I need help with affordable First Aid/Medical preps

[insidethebunker]

I have so little socked away for first aid, much less real medical emergencies. Outside of my Boy Scout Troops BIG first aid kit I probably have 500 different size Guaze pads, a couple 100 bandaids, maybe 5 rolls of first aid tape, about 12 big bottles of Alcohol and Hydrodrogen Peroxide. I'm thinking I might have 6 or 8 rolls of gauze and 10 or 12 instant ice packs. sad, sad, sad.

Help! What can I do to bulk this up quickly and at a reasonable cost?

[matthiasj]

A few good first aid kits is what I'd suggest.

http://kentuckypreppersnetworkforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=56

[insidethebunker]

Actually what we have for the Scout Troop would be equal to those (and the Scout Supplies live at my house) I'd like to "bulk" purchase more supplies then just a first aid kit would provide.

[matthiasj]

on beprepared.com you can buy a lot of the things in these first aid kits individually. Also watch for clearance sales at Rite-Aid, Wallgreens, or any other pharmacy. They sometimes offer incredible deals on old first aid items.

[andrew]

Well, Bunker, it sounds like you are looking for a "trama kit." Or possibly, a minor surgical kit. I’ve seen stuff like that on the Net, but, I’m not buying until I can use it. I hope you have antibiotics stored up too (fish and bird). A nasty cut can kill where there is no doctor or supplies.

[KYPATRIOT]

CHECK OUT GOOD OL eMERGENCY ESSENTIALS, YOU CAN BUY IT BY THE PIECE OR THEY SELL WHOLE KITS.

[ljonsey2005]

Being an EMT for 20+ years I have gone over and over what supplies I should have, best place to buy and prices to buy them at. I STILL have that debate with myself after all these years and have tried to discipline myself...hehheehe with no luck.
When it comes to prepping I feel like a kid in a candy store.

What I have found and this is personal opinion only, is that there are a few basics that you should have:
2", 4'" and 6" gauze rolls
4x4 gauze pads
5x9 gauze pads
Trauma pads
Large Kerlex rolls
2" and 4" coban rolls....these are better than tape because it sticks to itself and not you
Crazy glue is great for cuts, stings like the dickens but works.
Assorted bandaid sizes.
Isopropyl Alcohol
plain white pillow cases are good also to use for slings, banadages and "other" things
Plenty of different sized safety pins
Splinting supplies should be a consideration also.

I don't know what your level of First Aid is, but these are usuable by most everyone and a good start to a "general" first aid kit.
All these supplies can be bought in bulk and I bought everything at Family Dollar, Dollar General, Big Lots and of course EBAY. Looks like others have also listed good purchase points too...I will have to check these out. I have found also that plain old tackle boxes work great to keep these things out of the weather and mobile. What I don't keep in tackleboxes, I keep in cardboard boxes...still mobile and I can mark everything. Hope this helped some.

[insidethebunker]

Thanks for the rundown ljonsey, it's good to have and EMT's input too... I guess 30 years of being a Scoutmaster has paid off cause I've got your list covered, except for the pillow cases (I love the idea), and yes I also use tackle boxes.

I still have to find quality, affordable guaze sqaures and rolls in bulk. The Johnson&Johnson stuff is just too expensive. I placed an order with allmed.net last fall but the quality is horrible. It would take 3 of there guaze pads to equal 1 J&J... not cost effective. I'll check ebay too, hadn't thought about that...

[Lynn]

A few more items to consider are: Antiseptic hand cleaner(these can be found in a box of individual packets also), Benedryl, topical (cream) and oral (pills), gloves, (sterile and unsterile), tweezers, scissors, hydrogen peroxide, betadine solution (great for cleaning wounds), pain reliever like tylenol or ibuprofen. A tongue blade makes a nice splint for a finger.

[knine]

insidethebunker Yesterday, I picked up a box 100 band aids in assorted sizes and a magnifying class, a set of scissor 4" 6" 8"and a set of reading glasses all for a $1.00 a piece at Ace hardware.