Best Adventure Medical Kits Reviewed & Rated for Quality
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Features
Many first aid kits are general purpose. Essentially they are a collection of items that can be typically purchased at a pharmacy or drug store and are stored in a carrying case or a pouch. You will almost always find basic items such as band-aids, gauze, medical tape, and pain relievers.
Such items are useful for treating minor injuries such as scrapes, light cuts, or a light impact to the body. However, there are going to be times where you may want to get a kit that is specialized for a particular purpose. The nature of the kit will change depending on its intended use case.
For example, many gun and bow hunters run the risk of being accidentally shot. A bullet or an arrow will cause a deep puncture wound which will require stitches to treat properly. However, in the meantime, the patient will need a way to stop the bleeding from an injury or they will bleed out and die. A kit for this activity will likely contain clotting sponges, gauze, tape, and maybe even a tourniquet. Additionally, a hunting kit may include items such as bug spray and items to treat insect bites or poison ivy.
People who spend time on the water may want a different kind of kit. For example, a casual fisherman is unlikely to experience serious puncture wounds but may end up cutting himself on the fishing tackle. Drowning is a risk on the water and may require CPR so a first aid kit for fishing may have a CPR mask in it as well. So when you are picking out a first aid kit, you should consider the type of kit and the activities that you plan on undertaking so that you are properly prepared.
Size
Size matters when it comes to first aid kits. A larger kit will hold more items which means that you are able to treat more injuries with it. However, as the size of the kit increases, so does its weight. A large kit is not always needed and may not be practical for what you need. As always, you should take into consideration the risks that you are preparing for in order to make sure that your kit has the right size. A couple of examples should help make this clearer.
For example, if you are purchasing a first aid kit to keep in your car, then you will want to consider the area of the car where the kit is going to be stored. If you plan on keeping the kit in the trunk or underneath a seat, then it can be larger. On the other hand, if you own a small vehicle and are planning on putting your first aid kit in the glove box, then you should look for a smaller first aid kit. In this situation, the type of items that are in the kit may be more important than the kit's size.
On the other hand, a hunter who is wearing BDU pants may only want to carry a small trauma kit so that he can treat himself if he gets shot on accident. In this case, the kit needs to be small enough to fit in a pocket. It's not necessary to bring a large kit with you in this situation and doing so will only mean that you have to carry more than what is necessary. For these reasons, you should consider the size of the kit.
Ease of Use
Since first aid kits are made up of a variety of small items, it's generally useful to store these items in a carrying case. Just about anything can work as a carrying case but almost all commercially available first aid kits come with a carrying case. The cases are usually either a zippered nylon bag or a hard plastic container. When you are shopping for a first aid kit, you should take a look at the case that is sold with it in order to make sure that it meets your needs.
One thing that you should look at is the size of the case. Larger cases will allow you to carry more items but they also add bulk and weight. First aid kits that have small cases usually only have enough items for one to two people while a large case can store enough items for a small group. You will want to decide on the size of the case based on your needs.
Another thing that you should look at is the case's ability to resist water. Many items in a first aid kit will be damaged if they get wet so this is an important part of making sure that nothing is destroyed if the kit is exposed to moisture. Most first aid kits will advertise if they resist water and if they don't then you should assume that they are not water resistant and store the first aid kit in an appropriate place. Finally, you will want to look at the overall durability of the case. If the case is weak it can come open unexpectantly, break, rip, or tear. All of these events will require you to get a new case and could damage your supplies.
Release Date
A common practice is to purchase a first aid kit and then put it someplace and forget about it. This is not a good idea because items such as medicines, creams, and clotting sponges have an expiration date and should not be used when they expire. Using expired items will cause them to be less effective when they are needed so a first aid kit that is expired will create a false sense of safety.
The best practice when purchasing a first aid kit is to get one that has a long shelf life. This will provide you with more value for your money since it means that you will not have to replace the kit as often. Another thing that you should check is the expiration date of the individual items in the kit. Certain items last for a longer period of time than other items so you will want to make sure that you are aware of the expiration date of the items in the kit. Additionally, first aid kits are a collection of items that are stored in a case so you may get a mix of old medical supplies along with new ones.
