This one goes the whole way back to the summer of 2018, when we were grinding away at paying off our debt and dreaming of the day when we’d actually own a boat. After a particularly difficult week at work, we were both having trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and decided we’d try to do something that would help us remember why we were working so hard and benefit us in the future. (Insert dramatic pause for effect) We put together the first aid kit for our future boat! I know, I know, thrilling lives we live around here! Please do try to contain your excitement, folks!

We set about our extremely exciting first aid kit project in a pretty standard manner – consulting with Google and stalking the pages of some of those who have gone before us. We quickly realized that putting together this first aid kit could run us hundreds of dollars, if we wanted it to. While being prepared for situations that may require first aid is extremely important to both of us, neither of us plan to open a surgical center on the boat. We decided that we would stock our first aid kit with common sense items that would allow us to keep any injuries under control until additional help was obtained. Since we’re not planning to do any 30-day passages across oceans, we kept our focus on being prepared to manage minor first aid situations, as we don’t plan to be over a few hours away from major medical help in the immediate future.

After compiling an extensive list of items we wanted to include in our boat first aid kit, we started scouring the internet for places that would be able to supply the items we needed. We desperately wanted to take the “easy” route of procuring the supplies for our first aid kit…you know, dump everything into an Amazon shopping cart and click “Buy Now” but quickly realized that the prices seemed significantly higher than what we may find at a local brick and mortar store. After much debate about how we wanted to go about collecting the items to put together our first aid kit, we settled on taking a trip to the local Walmart to see how well we could do at the most reasonable cost. Turns out, it worked out really well for us! We were able to score all of the items on our list, including two organizers for smaller items and a bag to keep it all in, for under $165!

BLEEDING AND OPEN WOUNDS

• Gloves
• QuikClot
• Rubbing alcohol (16 oz. bottle)
• Peroxide (16 oz. bottle)
• Iodine
• Gauze Rolls
• Gauze Pads (small, medium and large)
• Medical Tape
• Neosporin
• Bandaids (waterproof, three sizes)
• Butterfly Closures
• New Skin Liquid Bandage (paint-on liquid)
• New Skin Liquid Bandage (spray-on liquid)

MEDICATIONS

• Ibuprofen (travel size, 10 pills in vial-like container)
• Tums (travel size, 12 tablets)
• Stomach relief (Pepto pills)
• Benadryl
• Meclizine

BITES, BURNS AND STINGS

• Hydrocortizone Cream
• Burn Gel
• Vinegar
• Complete Bite and Sting First Aid Kit

EMERGENCY TOOLS

• Bandage Scissors
• Tweezers (stainless steel)
• Forceps (stainless steel, found in the Fishing Department)
• Knife (stainless steel)
• Small Wire Cutters (found in the Home Improvement Department)
• Small Needle-Nosed Pliers (found in the Home Improvement Department)
• Thermometer

MISCELLANEOUS

• Instant ice packs
• Pedialyte Electrolyte Powder
• Safety Pins (Found in the Fabric Department)
• Emergency blanket (Found in the Camping Department)
• Ace Bandages
• Eye Rinse