I'm trying tyo standardize our first aid kits, and wanted to know what the best antiseptic wipe to stock.

Benzalkonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, or Providone Iodine.

PVP is great for desinfecting wounds and for cleaning skin around wounds to prevent contamination.
Benzalconium is great for cleaning hands before cleaning wounds, but can be applied to wounds too. Personally, I am not crazy about this one.
Alcohol can be used for both hands and wounds, but it stings and kids don't like it that much.
Consider adding some Neosporin packets to your kit for wound dressing and long term desinfection.

I have a small, .5 oz bottle of Betadine in my kit. From what I have read, it is safe and effective. IIRC the primary risk is if the patient is allergic to iodyne.

My understanding is that alcohol can dehydrate the cells (makes sense). I know that when I use 99% isopropyl to clean stuff, it is really hard on my hands. Doesn't seem like it would be that great for wounds.

On the other hand, it is a great cleaner and handy to have.

You could always go for both. :-)

-john

Only the BZK is appropriate to put directly into / on a wound. Alcohol should never go directly into a wound.
Full strength Betadine (10% povidone-iodine) must be diluted or otherwise it will burn tissue in the wound.
BZK is the most effective.

What about bleach? Can a dilute solution of regular bleach be used as an antiseptic? If so, what concentration?

Also, what about common hydrogen peroxide?

Take a look at this post and the thread, it may have some of the answers for which you are looking.
Antiseptics
Pete

We've used dilute bleach solution in the Army to irrigate wounds in the field. There are better (but not cheaper or easier) commercial solutions available.

I would avoid using bleach for wound cleaning unless you are dealing with a necrotic wound (i.e. some tissue is dead). Dakins solution is mostly used in our days for really nasty cases of wounds, and you should already be in the hospital for this anyways. It was invented during World War I to deal with gangrenous wounds, since antibiotics weren't available back then. Probably the most common solution is half and quarter strength.

Caution: Dakins solution will dissolve blood clots and hinder wound healing.
Never use undiluted bleach on open wounds !
To make Dakins solution follow the formulas below. Dakins solution is not stable, so it needs to be used within 7 days of preparation, IF you add a pinch of sodium bicarb to it, otherwise prepare daily.

Dilute the following amount of bleach in 1 liter of water and add a pinch of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

solution strength : amount of bleach
full : 100cc bleach
half : 50 cc bleach
quarter : 25 cc bleach
1/8th : 12.5 cc bleach
1/16th : 6.25 cc bleach

I used to pack Betadine, but the iodine is just too vicious on plastics and everything else in my kit. I use alcohol wipes to sterilize scissors or a pin before working on a blister. I usually have to carry alcohol hand sanitizer for the kids since they like to pick up dead animals, handle tortises, etc. Any sort of animal bite would get a good wash of alcohol. I usually carry Neosporin or something similar.

Cuts usually just get a good wash of drinking water and covered up once they dry a bit. For a big wound I'd have to just irrigate with available water as needed. If I didn't have enough treated water, I'd have to make the toss-up.

Personally I pack Benzalkonium towelettes in small FAKs. For minor injuries povidone iodine may stain your things. I've heard that each antiseptic cover different ranges of microbes. I think Benzalkonium Chloride may help to kill the rabies virus for instance. But in larger FAK I would put a small bottle of Povidione iodine.

Frankie