First aid kits are quite frankly a bit pants
the basis for many kits is either the old or current guidance on workplace kits - which tends towards a slightly accident prone workshop in terms of what is in the kits.
i.e. they contain a lot of pad and bandge dressings which generally you will find go out of date ( i.e. no longer assured to be sterile or that the pad won;t shed fibres)
they often don't contain 'big plasters' and/or none adherant dressing pads - which are useful for grazes or to pad and protect superficial burns once you've cooled them properly
they rarely contain conforming bandages / crepe bandages to support joint injuries
the new spec for workplace kits now contains burns gel - but burns gel is of dubious clinical value and unless you are really careless will go 'out of date' and therefore not be assured to be sterile
they rarely contain instant ice packs - although for home use a re-usableice pack in the freezer will be more cost effective...
my suggestions for normal use
- normal plasters
- 'big plasters'
- none adherant dressing pad (e.g. melolin type)
- conforming bandgages in 7.5 and 10 cm width
- ( you can use these together to substitute for a pad and bandage type dressing)
- durapore type tape ( better than micropore)
- ice pack ( either instant for car use or a reusable one in the freezer for home)
- none alcohol wound cleaning wipes for out of the home kits - (just use running water at home )
- for use outside the home - 1 litre of either sterile water of commerical bottled potable water ( as if you are irrigating a dirty wound normal water will still be 'cleaner'
- tuff cut scissors
- small scissors
Boots currently sell ( St John ambulance co-branded) kits including an empty bag - however their prices on consumable items are not the best - often local chemists are cheaper as are industry suppliers like St John Supplies or SP services - although you need to be careful with Vat and delivery charges in these cases.
the basis for many kits is either the old or current guidance on workplace kits - which tends towards a slightly accident prone workshop in terms of what is in the kits.
i.e. they contain a lot of pad and bandge dressings which generally you will find go out of date ( i.e. no longer assured to be sterile or that the pad won;t shed fibres)
they often don't contain 'big plasters' and/or none adherant dressing pads - which are useful for grazes or to pad and protect superficial burns once you've cooled them properly
they rarely contain conforming bandages / crepe bandages to support joint injuries
the new spec for workplace kits now contains burns gel - but burns gel is of dubious clinical value and unless you are really careless will go 'out of date' and therefore not be assured to be sterile
they rarely contain instant ice packs - although for home use a re-usableice pack in the freezer will be more cost effective...
my suggestions for normal use
- normal plasters
- 'big plasters'
- none adherant dressing pad (e.g. melolin type)
- conforming bandgages in 7.5 and 10 cm width
- ( you can use these together to substitute for a pad and bandage type dressing)
- durapore type tape ( better than micropore)
- ice pack ( either instant for car use or a reusable one in the freezer for home)
- none alcohol wound cleaning wipes for out of the home kits - (just use running water at home )
- for use outside the home - 1 litre of either sterile water of commerical bottled potable water ( as if you are irrigating a dirty wound normal water will still be 'cleaner'
- tuff cut scissors
- small scissors
Boots currently sell ( St John ambulance co-branded) kits including an empty bag - however their prices on consumable items are not the best - often local chemists are cheaper as are industry suppliers like St John Supplies or SP services - although you need to be careful with Vat and delivery charges in these cases.
Edited by mph1977 on Sunday 26th January 16:41
I may have used this http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=el... in the past
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