Once you are aware of the shelf life of the items in the kit, you will need to make sure that you check on your first aid kit on a regular basis and make sure that everything is still usable. The last thing that you want to have happened is to go to use your kit and find that items are missing, expired, or no longer usable so you should always do your due diligence and check on your first aid kit.
Accessories
Ask yourself this question, "How useful is my kit's CPR mask if I don't know how to do CPR?". Having a first aid kit is only one part of being prepared for an emergency. The other part is knowing how to use the items in the kit to treat an injury or save a life. The best thing that you should do is take a basic class on first aid so that you are familiar with topics such as how to treat a wound and wrap it properly in order to prevent infection. CPR certification is also recommended especially if you are going to be around water a lot.
However, this knowledge doesn't automatically transfer to other people. There is always the possibility that somebody else may need to use your first aid kit and may not know how to use the items in the kit properly. This is why you will want to consider getting a kit that has instructions. Instructions are useful to reference in the event that you aren't sure about something while you are treating an injury. They are also handy to have if somebody else needs to use your kit and doesn't know much about administering first aid.
Many first aid kits will contain either a pamphlet or a small book in them that will offer advice on how to apply first aid. This should be considered a must-have item for when you are purchasing a first aid kit. Even if you are familiar with first aid, there may be something that you haven't seen before that you may need to reference. If your kit has directions with it, you should read them over and be familiar with them.
Best Emergency Medical Kits
1. Advanced Clotting Sponge
Even seconds can count when you suffer a severe injury. This can be especially true in the event of a puncture wound or a bullet wound. The Advanced Clotting Sponge can be a lifesaver in these situations. This sponge will soak up blood but it also has features that will help your injury clot faster which can reduce blood loss and stop infection.
Zeolite
Zeolite is the main active agent in this sponge. It's a mineral that will assist blood clotting by concentrating your blood platelets and remove extra moisture so that your injury clots faster.
Easy to Use
All you need to do is apply the sponge to the injury and apply pressure. The sponge is contained in a mesh bag that can be removed by medical staff when they treat the injury.
Cost and Value
You can purchase this item at a price that is lower than the average price. The lower price makes it the ideal thing to put in a first aid kit.
2. Mountain Series Daytripper
This is an ideal first aid kit to own while you are going on a family trip, hiking, or other outdoor activities where you could experience bumps, bruises, or other injuries. You will find just about everything that you need to administer basic first aid while you are in the field. You never know when an injury is going to happen so it's best to be prepared.
First Aid Manual
The kit includes a manual that describes how to administer basic first aid while you are in the field. There are 43 injury categories that are further broken down by subcategories.
Kit Bag
This kit comes with a compartmentalized bag that organizes the first aid items by category. This will help you find what you need quickly so that you can treat an injury in a timely fashion.
Cost and Value
You can purchase this kit at an average price. The price makes it into an excellent value since it means that you get a high-quality kit without paying a premium for it.
3. First Aid 2.0
This kit is ideal for anyone who is looking for something that is extra small and lightweight. It only weighs one pound so you can easily stuff it into a backpack or into the glove box of your vehicle. As you may expect, it has supplies to treat many common injuries which will help the patient until medical help arrives.
Small
The size of this kit is a feature. It only weighs one pound which means that it is easy to put in containers such as a backpack or even a fishing tackle box.
Waterproof Inner Bag
Items that can be damaged by water are stored in interior bags that are fully waterproof. This will help make sure that the kit is useful even when it gets wet.
Cost and Value
You can purchase this kit at a price that is slightly lower than the average price. The lower price turns it into an ideal item to have around the house or in your vehicle.
4. Dental Medic First Aid Kit
People often forget about their teeth until something happens to them. This kit is specifically designed to treat tooth pain. This can include items that allow you to plug a loose dental filling or numb a tooth in the event that there is tooth pain. It's small and lightweight which makes it easy to pack into your gear and take with you.
Instructions
Since most people don't know how to treat minor oral injuries, this kit comes with detailed instructions that will show you how to use the items in the kit to treat common injuries.
Basic to Advanced Components
You will find a wide range of components in this kit. It has basic items such as cotton and floss to more advanced items that let you fill a cavity on a temporary basis.
Cost and Value
You can purchase this kit at a price that is well below the average price. The low price is due to the low cost of the items in the kit.
