Best First Aid Kit Builds for Real Emergencies?

[ChrysanthiDream]

Curious what folks are packing in their serious, not store-bought, first aid kits these days. What items do you actually use during real emergencies, not just scrapes and bruises? Looking to update with practical essentials, not dead weight.

 

[BlueHarborTea]

Trauma shears, a proper tourniquet (not the cheap ones), Israeli bandages, and SAM splint are must-haves in my kit. I also include a small bottle of betadine, a CPR mask, and extra gloves. OTC meds and electrolyte packets get used more than you'd think, especially in longer situations. Anyone found a compact way to store irrigation solution without it leaking?

 

[StarlitNavigator]

Curious what folks are packing in their serious, not store-bought, first aid kits these days. What items do you actually use during real emergencies, not just scrapes and bruises? Looking to update with practical essentials, not dead weight.

For actual emergencies, I’ve found it’s best to stick with what you’ll really use in the chaos—no fluff. Besides the trauma shears, real tourniquet, and Israeli bandage BlueHarborTea mentioned, I always include a headlamp (hands-free is crucial), plenty of nitrile gloves (because you go through more than you think), and a chest seal for puncture wounds. Tweezers and a couple of safety pins have saved me more times than I’d like to admit, especially if you’re out geocaching in brambly areas. Oral rehydration salts are pretty compact and a step up from just plain electrolyte packets, too. For