The Rural First Aid Kit

Since we live rurally I like to be prepared for any medical emergencies.  It's not like we can run across the street for bandages.  In addition, we are always outside and with three boys (plus a husband) someone is always getting banged up.  I think my first aid is probably a little more obsessive extensive than the average person's, but that could be a good thing.  I'd rather have it and never need it than the alternative.

As you can see above, I got everything out recently when Pierce cut a big slice in his finger using scissors in an after school club.  I put peroxide on it and then steristrips to hold the cut together, plus a bandage on top of that to keep everything clean.  The tupperware to the left above has various supplies and medicines, and the tote on the right is all bandages.  It may seem excessive to have so many bandages but we discovered when Paul had his bike crash with major road rash that you can go through a lot of bandages quickly for just one injury (he was changing large bandages twice a day for three weeks).  So it's good to have all different sizes and types.  I also keep some vet bandages (which could be used on humans or horses) and some specialty bandages (like an Israeli army bandage, an expensive bandage, but if someone had a severe cut with a lot of bleeding it would be important to use something like this until we could get to the hospital). 

I like to keep a couple of bottles of Hibiclens which is excellent to cleanse cuts that might be vulnerable to staph.  I have all sorts of ointments, eye wash, a snake bite kit (I actually did research on this to see which, if any, were actually effective - we had a neighbor bit by a copperhead while gardening), and lots of random useful items I've read about in various first aid books.  I have several first aid books I've picked up at thrift stores, and a couple of nursing and medicine books.  Plus, all the tinctures I made last fall and a few essential oils (like oil of cloves, which is excellent to use for a toothache). 

In addition to reading the books, I've watched Youtube videos on how to use some of the specialty bandages, and I've taken first aid and CPR through my job.  Hopefully no big emergencies will happen, but if something does, at least we will be reasonably prepared. 

Readers - do you keep much in the way of first aid supplies?  Do you feel prepared to handle an emergency at home?