First Responder First Aid Kits

The first responder kit was there when Mt. St. Helen's erupted. It was there when the tsunamis ravaged Southeast Asia. It was there on 9/11, and it will be there whenever brave men and women risk their own lives to save the lives of others.

A first responder kit allows these first responders such as EMS, EMT, search and rescue personnel, firemen and law enforcement officers to quickly administer first aid at the injury site in a timely manner. When faced with a medical emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you have the essential first-aid components you need to provide immediate treatment.

Unlike other first aid kits, these advanced first responder kits are designed for those professionals who are called upon to provide medical care as a part of their work. Most first responder kits will run $100 and up and will contain a complete array of carefully chosen medical supplies including CPR devices, wound dressings, bandages, tapes, biohazard bags, gloves and more.

First responder kits are available in a variety of style choices, including soft case and hard case. While you generally won't find a wall-mounted first responder kit, there are some designed to be mounted in an ambulance or other emergency vehicle. Soft-case kits are often designed as fanny packs for easy carrying (especially handy for river guides, hunting and expedition guides, trip leaders, outdoor instructors and other wilderness uses) and can hold enough supplies for up to 20 people, depending on the severity of the trauma. Larger, hard-case kits come in many sizes as well, often with handles and shoulder straps, and are ideal for situations involving 50-100 persons or more.

No matter what size or style first responder kit you choose, it is a must for every search and rescue team, highway patrol vehicle, doctor, nurse, EMT, military personnel or other potential first responder. Because the last thing you want is to be unprepared.