So you finally got yourself a first aid kit! Having a first aid kit is the first step to being prepared for medical emergencies. After acquiring one, there are a few more things you need to do to make sure you’re ready. This includes getting basic first aid training so you know how to use the supplies you have. The other is familiarizing yourself with your new kit and customizing it for your own personal needs. 

Familiarizing Yourself With Your Kit

This is a critical step to ensuring you’re prepared. By going through your kit and taking stock of all the supplies it contains, you’ll be doing two important things. First, you’ll know where everything is. This is crucial because if someone gets seriously injured and their life is on the line, you don’t want to waste time by fumbling through your kit looking for what you need. If you know where everything is stored inside your kit, you’ll be able to grab the right supplies within seconds and get to work on saving lives. 

Second, by going through your kit and seeing what supplies you do have, you’ll be able to start thinking about what’s missing. For example, let’s say you or someone else in your family has a severe allergy that could send them into anaphylactic shock. In that case, an EpiPen is a vital and potentially life-saving addition to your first aid kit. When you think about your family’s needs and customize your kits with them in mind, your first aid kit really will be ready for anything you need.

How To Start Customizing Your IFAK

Customizing your kit to suit your needs is essential, but how do you know what should be added? What, if anything, can you replace? To help you get an idea of what modifications you may need to make, go through the following questions.

• Does anyone in your family have specific medical conditions that require certain supplies to address?

• Does anyone have minor allergies you need to be prepared for? What about severe ones?

• Do you tend to use some supplies (such as bandages) quickly or more frequently than other items? Would it be helpful to carry more of these items or would it be a waste of room?

• Do you work a job where you’re more at risk for certain injuries?

• Do you participate in any risky activities, such as mountain biking, that could result in specific injuries? Do you need multiples of these items?

• Do you often find yourself in remote areas? If so, do you need to add survival gear to your kit?

• What do you think are the most important things in your first aid kit?

• Which items are the least important to you that you could replace with things you find more valuable?

After answering these questions, you should have a bit better of an idea on how you can customize your kit to fit your needs. Everybody’s family and life is different, so everyone will need slightly different supplies readily available. Just remember to keep basic trauma gear in every kit so you’re prepared for life-threatening emergencies!