First Aid Kits for the Farm and Home

Most people want to assemble or buy a first aid kit to place in the family car, shop or tractor, or in other places where it might be needed. First aid kits can be assembled from items found in the home or purchased in drug stores. Proper first aid training is more important than the best first aid kit. A person can help and treat people with knowledge, hands and nearby materials. A first aid kit is useless if a person does not know how to use it.

All vehicles and buildings should have a first aid kit. Restock supplies as they are used from the first aid kit.

First Aid Kits

All trucks and buildings should have a first aid kit. The primary driver of each truck is responsible for ensuring that the kit is present and checked monthly for completeness. Any driver using the truck should make sure the kit is in the truck before taking it on a call. All buildings should have a 36-unit first aid cabinet, and it should be checked monthly.

Immediately replace any used component of the first aid kit. Replacement modules should be kept in inventory in each building. If any unused portion has a chance of being contaminated, it should be discarded and replaced. Keep all materials clean and sanitary.

First Aid Kits for Tractors and Other Farm Machinery

The following is a list of items that should be in a first aid kit carried in tractors and other farm machinery.

• Extra change taped to the carrying case to make an emergency phone call
• A basic first aid manual
• Two triangular bandages with 36" sides (made from bed sheets)
• Spray antiseptic (not a pressurized can)
• Sterile saline solution
• Twelve adhesive bandages and four safety pins
• Two pairs of rubber or latex gloves
• Eye goggles
• Three small packages of sugar
• Mouth protection device for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

Dressing Supplies:

• Four compress bandages, 2"x2", 4"x4"
• 24"x72" compress
• One roll of adhesive tape
• Six pressure bandages
• Gauze bandage
• Stainless steel bandage scissors (strong enough to cut through denim)
• One elastic wrap
• Cold pack
• Amputation preservation kit (plastic bags: one large garbage bag, four kitchen-sized and two bread bags)

First Aid Kit for Home

Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one of each car. A first aid kit should include the following items.

• Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• Two-inch sterile gauze pads (four to six)
• Four-inch sterile gauze pads (four to six)
• Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
• Triangular bandages (three)
• Two-inch sterile roller bandages (three roles)
• Three-inch sterile roller bandages (three roles)
• Splints: ¼ inch thick x 3 inches wide x 12 to 15 inches long
• Scissors, tweezers, needle
• Moistened towelettes
• Antiseptic
• Sterile saline solution
• Thermometer
• Tongue blades (two)
• Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
• Assorted sizes of safety pins
• Cleansing agent/soap
• Latex gloves (two pair)
• Eye goggles
• Sunscreen

Non-prescription drugs such as:

• Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever (Remember: no aspirin for children!)
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Antacid (for stomach upset)
• Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
• Laxative
• Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Publication #: 2339

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