First aid kits should be easy to access. Placed somewhere easily remembered and easy to grab when you need it. When you scrape your knee, you immediately know where to get the dettol, antibiotic cream, and bandaids.
But choosing a first aid kit isn’t so simple. A grocery store or pharmacy will likely have several options, but the clerk probably won’t know you well enough to recommend the perfect kit for your lifestyle. Consider your unique needs in a first aid kit and have a look through our top recommendations.
Choose a First Aid Kit That Fits Your Unique Needs
No matter your needs, there is a first aid kit on the market that will serve you well. If you are a parent of a newborn, for example, you require a kit fitted to a young child’s needs. It would include items to treat croup, earaches, tummy aches, and teething symptoms. If you have pets, you want to opt for an entirely different first aid kit with products to remove ticks and treat sore paws.
Hikers and campers have different medical requirements. You spend your time in rugged terrain, which increases your risk for falls and sprains. You sometimes travel in groups, too, meaning you need to purchase a larger first aid kit. If you adventure alone, a smaller, lightweight kit could serve you best. You might find yourself in areas that you cannot use your phone to call for help, think about what you might need to have access to if you’re deep in the bush with no phone service.
Essentials of building a First Aid Kit
When evaluating a first aid kit, focus on the essentials. Most kits contain them, but not always. Some people either opt to buy a different kit or complement their purchase with necessary items. The following list isn’t exhaustive, but it covers many of the basic products found in first aid kits.
- Splints or Wraps
- Gauze
- Medical Tape
- Bandages
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Antibiotic Cream
- Tweezers
- Pain killers
- Band-aids
How to Safely Use First Aid Products
Each item in a first aid kit comes with guidelines for use. Read these to prevent allergic reactions and other maladies. Many first aid kits also come with an instruction book or recommend attending a first aid class.
Reading the book and attending the class are excellent ideas, but if you face an emergency before you do this, use the five tips below. They can help you take immediate action and keep everyone safe.
- Keep the kit in a central location. Keep your first aid kit in an easy-to-access and known location—for adults, not kids—within your home, vehicle or workplace.
- Examine the active ingredients. Some drugs react poorly with other medications or contain ingredients that could cause a rash. Make sure your products, such as aspirin, are safe for use.
- Look for indications of use. Every medication, ice pack, and other first aid item includes indications for use. Follow them to ensure a bandage doesn’t stick to a wound.
- Follow the directions. Kids under age twelve usually require smaller doses of medications. Read the directions carefully so you don’t over-medicate.
- Remember the expiration dates. Antibiotic cream and other first aid items come with expiration dates. Typically, they lose effectiveness after this date, so make sure you’re aware of when to replace these products.
First Aid kit top recommendations-
The selection of first aid kits found here fit a variety of lifestyles, so you’re sure to find one—or pair a couple—that will help keep you, your family safe and your workplace.
First aid kit Adventure 1
This is an essential kit for personal use around the home, in the small office or whilst traveling. Perfect for issuing to school students for outdoor education trips or school tours. Packed in a durable zip-closed bag with a convenient clip it is light-weight (180g), compact and stocked with practical useable content.
CONTENTS: 1 X Quick Reference First Aid Guide, 1 X CPR Face Shield, 1 X Gloves Pair, 3 X Gauze Swabs, 1 X Wound Dressing No. 13, 1 X Conforming Bandage, 1 X Non-adherent Bandage, 1 X Scissors, small, 1 X Forceps small, 2 X Saline 15ml, 10 X Antiseptic Wipes, 1 X Burn Aid Sachet, 1 X Antiseptic Itch Relief Sachet, 10 X Plastic Dressing Strips
*This kit is packed to Australian Standards under ARTG ID: 142658. Contents may vary slightly over time. The most correct listing is with each product. Please call for details.
First aid kit Adventure 2
This is an essential kit for personal use around the home, in the small office or whilst traveling. A great kit for students to take on outdoor education trips or school tours. Packed in a durable zip-closed bag with a convenient clip it is light-weight (250g), compact and stocked with practical useable content.
CONTENTS: 1 X Quick Reference First Aid Guide, 1 X CPR Face Shield, 2 X Gloves, 3 X Gauze Swabs, 1 X Wound Dressing No. 14, 1 X Conforming Bandage, 1 X Crepe Bandage, 1 X Triangular Bandage, 2 X Non-adherent Bandage, 1 X Eye Pad, 1 X Non-allergenic Tape, 1 X Scissors, 1 X Forceps, 5 X Splinter Probes, 2 X Saline 15ml, 10 X Antiseptic Wipes, 1 X Burn Gel Sachet, 2 X Antiseptic Cream and Itch Relief Sachet, 10 X Plastic Dressing Strips.
