What are first aid kits best substituted by?

NEW V2 MODEL NOW AVAILABLE!

The Tacmed Bleeding Control Training Kit V2 now features custom laser cut high density internal foam, to keep all the contents safe and secure. With a dual layer lift out design, this kit becomes your all in one base station to run major bleeding control training. 

Tacmed has spent years performing Tactical First Aid Training for people involved in austere and high risk environments, and the use of Tourniquets and wound packing in these situations is a valuable skill to have.

Our team have used their many combined years of Military Medicine, Paramedical and tactical training experience to come up with a portable training kit with the tools required to teach and learn the fundamentals of proper tourniquet application and wound packing techniques.

These kits were inspired by the same equipment our trainers use, packed in lightweight, tough as nails Pelican Air cases that are easy to transport, and keep the equipment inside safe and secure.

The Tacmed Bleeding Control Training Kit contains:

• TraumaSims Tourniquet training limb with bleeder bottle
• TrueClot Wound Packing Trainer with bleeder bottle
• 2x SOFTT-W Tourniquets - Training Blue
• NAR Trauma Shears
• Box of Nitrile Gloves
• Red Dye Blood Simulant
• Wound Packing Gauze
• Pelican Air 1637 Case with custom cut, high density foam to keep all contents safe and secure.

Do you require a customised solution? Speak to our team today and we can build a training kit to suit your exact requirements!

Note - These kits are built to order and have a lead tome of 2-3 weeks.
For urgent or customised requirements, please call us on 1300 862 633.

First aid is all about treating injuries and illnesses at home before seeking medical help. If you don’t have a first aid kit available at home you can improvise using common household items. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to build a first aid kit from items you can find around the house.

We would strongly recommend however that you pick up a comprehensive first aid kit containing the appropriate sterile first aid dressings and items, however, if you find yourself having to improvise then read on! 

Here are our top four household items to use in your improvised first aid kit:

1. Clingfilm

Clingfilm can be used to cover burn and scald injuries one they’ve been cooled for at least ten minutes. Burns should be covered with a non-fluffy dressing to reduce the risk of infection developing in the burn. Clingfilm is ideal to use as it won’t stick to the burn and is an effective barrier against infection.

Don’t wrap the clingfilm tightly around the burn, instead just lay it loosely to cover the injury. Burn injuries will swell so it is important to give the injured area space to swell and expand.

Also, make sure you use clean clingfilm!

2. Frozen Food

A bag of frozen food (for example, frozen peas or other vegetables) is great to use on a sprain/strain or minor head injury. The cold will reduce the swelling and associated inflammation from an injury and may improve healing. 

Use PRICE to remember how to treat a sprain or a strain:

• Protect from further injury
• Rest the injured area
• Ice
• Compression 
• Elevation to reduce swelling

Remember never to apply ice or other freezing items directly to the skin as this could cause cold burns. Instead, wrap the ice or bag of frozen food in a towel in place over the injury. 

3. Clean Towels or Clothes

Direct pressure over a wound is the most effective way to control major bleeding. Elevating the injury will help but is unlikely to completely stop the bleeding.

If you don’t have a pressure bandage available then you can improvise using any clean towels or clothes to hand. Apply firm direct pressure over the wound whilst awaiting the arrival of EMS. 

Monitor the victim for the development of shock and keep the pressure applied until further help arrives. 

4. Bottled Water or Other Drinks

Burns or scalds should be cooled for a minimum of ten minutes. Major burns or burns involving chemicals may require a longer cooling period. If you don’t have running tap water to hand, use any bottled water or other non-toxic liquid to cool the burn.

It is vital that cooling happens immediately in order to remove the heat from the burn and prevent further damage to the skin and underlying tissues. Cooling a burn quickly will speed up healing and reduce the risk of the victim developing permanent scarring from the burn injury. 

Learn Basic First Aid Skills

Sign up for our free online training class to learn more basic life-saving first aid skills. You can also test your knowledge with our free first aid quizzes. 

Recommended Household First Aid Kit

Here’s our recommended household first aid kits tried & tested by our team.

Contents of a basic first aid kit

First aid kit contents vary according to their particular use. For example, a first aid kit for a farm will contain a few different items to a first aid kit for a city-dwelling family.

A basic first aid kit should contain:

• Triangular bandages
• Crepe ('conforming' or elastic) bandages of varying widths
• Non-adhesive (non-stick) dressings of varying sizes
• Disposable gloves (medium and large), preferably made of non-latex material
• Thermal blanket
• Notepad and pencil
• Plastic bags of varying sizes
• Adhesive tape (2.5 cm wide – preferably a permeable tape such as Micropore)
• Resuscitation mask or face shield.

Other equipment can include:

• Medium combine dressing pads (9 x 20 cm)
• Large combine dressing pads (20 x 20 cm)
• Adhesive dressing strips (bandaids)
• Medium gauze dressing (7.5 x 7.5 cm)
• Four sterile tubes of saline solution (minimum 10 ml)
• One pair of scissors
• One pair of tweezers
• First aid booklet.

Medications in first aid kits

The First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice advises that first aid kits for workplaces should not contain medications. First aid is defined as the provision of emergency treatment and life support for people suffering injury or illness. The dispensing of medication does not generally fall within this definition. It is recommended that medicines are not kept in a first aid kit.

If you keep medicines for yourself or your family, such as paracetamol and aspirin for pain relief, they should be kept secure and out of reach of children.

Storing your first aid kit

Storage suggestions include:

• Keep the first aid kit in a dry, cool location.
• Make sure the first aid kit is easily accessible and that everyone in the family knows where it is.
• Some items, such as solutions, may have use-by dates. Check regularly and replace when necessary.
• If an item is used from the first aid kit, promptly replace it.

Learn how to use your first aid kit

A first aid kit won’t help if you don’t know how to use its contents. Buy a book on basic first aid to read about how to use the contents of the kit or, better still, participate in a first aid course.

First aid equipment explained

The various gauzes, dressings and bandages found in a first aid kit have different uses. Some of these include:

• Adhesive strip dressings – small strips of gauze attached to a sticky backing. These dressings are used for minor cuts and skin injuries. In Australia, they are commonly called bandaids. It is important to be aware that some people are allergic to bandaids.
• Non-adhesive dressings – best used for covering burnt or abraded (scraped or grazed) skin. Never use adhesive dressings on burnt or abraded skin.
• Wound dressings – these thick pads are used to help control bleeding and reduce the risk of infection. Different sizes are needed for different-sized wounds.
• Crepe or conforming bandages – these elastic bandages are used to create pressure, hold dressings in place, reduce swelling and provide some support.
• Triangular bandages – these non-elastic bandages are used for slings, to hold splints in place and to restrict movement.
• Sterile eyewash solution – used to flush eyelashes, insects, dust, sand or similar particles from the eye. Never attempt to remove an object that is embedded in or has penetrated an eye – in such an instance, seek urgent medical attention.

Where to get help

• In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
• St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria) Tel. 1300 360 455
• WorkSafe Advisory Service Tel. (03) 9641 1444 or 1800 136 089
• Australian Red Cross Tel. 1300 367 428

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

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