Please produce the evidence for this. I've no opinion since obviously we don't have dollar stores. But in the UK our equivalent would be 'Pound stores' or '99p stores'. Not once have I ever heard of toxic goods in them.
qjs

>Just make sure the $1 store stuff you intend to ingest is made somewhere other than China,Also don't feed your dog anything made in China,you have to remember those people eat Everything,so anything discarded from there,Can't be Good!Ibuprofen could possibly be compressed drywall,pepto bis pills-possibly drywall w/watered down red paint! Using cheap crap for a kit of any kind,Will still be cheap crap when you need it most!Beginners Tip-Start with Quality,End with Quality!I would rather have my wits & empty pockets than Full pockets of crapola!>

Interesting points -- Yes Its not a trauma kit. Its not comprehensive. BUT

Its a start, For $3 I can have some tools available. (or my kid in school, or travel bag, etc.) I have a $60 first aid kit...But most people don't. As a teacher, when I want people change their behavior, small step are easier.

This thread is for beginners who need simple ideas...and solutions that don't break the bank.

Start, then perfect. Not the other way 'round.

This is $19.98 at my local Sam's club.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=196928&navAction=push

This offers the best bang for the buck for a complete kit I have seen. I use this kit often. It's not perfect but at $19.98, I am not complaining.

I'm not associated with Sam's Club or T.R.I. I just like their kit.

Jeanette Isabelle

I like that SAM'S CLUB kit! Thanks for pointing it out Jeanette. I think I'll buy two of those, one for each of my kids (now young adults living away from home).

As I write this,I have an empty can of Armour-Vienna sausages I just ate in front of me,So Hold your horses there,Maxine! They were made in Cherryhill,NJ 08003-3620,I purchased them at the 99 cents only store.I don't see any posts that claim to dis-spell shopping there or anywhere for that matter!I also don't see anything regarding wealth/poverty or toxic anything,Sherlock,lol!As for cheap bandages,I use Duct tape & Gauze more often than not,I'm also drinking a water bottle that was bottled at Niagara Bottling LLC,Same place the $1 stores bottled water came from except mine was bought at Costco from Kirkland,WA 98124 I did see a post telling about" Most of that stuff is Junk",of which is Absolutely Correct!I posted about Ingestable Chinese products,Read where things are made,it just may save a person Alot of Grief!Quality in fact can be cheap,& very affordable,ie... The Doug Ritter PSK,Still the most Bang for your Buck! I have no affiliation with the above products/company's,but I did stay at a Motel 6 once!

Hello, All,

I have bought some items at the dollar store- notably duct tape, some tools and non-perishable (& common branded) foodstuffs. Do I expect L.L. Bean quality? No, but those items have held up. Caveat emptor. Research & test.
WalMart has several great items for $1- the Outdoor Gear folding lockblade with partially serrated blade (its EDC & work for me) and the Day-Glo Coleman match safe. I have used the knife to throw sparks off the mini ferro rod on the safe. Yes, the blade is stainless, but it worked.
The Sam's Club kit looks pretty good. I purchased one from Cheaper Than Dirt and built my own (former Army medic). After EMT education & certification, my FAK will be significantly larger & complex.
Anyway, with a minimum of expenditure, you can buy a few bits at a time and check them out. I'm dirt poor (8.25/hr.) and get deals where I can. Of course, I'm saving for a Kabar and have paid good money for quality items, but I research & save.
Have a great weekend!

Finn

The theme seems to be, put together a kit for cheap that if you lost it you wouldn't be out a lot of money.

Just had a decent minimal kit stolen from my truck, in my driveway. I'm more mad the knife in it I'd had since the mid 80s.

The new kit will come from the dollar store, more or less. Rather than losing a $12 space pen, lose a $1 for a pack pencil.

Live and learn.

Figure the dollar store stuff is daily quicky use.

I've mentioned her videos before, but "The Patriot Nurse" on YouTube has recommendations to equip a pretty comprehensive home kit...it is in the $50 range, and addresses upper respiratory, diarrhea, and skin integrity problems

also recommend "USNERDOC" series on YouTube

Recently I bought a couple of (similar?) kits from a local store. They had the basics for my kids, and came in a very nice little plastic case - with room to add some extras.

Its certainly not a fully comprehensive kit by any means, but its a great way to start a kit, and its far better than nothing !

Everything in the kit is well within anyone's ability to use - selected bandaids, small bandages, wipes, tweasers etc. It can't cause any harm and gives the kids some more independence and responsability - ie having their own FAK

I think one advantage of starting with any kind of emergency kit (even a very cheap one) is that it may get the owner to thinking what else could go into it whenever they see it.

"Hey, I could put that multi-tool Dad gave me in there! And a pair of gloves. And a woolly hat for winter..."

Sue