*This kit is packed to Australian Standards under ARTG ID: 142658. Contents may vary slightly over time. The most correct listing is with each product.
First Aid Kit Adventure 3
This kit is essential for the home or for recreational activities – with these contents you can confidently approach first aid emergencies.
CONTENT: 2 X Conforming Bandage, 1 X Medium Crepe Bandage, 1 X Triangular Bandage Calico, 1 X Thermal Blanket, 3 X Gauze Swabs, 1 X Hypo-Allergenic Tape, 1 X Wound Dressing No.13, 1 X Eye Pad – Individual, 3 X Non Adherent Dressings, 5 X Disposable Splinter Probes, 1 X Forceps, Small, 1 X First Aid Book, 3 X Saline 15ml, 10 X Antiseptic Wipes , 2 X Gloves, 4 X Antiseptic Itch and Cream Relief Sachets, 2 X Burn Gel Sachets, 10 X Plastic Dressing Strips, 25 X Fabric Dressing Strips, 1 X CPR Face Shield.
** Bonus Items includes 1 X Trauma Shears
*This kit is packed to Australian Standards under ARTG ID: 142658. Contents may vary slightly over time. The most correct listing is with each product.
Survival First Aid Kits
Survival Emergency Solutions has created innovative First Aid Kits and solutions for your workplace, vehicle and home in Australia.
Their First Aid Kits are nationally compliant* with Safe Work Australia’s Workplace Health and Safety Code of Practice. This KIT makes any workplace in Australia (except for those workplace with significant hazards) compliant with Safe Work Australia regulations.
They offer solutions for all your needs whether it be workplace First Aid Kits, home First Aid Kits or vehicle First Aid Kits. All of these products are compliant with Safe Work Australia’s Workplace Health and Safety (WH&S) Code of Practice.
Browse the Survival range of First Aid Kits and see why Survival Emergency Solutions is the world’s leading manufacturer of First Aid Kits.
* Except workplaces with significant hazards.
Survival Vehicle Kit
The SURVIVAL Vehicle First Aid KIT has been designed with weight and space in mind, without compromising any of the items on your motorist first aid checklist.
Even more compact than the survival home kit, find out why our customers have reviewed this auto first aid KIT as ‘the best first aid KIT for cars anywhere in Australia’.
Don’t leave home without one.
Kit Dimensions: Height: 19cm | Width (Closed): 11cm | Length (Closed): 19cm | Length (Open): 68cm | Weight: 1.25kg
Survival workplace kit
Tick off every item on your workplace first aid checklist, with the SURVIVAL Workplace First Aid KIT. Containing all the components you need to be workplace compliant, this KIT will have you covered for any workplace emergency. Nationally compliant with Safe Work Australia’s Workplace Health and Safety Code of Practice.
Make sure your workplace makes the right choice.
KIT Dimensions: Height: 27cm | Width (Closed): 12cm | Length (Closed): 21cm | Length (Open): 79cm | Weight: 1.6kg
Survival Handy First Aid Kit
The SURVIVAL Handy First Aid KIT is a small but serious first aid kit- easy to carry, pack and store – allowing you to respond to any kind of emergency.
Components – Handy First Aid KIT
- 20 x Adhesive dressings, sterile, individually wrapped
- Bandage shears, stainless steel
- Cotton gauze swabs, (3 in pack), sterile, 7.5cm x 7.5cm
- CPR Card
- First Aid Booklet
- Hypo allergenic adhesive tape, 25mm wide roll
- 2 x Nitrile gloves (1 pair in CPR KIT)
- Note pad (located at the back of the First Aid Booklet) & pencil
- 1 x SMART Bandage, heavy duty, 10cm x 2m
- 1 x Emergency Blanket
- Resuscitation face mask, disposable, incl 1 pair gloves & 1 skin cleaning wipe (in CPR KIT)
- 1 x Saline, sterile, 30ml
- 2 x Safety Pins
- 4 x Skin cleaning wipes, with cetrimide (1 with CPR KIT)
- Splinter probes, (5 per pack), sterile
- Triangular bandage, 96cm x 96cm x 136cm
- Tweezers, rust resistant with tip guard, stainless steel
- Wound closures (3 per pack), sterile
KIT DIMENSIONS: Height: 19cm | Width (Closed): 8cm | Length (Closed): 15cm | Length (Open): 34cm | Weight: 535g
These are our top picks for first aid kits, we do have more listed in the shop on the website. So have a look through and see which first aid kit will fit your needs.
When you are choosing your first aid kit, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us we are happy to help. We want you to have the correct gear to keep yourself safe.
