First aid kits review and compare

Many of the first aid kits we tested could leave you ill-prepared when an accident strikes.
 
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  • Updated:29 Sep 2007
 

03.Product profiles

Profiles – the best

Australian Red Cross Household Kit 12730

Price: $79

  • Includes a foil emergency blanket
  • One point of the forceps had visible rust after the rust test
  • No resuscitation mask
  • No insect bite treatment

Brenniston Motor Vehicle First Aid Kit Q150W

Price: $38

  • Includes a foil emergency blanket
  • No gauze swabs
  • There are no compartments in the bag, which makes it difficult to find what you want

First Aid Kits Australia Medium Risk Home Portable K410GP

Price: $88

  • Includes a foil emergency blanket and a cold pack
  • No visible rust on the scissors after the rust test
  • No inventory

Profiles – the rest

The remaining kits scored considerably worse — for lacking essential items, providing insufficient quantities of the items they did include, or failing the rust or bandage-stretch tests. For details, check out their profiles on the following page.

In general, you get what you pay for. Almost all the kits tested that cost $30 or less occupy the bottom end of the table. While their contents might be fair value for the price you pay, they aren’t comprehensive enough for a ‘general purpose’ kit.

Quell Home and Family First Aid Kit 128381

Price: $55

  • No visible rust on the scissors after the rust test.
  • Good scores in the bandage stretch and rust resistance tests.
  • The box doesn’t have separate shelves or sections, which makes it difficult to find what you want.

First Aid Kits Australia Home and Away KP295GP

Price: $66

  • Includes a foil emergency blanket.
  • Bandages scored equal highest in the stretch test.
  • The hinge on the top basket in the box is a little stiff.
  • No inventory.

Amada First Aid Kit 9/S

Price: $55

  • No rust on the forceps after the rust test.
  • Only one (small) stretch bandage.

First Aid International Domestic Kit

Price: $100

  • Includes a cold pack.
  • Good supply of gauze swabs.
  • Scissors were missing from the kit, along with shavers, the thermometer and a 30 mL medicine cup.
  • No wound dressings 13, 14 or 15.

St John All Purpose Small Leisure Kit 640001

Price: $50

  • Includes a foil emergency blanket.
  • No wound dressings 13, 14 or 15.
  • No inventory.

Trafalgar Handyman First Aid Kit T94225 #

Price: $50

  • Includes a cold pack.
  • No gauze swabs.

Ambulance Victoria Home Kit #

Price: $30

  • Includes a foil emergency blanket.
  • No non-adherent dressing.
  • No insect bite treatment.
  • No inventory.

Royal Life Saving Everyday First Aid Kit TS445

Price: $55

  • Includes a cold pack.
  • Only small bandages.
  • No inventory.

Australian Red Cross Personal Kit 12700

Price: $25

  • Supplied bandages gained full marks in the stretch test.
  • Clear plastic bag makes items easy to see.
  • Only one (medium) bandage.
  • No wound dressings 13, 14 or 15.
  • No saline or similar.
  • No insect bite treatment.
  • No first aid literature.

Equip REC 3

Price: $60

  • Bandages scored equal highest in the stretch test.
  • Good supply of gauze swabs.
  • No adhesive tape.
  • No wound dressings 13, 14 or 15.
  • No insect bite treatment.

First Aid International Basic Domestic Kit

Price: $70

  • Includes a cold pack.
  • Good supply of gauze swabs.
  • Scissors were missing from the kit, along with forceps, a 30 mL medicine cup and five splinter probes.
  • No wound dressings 13, 14 or 15.

Brenniston Home Essentials First Aid Kit

Price: $28

  • Clear plastic box makes items easy to see.
  • Scissors’ hinge rusted severely in the rust test.
  • No forceps.
  • Only one (small) stretch bandage.

Quell Home and Office First Aid Kit 128378

Price: $17

  • Clear plastic box makes items easy to see.
  • Only small bandages.
  • No wound dressings 13, 14 or 15.

St John Small Emergency 619501

Price: $20

  • Includes a foil emergency blanket.
  • Clear plastic box makes items easy to see.
  • Only one (medium crepe) bandage.
  • No wound dressings 13, 14 or 15.
  • No non-adherent dressing.
  • No insect bite treatment.

Tyco Healthcare TFK1

Price: $14

  • The only kit to have both scissors and forceps pass the rust test.
  • No gauze swabs.
  • No wound dressings 13,14 or 15.
  • No non-adherent dressing.
  • No insect bite treatment.
  • No saline or similar.
  • No first aid literature.
  • No inventory.

Protector First-Aid Kit

Price: $20

  • Clear plastic box makes items easy to see.
  • Only small stretch bandages.
  • No wound dressings 13, 14 or 15.

Royal Life Saving First Aid Kit Bumbag TS450

Price: $30

  • Includes a foil emergency blanket.
  • No gauze swabs.
  • Only one (small) stretch bandage.
  • No scissors.
  • No insect bite treatment.
  • No inventory.

Trafalgar Home Kit T94020 #

Price: $25

  • Removable, small plastic pouch.
  • Scissors’ hinge rusted severely in the rust test.
  • No gauze swabs.
  • Only one (small) stretch bandage.
  • No wound dressings 13, 14 or 15.
  • No saline or similar.

Equip Family First Aid Kit

Price: $30

  • Good supply of gauze swabs.
  • No scissors or gloves.
  • No wound dressings 13, 14 or 15.
  • No saline or similar.
  • No insect bite treatment.
  • No triangular bandage.
  • No inventory.
 

 

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