A Better First Aid Kit
I have carried a first aid kit in my car and on my bike for over a decade. Every year or so I check expiration dates and swap things out depending on what life looks like. A few years back, that meant adding dog stuff. This year, it meant adding things for a baby.
Until recently, I only had two kits—one in the car and one on whatever bike I happened to be riding. But now I switch bikes multiple times a day between daycare drop-off and commuting, and I pretty much stopped moving the kit back and forth. Getting caught without it would have been a problem.
The old kits were store-bought and mostly expired, so I rebuilt them from scratch. I ordered supplies in bulk and made four new ones: replacements for the car and bike kits, plus two extras—one for the other bike and one for the stroller. I wanted them to be compact but useful. Not just band-aids and aspirin, but something I could actually use if I rolled up on someone hurt—or crashed myself.
I also added Narcan. I have never had to use it, but a few months ago I saw a guy riding with a sign on his bike that said “I carry Narcan” and thought more of us should do that. It is cheap, takes up almost no space, and it can save a life.
#Gear
This all fits in a medium-size pouch. I keep one in the car, one in the cargo bike, one on my commuting bike, and one in the stroller.
| Item | Count | Description | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Aid Bag | 1 | Just a basic pouch to hold everything | $4.00 |
| Gloves | 4 pairs | First thing you should reach for | $0.72 |
| Gauze pads (2x2) | 2 | Good for small scrapes or cuts | $0.16 |
| Gauze pads (4x4) | 2 | Same as above, just bigger | $0.38 |
| Cotton tip applicators | 10 | Apply ointment without touching wounds | $0.10 |
| Cotton tape | 1 | Tears easily, sticks well | $1.91 |
| Instant cold packs | 4 | Useful for bumps, bruises, sprains | $3.52 |
| Ibuprofen (single dose packs) | 5 | Handy to have on the go | $1.00 |
| Sting relief wipes | 2 | Bug bites, bee stings, etc. | $0.14 |
| Antibiotic ointment | 6 | Helps prevent infection | $1.32 |
| Alcohol prep pads | 12 | Clean hands, tools, skin | $0.744 |
| Band-aid (3X1) | 10 | Good for the usual cuts and scrapes | $0.90 |
| Band-aid (2x4) | 4 | Same as above, just bigger | $1.04 |
| Closure strips | 1 pack | Sort of like DIY stitches | $0.70 |
| Tweezers + Scissors | 1 | Splinters, cutting tape, whatever | $3.99 |
| Narcan nasal spray | 1 | Opioid overdose reversal spray | $15.00 |
Total cost: About $37. Or $22 if you skip Narcan (but you could save someone’s life if you have it)