Everyone, survivalist or not, should have a first aid kit in their home and one in their car. Most people can probably name most of the more common items in a first aid kit, such as Band-Aids, gauze pads, bandaging, scissors, tweezers, ice pack, antiseptic wipes, and non-latex gloves.
However, there might be situations in which you don’t have your first aid kit handy at a time when you really need it. In times like these, it is good to know some unusual and uncommon items that are very useful when first aid is required, items that would also be great to include in your regular first aid kit. Here is a list of some great unusual and uncommon first aid items:
#11 Spirits
This can be whiskey, bourbon, vodka, or any other spirits that you have on hand. Of course, the higher alcohol content, the better. A strong bottle of spirits can be used to sterilize medical instruments and the wound. The wounded person can also drink the spirits, dulling the pain when there is no anesthetic available.
#10 QuickClot
QuickClot or any other homeostatic agent is used to make the blood clot so you can stop severe bleeding.
The idea is this is used in large wounds that are bleeding heavily and there is a high risk of death due to blood-loss.
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#9 Hard Candies
These can be used to help someone calm down when they begin to panic after they sustained an injury. Lifesavers are the best choice for this.
#8 Razor Blades
These are very useful anytime you need to have clear skin to which an adhesive must stick or more importantly, when you need to get a proper fit with your N95 mask. Facial hair will not allow you to get a good seal with the mask, so being able to do a quick shave is indispensable and could save your life!
#7 Tampons
Tampons are made to be highly absorbent, so when there is a large wound and you have no QuickClot available, using a tampon to plug the wound is a great solution. You should not actually insert the tampon into the wound because it can be difficult to get out. However, if the emergency is severe and you are far from medical help, then it could save your life.
#6 Sanitary Napkins
These have a similar function to tampons, but are better as a compress and act as a good dressing for wounds. They can cover fairly large wounds and are good to use for deep wounds that would normally require lots of gauze. Just be sure not to use scented pads.
#5 Duct Tape
Yes, duct tape can be used for anything and everything, so why not first aid, as well? You can use it to hold that tampon, sanitary napkin, or some other type of compress on a wound or hold a splint in place when dealing with a broken bone. Duct tape can also be used to remove ticks. All you need to do is tear off a small strip, push the tape inward to make a crease that is held by the sticky side and you can use it as tweezers. Just be sure when removing a tick that you get all of it out and clean the wound afterward.
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#4 Superglue
When you don’t have access to medical glue or steri-strips and you have a wound to close, you can always use superglue. Be sure to only use it on small wounds, 5 cm or less, and only when the wound has a straight, clean edge. In addition, do not use it on wounds on the face or that are deep. Be sure to clean the wound thoroughly before gluing it shut.
#3 Suture Kit
This is not something you want to use unless you absolutely have to, which is generally in a serious survival situation, possibly a situation in which society has broken down and there is no access to professional medical care. If you do need to suture someone’s wound in dire circumstances, having a suture kit on hand is invaluable. However, if you go this route, then please learn how to use the kit and practice suturing so you know what you are doing when the time comes. Medical students sometimes practice on orange peels.
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#2 Floss
This is good to have on hand if you have a tooth infection, but it can also be used as suture if you can’t access the real deal. Just don’t use the flavored kind of floss. Floss can also be used to make a tourniquet. This is only if you are in a desperate situation and you need to be careful not to cut the skin (the floss is thin), but it has been done with success.
#1 Vaseline
Finally, Vaseline, otherwise known as petroleum jelly, is great to have around. While it isn’t an antibiotic, once a wound is clean, you can place a dab of Vaseline on a wound to seal it off from contaminants; keeping it clean and dry. You can also dab Vaseline on a biting tick, which will make the tick let go because it will choose breathing over eating.
Just remember that all of these solutions are not supposed to take the place of professional medical help, so please get that help if at all possible. You should also always use proper, sterile first aid supplies whenever possible. However, these are some everyday items you can include in your current first aid kits or that you just might have around when an emergency happens and your first aid kit isn’t close by. They could even save your life or the life of someone you love.
