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Keep yourself and your loved ones protected and safe with these expert-approved first aid kits. camping and survival equipment
From scraped knees to car crashes, having a quality first aid kit allows you to treat minor injuries, prevent infections, and even increase the chances of keeping an accident victim alive until proper medical help arrives. Eddie Boyle, director of operations at Cetronia Ambulance Corps, says that a first aid kit is a small stockpile of basic necessities that can treat burns to traumatic injuries. He adds that the supplies can provide life-saving interventions.
We tested 15 top-rated first aid kits and narrowed down the best eight. We evaluated each kit for included products, ease of use, organization, quality, and overall value. An emergency physician from our Medical Expert Board reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy.
Includes tools like a carabiner, scissors, and safety pins
Comes with a cold compress
Items can shift around in the open plastic pockets
Ideal For: Travel and personal use | Case Size: 7.8 x 5.9 x 2.6 inches
We named the Protect Life First Aid Kit our best overall because it has everything you need to treat minor wounds. The durable first aid case contains gauze pads, bandages, first aid tape, a cold pack, gloves, scissors, tweezers, and even an emergency whistle. The contents—all manufactured at an FDA-registered facility—are stored inside a durable hard case, making it ideal for road trips, camping, and hiking. It also proved easy to use, grab, and go during testing.
We didn't like the small carrying case, and the containments weren't secure. They were easy to fall out or shift, and it was hard to get things back inside.
Does not include scissors, tweezers, or OTC medications
Ideal For: At home, travel, offices | Case Size: 7.75 x 10.75 x 7.25 inches
The Be Smart Get Prepared Kit is affordable and has everything you need to treat minor injuries. We loved its ease of use, organization, and overall value. We also liked the sturdy and durable quality of the supplies and storage case. In addition to the basic bandages and alcohol wipes, the kit includes antibiotic ointment, finger splints, a cold compress, and exam gloves. It also carries most of the basic items to treat lacerations and contusions.
The kit lost marks for lacking scissors and tweezers.
Enough supplies to a family of four
Ideal For: Outdoor activities, travel, families | Case Size: 6 x 8.5 x 3 inches
Adventure First Aid Family Kit has enough supplies for small groups or families of up to four people, including topicals like antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointments, bandages and sterile gauze dressings, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medications.
Out of all the kits we tested, this one felt the most organized. We loved that the products were clearly and securely sorted into categories: medications, gauze/bandages, and various trauma care accessories.
The goods come in a zippered soft case which was flimsy and a little difficult to open.
Includes a face shield, gloves, and trauma pads
Contains topical and OTC medications
Ideal For: Offices | Case Size: 4.5 x 13.25 x 14.25 inches
The First Aid Only Kit is the priciest pick on our list, but it's worth the price if you're looking for a kit that contains everything from bandages to OTC pain relief medications, scissors and tweezers, gloves, and a CPR face shield. There are enough supplies to treat up to 50 people, and the plastic case is wall-mountable, making it a smart choice for offices and other places where groups gather.
During testing, we liked that each product had its own designated space. This keeps everything secure and visible, making it easy to use quickly during an emergency. While it's pricier, we feel the value is there.
It's not designed to be portable, so if you're traveling often or plan to move it around frequently, we suggest another option.
Zipper is difficult to open with one hand
Ideal For: Traumatic injuries | Case Size: 7.9 x 5.9 x 3.6 inches
The Professional First Aid Trauma Kit contains items designed to treat traumatic injuries like bleeding, burns, and shock. A pocket-size guide explains each item and how to use it. We like that it contains a trauma pad, elastic bandages, burn care gel, eye pads, and more, all neatly organized and clearly labeled. The design made us feel prepared for anything.
It folds open, so everything is technically accessible. Still, during the timed trial, opening the zippered kit with one hand proved challenging, which could waste precious seconds in an emergency.
Includes an emergency blanket and tourniquet
Items are not well organized
Ideal For: Travel, car | Case Size: 7.5 x 5.2 x 1.5 inches
Looking for a basic first aid kit that you can tuck into your backpack or glove compartment? We recommend the Small First Aid Kit, which is compact but durable. In addition to bandages, tape, and topical ointments, the affordable pouch contains many foldable items, like an emergency blanket, a tourniquet, and a CPR mask. It also has a saline solution for rinsing the eyes and irrigating wounds.
The kit felt very disorganized, which isn't great in an emergency. Everything was just jammed in there. We'd suggest finding a way to organize the kit at home or picking another option if that organization is crucial to you.
Has items for traumatic emergency
Doesn’t include OTC medications
Ideal For: Traumatic injuries, outdoor survival | Case Size: 8 x 6.5 x 5 inches
From a tactical flashlight to a paracord, compass, and even an 11-in-1 tactical pocket tool—all stored in a military-grade EMT backpack—the Everlit is the perfect first aid kit for campers, hikers, and survivalists. During testing, we felt that it carries a lot of value at a very accessible price point. It has all the basics for managing a traumatic emergency (especially when you're in the middle of nowhere).
There are also various bandages and topical sting relief wipes, safety pins, an emergency blanket, glow sticks, a pocket knife, a fire starter, a poncho, and a thermal blanket. We felt it was intuitive and neatly organized, too. It took us mere minutes to find and identify everything important during a crisis.
It has all the basics, except for OTC medication.
Contains items to treat traumatic injuries
Might be tricky to keep main compartment organized
Ideal For: Traumatic injuries, natural disasters | Case Size: 13 x 6 x 9 inches
After testing the First Aid Emergency Response Trauma Kit, we found it easy to use, organized, and filled with quality items, which is great for emergency medical professionals. It includes an assortment of bandages, a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, and just about everything a first responder would need, making it a full-service kit. It's a great one-stop shop for emergency care needs.
It has convenient front and side pockets, but keeping the main compartment organized might take some effort.
We tested 15 first aid kits in the Verywell Testing Lab. Following our detailed methodology, each test was designed to evaluate and compare the kits for ease of use, organization, quality of the products and carrying case, and overall value.
Store your first aid kit where it is easily accessible in your home, car, RV, or backpack. If your kit contains medication, Dr. San Miguel recommends keeping it out of reach of children and avoiding places that get extreme heat or cold, as that can spoil a drug.
According to Boyle, anyone can apply first aid. Uncontrolled bleeding is one of the most serious emergencies that a splint from a first aid kit could make the difference between life or death, says Boyle. To perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), one must be trained.
Receiving her master’s degree in public health in 2020, Kayla Hui is a seasoned public health practitioner and health journalist. She has interviewed dozens of experts, reviewed numerous research studies, and tested many products to deliver well-researched product reviews and roundups. She aims to help readers make more informed decisions about their health and well-being.
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