First Aid Kit Styles

Are you prepared` Every family, organization and business should own a first aid kit. You never know when the materials in your first aid kit will help save someone's life. And you never know when that life might be your own.

When choosing a first aid kit, you should take its style into consideration. Generally you can find a first aid kit in your choice of one of three styles: soft case, hard case and wall-mounted.

The soft case first aid kit is typically smaller. It works well in a purse, under a car seat, in a glove box, suitcase or backpack. Some soft case first aid kits are water-resistant. Others are fanny packs for easy carrying when hiking. If you're short on storage space, you should think about getting the soft-case first aid kit.

You might want a hard-case first aid kit for rougher environments like a garage, a car trunk, a pickup truck or a boat. Hard cases are great for mounting into vehicles, especially for first responders like police, firefighters, highway patrol and EMTs.

The wall-mounted first aid kit is perfect for a central location in a warehouse or other work environment. Because of its commercial use and OSHA regulations, the wall-mounted first aid kit tends to include more specialized and advanced products like instant cold compresses, sting-free antiseptic wipes, trauma pads, burn relief and sterile eye pads.

No matter what style first aid kit you choose, make sure it contains easy-to-follow instructions. And as always, no first aid kit is meant to be a substitute for seeking professional medical attention.