A crystal-clear antimicrobial wound gel utilizing the benefits of silver to quickly heal wounds, scrapes, cuts, burns and abrasions. This quick-absorbing, petrolatum-free healer has been shown to inhibit the growth of MRSA, Escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus, along with other germs and bacteria. $20 from Nordstorm.

Stainless steel. BPA-free and comes with a cap filter that sifts out chlorine, lead, and weird tastes or smells. $22 at WaterGeeks.

Medihoney is the first honey-based product cleared for use by Health Canada and also the first cleared for use by the FDA. These unique dressings contain Active Leptospermum Honey, indigenous to New Zealand (Manuka) and Australia (Jellybush). Medihoney provides a moist, occlusive environment conducive to optimal wound healing. Medihoney dressings have been shown to possess unique qualities that make them ideal for the management of chronic and acute wounds and burns.Because they contain a very high percentage of Leptospermum honey, Medihoney dressings are able to work in the presence of wound fluid, blood, and tissue, thus promoting an optimal healing environment. For use on: diabetic foot ulcers, venous stasis leg ulcers, arterial leg ulcers, leg ulcers of mixed etiology, pressure ulcers (I-IV), 1st and 2nd degree burns, donor sites, and traumatic and surgical wounds. Due to their versatility and lack of toxicity, Medihoney dressings can be used in all stages of wound healing, and can also be used as an important component of wound bed preparation. As such, placing these dressings as the cornerstones of a wound care formulary can take a great deal of the guess-work out of wound management. More info at DermaSciences.com. 1.5 Oz. Hydrocolloid Wound Paste, $18 from Amazon.

My kit consists of the following items:

1. J&J Red Cross All-Purpose First Aid Kit

170 items. Great “Boo Boo” Kit. $8 at Target.

2. Chinook Med Bandage & Dressing Module

Stop serious bleeding and bandage wounds. $55 at ChinookMed.com.

3. Chinook Med Burn Module

Bandage serious burns and prevent infection. $46 at ChinookMed.com.

4. Chinook Med Chest Wound Module

Relieve a sucking chest wound/tension-pneumothorax and prevent a collapsed lung. $93 at ChinookMed.com.

5. Chinook Med Medication Module

Selection of the commonly needed over the counter medications. $36 at ChinookMed.com.

6. Chinook Med Suture/Syringe Module

Thorough and complete kit for use in Third World countries, remote areas, or anywhere else you may need to protect yourself from unsanitary conditions. Clean, sterile supplies for wound closure, suturing, debridement, immunizations, injections and IVs. $40 at ChinookMed.com.

7. Chinook Med SOF Tactical Tourniquet

Stop hemorrhaging. One of 2 tactical tourniquets authorized for purchase by the US Army. $28 at ChinookMed.com.

8. Chinook Med Twinject Epi Pen

Epinephrine helps you breathe by relaxing constricted airways in the lungs. It also reverses dropping blood pressure by constricting small blood vessels. $100 at ChinookMed.com..

Initiated by the elements of the Special Operations Command, the new strategies outlined in 1996 were collectively referred to as Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC). 90% of combat deaths occur on the battlefield before the casualty ever reaches a medical treatment facility. TCCC launched a total reassessment of practices with one overarching goal: Decrease Preventable Combat Death at the point of wounding. These new strategies based on historical wounding patterns in combat also bear a particular relevance to the operators of Tactical Law Enforcement who share many operational parallels with their military counterparts. Instead of the civilian-based approaches of the past, integrated strategies specific to combat realities continue to emerge. Compared to standard pre-hospital treatment modalities, which are fundamentally based on blunt trauma, TCCC distinguishes itself from the norm by focusing primarily on the intrinsic tactical variables of penetrating trauma compounded by prolonged evacuation times.

Red Cross and EMT courses are great, but in my opinion, save your money and take this.  If you want to be of help in a crisis, this is the course you need. You will learn how to prevent death and save lives. I was fortunate enough to attend one while I was in the military, but there are civilian training facilities that offer this course.

Some training materials available at NAEMT.org. NOTE: These training materials are NOT A SUBSTITUTE for taking the course by authorized instructors..