If something from the kit is to go, to make room for something else, I would vote to nuke the burn creme packets. You don't want to put that stuff on a second or third degree burn, although I guess it would be OK for a first degree one. But all-in-all, burn creme is pretty useless at best. A dry sterile dressing is what you want over a burn.

For attaching dressings: First there was tape. Then "roller gauze". Then "Kling" wrap. Then "Kerlix". Now there is "Coban" (a.k.a. "coflex"). I don't know if anything came between Kerlix and Coban. We were still using Kerlix when I was a paramedic. Now we're using Coban. But I've been out of the medical field since the Kerlix days. Kerlix definitely was better than either Kling or roller gauze, but it was also much bulkier, so didn't fit into FA kits as nicely. None of these substitute for an Ace Wrap (a.k.a. "elastic bandage").

Very nice work! If you have room and budget, I'd suggest more gloves.

Great thread and hugely informative. Like others, I thank J-I for putting her time and effort into this topic. But I do have a question. Isn't there a difference between the optimum kit for a wildern ess (roadless, natural setting)and third world (higher chance of infectious disease, lots of contact with strangers)? In wnat I define as wilderness, weight of items carried is always a consideration and your first aid kit contains a few core items (sterile dressings, Ace bandages) and knowledge of other items in your gear that can be converted to first aid applications (duct tape, stays from your baackpack = splints)

The packets of burn cream and packets of antibiotic ointment have their own compartments so removing them would not save space. The two compartments combined can easily hold twenty cream/ointment packets. The kit comes with a total of twelve cream/ointment packets.

Jeanette Isabelle

Thank you. The kit comes with a reorder form and what they charge for each pair of gloves in a bag, plus shipping, is ridiculous. Do you know where I can buy a pair of gloves in a bag for less?

The kit has room for more bagged pairs of gloves.

Jeanette Isabelle

Jeanette Isabelle,check out uniform rental places.Many also provide a service to stock first aid kits in factories.Tell them what you are providing and they may even donate to the cause.....

I should mention that the kit comes with compartments for medications which are the same size as the compartments for the alcohol pads and sting relief pads. The antiseptic towelettes would not practically fit in these compartments so they are located somewhere else.

Therefore, if I remove the alcohol pads (which takes up two compartments) and sting relief pads (which takes up one compartment), I would have room for a total of sixty packets of medications. The kit came with a total of fifteen packets of medication (Antacid Packets, Aspirin Packets and Non-aspirin Packets). If I do not remove the medication, the alcohol pads and sting relief pads the kit came with, I can add thirty more packets of medication. How much diphenhydramine and loperamide should I include for a ten-person kit?


I still have my doubts about using a hemostat. The kit comes with those cheap “plastic tweezers” which I have considered replacing with Uncle Bill's Tweezers. Should I have both the plastic tweezers (in case they provide some benefit) and Uncle Bill's Tweezers or completely remove the plastic tweezers?


I have space for one roll of CoFlex or one elastic bandage, not both. Removing the two gauze rolls the kit came with would not save space as the compartment for them is not much use for much of anything else. What small items that can fit in that space is likely to fit in other parts of the kit.

On the other hand, I have considered adding a 2” roll of duct tape. If I do not add the duct tape, I could put in a 2” elastic bandage in addition to the one roll of CoFlex. In short, I have a choice of duct tape, one roll of CoFlex and an elastic bandage: I can pick two.

Jeanette Isabelle

Thank you and you are right. There is a difference between a wilderness kit and what I'm building.

Jeanette Isabelle

I wouldn't bother bagging them. Or I'd buy the gloves in bulk and then put them in cheap sandwich bags.



I would definitely pitch the plastic tweezers and put in some metal ones, the Uncle Bill's are an excellent choice if a bit pricey.



Duct tape and elastic bandage. Here's why: Duct tape can do everything CoFlex can do and more. Nothing beats an elastic bandage for certain soft tissue injuries.

Jeanette_Isabelle, have you considered Pepto-Bismol (and generic) tablets as an alternate anti-diarrheal? My understanding is the bismuth salts have anti-microbial effects in the G.I. tract as well as mechanically slowing the movement of material in the tract. I made a half dozen missions trips to Peru amd Mexico 10+ years ago and had no G.I. problems while others in my group did. I made it a habit to take 2 tablets with each meal and 2 tablets upon retiring. I wouldn't call this proof, but if I ventured back to Peru I would certainly take my pepto with me.