5. Trauma Pack
Some kits are designed to treat minor injuries while others are meant to address major trauma. This one is for major trauma and is ideal for car accidents, hunting accidents, or other kinds of injuries where the victim is bleeding heavily. You can use the items in this kit to control bleeding until professional medical help arrives on the scene.
Sterile Gloves
In order to prevent the spread of blood-borne illnesses, this kit has a pair of sterile medical gloves that will help protect you while you are treating an injury.
Clotting Sponge
The kit contains a clotting sponge that will soak up blood and also promote blood clotting to help stop blood loss and prevent infection later on. You only need to apply pressure to the injury.
Cost and Value
You can purchase this kit at a price that is slightly lower than the average price. The low price means that it's an ideal thing to have since it could save a life
6. .9 First Aid Kit
This is an ideal kit for people who spend a lot of their time on the water or in areas that are prone to getting wet. The bag is fully waterproof so you can trust that your supplies will still be dry even when you are not. This will help you stay prepared in case there is an emergency that requires treatment.
Size Options
The kit is sold in three different size options. However, even the largest kit still weighs less than one pound. the size options will help pick a kit that is right for your gear.
Waterproof
The bag is double lined for waterproofing. The exterior bag is coated with urethane and has a water-resistant zipper on it. The inner bag is fully waterproof and seals shut.
Cost and Value
You should plan on spending an amount that is higher than the average price. The higher price is due to the fully waterproof design that will ensure that your supplies stay dry.
7. Mountain Series Weekender
This is a larger kit that is intended to treat a group of people. It offers supplies such as band-aids, gauze, and medical tape. There is even a guide that explains how to administer first aid for common injuries. This kit is ideal for an outdoor adventure but it's also great to have the car or even around your home.
Large Groups
Many first aid kits are intended to only treat one or two people so they are more or less personal first aid kit. This kit has enough supplies to treat up to six people.
Field Manual
This kit includes a field manual that explains how to administer first aid for common injuries. The manual can be useful for people who are not familiar with first aid techniques.
Cost and Value
You should plan on spending an amount that is higher than the average price on this kit. The higher price is due to being a larger kit that has more supplies.
8. Trauma Pack w / QuikClot
This is another version of Adventure Medical Kits trauma kits. It's small enough to fit into a BDU pocket which will help to make sure that it is there when you need it. It's an ideal kit for people who love the outdoors but it's also suitable for a variety of different purposes such as hunting or even disaster relief efforts.
Small
The size of the package makes it into an ideal item to keep in your pocket. It has enough supplies in it to treat up to two people (or two injuries)
Waterproof
The kit is sold in a waterproof bag which will protect the items from damage. You can also refill it with supplies which means that it is reusable as well.
Cost and Value
You will need to plan on spending an amount that is higher than the average price. The higher price is due to the kit be reusable, waterproof, and small which makes it into a great value.
9. Sol Survival Blanket
This is an emergency blanket that will reflect up to 90% of your natural body heat. It's a must-have in any first aid kit where the temperature can drop. The usage instructions are printed right on the blanket and it's durable enough to resist tears and punctures. It's sealed in a small and lightweight bag so that you won't even notice it while you are carrying it.
Bright Orange
The exterior side of the blanket has a bright orange color. The color will make you visible to rescue teams which will increase your chances of survival when you are stranded.
Body Heat
The blanket is made of a polyethylene material that is vacuum-metalized so that it will capture and reflect up to 90% of your body heat back to you so that you don't get too cold.
Cost and Value
You should plan on spending an amount that is lower than the average price for this blanket. The lower price is due to it being a blanket only.
10. Professional Field Trauma Kit
This is a larger trauma kit that provides you with enough protection for up to one or two days in the field. It comes in a water-resistant pouch so that it is easy to carry with you. All of the trauma items that you would expect to find are in the kit such as clotting sponges, gauze, and related items.
Field Pouch
The kit comes in a field pouch that closes securely with a zipper. This makes it small and lightweight so that it is easy to carry with you when you are outdoors.
Clotting Sponge
The kit includes a clotting sponge that you can use to stop bleeding in the event of a severe puncture wound such as an arrow or bullet injury.
Cost and Value
This item is sold at a price that is well above the average price. The higher price is due to it having more supplies which increase the cost but also makes it more useful.
Sources
- Baby First Aid Buying Guide , Webpage ,
- First Aid Buying Guide, Webpage ,
- First Aid Kits, Webpage ,