If you find yourself in a situation that makes it impossible to get medical help in a hurry, you have to be able to treat yourself and your loved ones. A grid-down scenario, war or natural disaster might leave you cut off from the world. You will become your own EMT. Now, you could run out and drop a hundred bucks on one of those kits that is pre-built and will last your maybe one or two emergencies.
Or, you could build your own for half the cost and double, maybe triple the supplies. I’m going to give you some of the tricks I use to build up my first aid supplies on the cheap.
Bulk Shopping
Buy in bulk. Obviously, Amazon is probably the easiest way to do this. However, Walmart is another option. If you can’t afford to buy a lot all at once. Set a goal to buy one bulk item every month. When I say bulk, I’m talking maybe twenty bucks tops for a box of alcohol pads, nonstick gauze pads and so on. Don’t get too hung up on the lists you’ll find on the internet. You can never have too much first aid on hand. If you have the room to store a lot, do so. Because even if you don’t need every last band-aid, they make great barter items.
Some things you can get great deals on:
- Gauze rolls
- Band-aids
- Alcohol prep pads
- Self-adhesive bandage wrap
- Non-stick pads
Dollar Store
Yes, most dollar stores are going the way of the wind, but even close to it is still a good deal. Things like band-aids, gauze and medical tape are basically the same as the name brand. Again, buying a few things once a week will cost you five bucks and build up your first aid supplies. Don’t forget about things that aren’t quite as obvious.
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Duct tape (excellent addition to any first aid kit)
- Cotton balls
- Q-tips
Estate and Yard Sales
It might be a little dark, but death is a fact of life. In situations involving someone that’s been on hospice care or possibly just a long sickness, they are likely going to have leftover medical supplies. The surviving family members will typically sell these items for very cheap. Again, think outside of the box when you’re attending these sales. Think long-term care for someone that might have been injured.
- Gloves are a very common find. If the box is open, you don’t want to assume they are sterile. However, nitrile gloves can be used to keep your hands clean when doing cleanup duties.
- Typical first aid supplies i.e. gauze, alcohol pads and bandages.
- Syringes and needles.
- Bed pads
- Adult diapers
Thrift Stores
There are many thrift stores that will have a section of new but opened packages of many of the things we’ve already mentioned. There are some thrift stores that benefit hospice organizations. This is a great way to get items you might need as well as support your community. You’ll typically find all the things you would find at an estate sale. If you have the room, add the following to your first aid supplies.
- ACE bandages
- Slings
- Braces i.e. knee, wrist, ankle
- Crutches
- Blood pressure cuffs
- Pulse oximeters
Army Supply Store
If you happen to have one of these in your local area, you’re going to find some of the good stuff. Yes, you can get some of these more specialized items on Amazon or other online stores, but if you’d prefer to buy local, this is your best bet. Depending on the sales and the deals your local store offers, you can get specialty items. What is great about the Army surplus stores is the fact the gear is typically compressed or packed in tight packaging to make it easier to carry. Now, this list is for the more advanced kits. The items are designed to treat serious injuries in the field until medical care can be obtained. You’ll definitely want to brush up on your skills if you’re going to have these in your kit.
- Suture kits
- Compressed muslin bandages
- Surgical kits
- Gunshot kits
- Israeli bandage
Prepper Conventions
With the growing interest in prepping, prepping conventions are becoming more common. It’s worth a visit. You can save on shipping costs on a variety of first aid supplies from vendors. And I guarantee you if you pick up a handful of items, that vendor is going to give you a great deal. They are there to sell as much as they can. Bundle and save! And on a side note, these conventions will have classes/seminars all day on how to use the goods they are hawking. Free training is always a win.