If you’ve been shopping around for a first aid kit lately, then you’re already doing something very productive. Accidents happen regardless of where you are. Whether you’re home, at school, at work, in your car, or at a friend’s house, emergency situations can pop up with little warning. Now you know that having some kind of medical kit on hand is crucial; the question is: if you can only afford one, should you get a first aid kit or a trauma kit?  

Really, you SHOULD have both. Why? Because they serve different functions. Here, let us explain…

First Aid Kits are For Treating Minor Injuries

First aid kits generally contain things like bandaids, neosporin, and pain medication. These are all medical supplies used to treat minor sprains, cuts, and bruises. That said, deluxe first aid kits do exist. In these, you’ll find a higher quantity of supplies and tools. Still, even deluxe kits are designed to treat minor incidents.

Trauma Kits are For Treating Life Threatening Injuries

Generally speaking, we reach for trauma kits when we need to stop some heavy bleeding. The 3 must-haves in a trauma situation are a pair of gloves to protect from bloodborne pathogens, a proven tourniquet, and some kind of hemostatic guaze. Yes, there are more items included in most trauma kits, but these are certainly the essentials. In an emergency situation, you don’t want to have to sift through too many different tools to find what you need. 

Need Trauma Kits or First Aid Kits? We have a variety of both! Shop Now.