> if it's bad enough to really NEED first aid gear then it's bad enought to warrant either an ambulance or a drive to the emergency room

That's my philosophy too. I've tried to focus on things I think I can reasonably treat. However, I am also aware of times when I would not want to go near a hospital. You know they're full of sick people? I first became interested in this preparedness stuff prior to Dec 31 1999, and it would have taken a pretty serious injury to get me into a hospital on that night.

Rather than band-aids I have gone more for large sterile dressing pads that can be cut to size, and surgical tape to attach them. And antiseptic ointment. I also carry a syringe for irrigation. My strategy is to get the wound clear of dirt, put a dab of ointment on to kill the nastys, then cover it to protect and keep air-born bugs out. Then hope the body can heal itself.

Some stuff is worth carrying because it is dual purpose. At the risk of asking the obvious: do you carry water? Pure water is a first-aid supply as well as a drinking supply. Alcohol wipes and cotton wool are good for cleaning and can also serve as tinder for a fire. Safety pins have many uses.

Would you do mouth-to-mouth on a stranger without a barrier to protect you from whatever nasties they have? Would you staunch the flow of blood from a stranger's wound without gloves, even though they might have HIV? If not then you might consider carrying the appropriate gear. It's all very well to have it in your car, but that might be 10 minutes away and you might not have 20 minutes to spare.