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by Donna von Nieda

The Hidden Cost of Buying A Cheap First Aid Kit

The truth is that when it comes to buying, most of us are trained to go for the least expensive option. The idea of saving money and getting more for less is so ingrained that we forget to turn off that internal dialog when it comes to making a really important purchase.

Buying a first aid kit is one of those really important purchases and price is not the most important criteria when choosing it. After all, you will be depending on that first aid kit in the event of an emergency. If you choose a cheap medical first aid kit, you may only learn when it is too late, that the kit you bought is costing you in ways you never thought of before.

Wilderness Medical Systems' TSAVO medical first aid kit.
Wilderness Medical Systems’ TSAVO medical first aid kit.

     These are the hidden costs of buying a cheap first aid kit:

  1. You Can’t Find What You Need When You Need It

In an emergency, especially when you are far from home, time is critical. It doesn’t matter what you have in your medical kit.  If you can’t find it quickly and easily in an emergency, you might as well not have it at all.  Our experience in the field has shown that if first aid supplies are not well-organized and always in the same place, the added stress of an emergency can result in not being able to find what you know you have.  Imagine a scenario where you need a third party to find an item in the kit and you can see how important labeling and organization becomes.  Careful organization of and easy access to supplies is one of the hidden secrets of a quality first aid kit.

  1. The Band-Aid Doesn’t Stick and the Tweezers Don’t Pinch

Having professional grade instruments and supplies in your medical kit means that you will be able to treat an injury in the field with items you would most likely find if you went to a U.S.-level emergency room.  Our experience has shown, that if a band-aid doesn’t stick at home, that’s not a problem, but if it doesn’t stick in the field, that can be a real problem.  The same is true for every item in your kit. No excuses. Every item in your kit should be field-tested to make sure it works and that it is the best item for the purpose intended.  Cheap supplies and instruments are a detriment to you and the patient, and can turn a simple emergency into a huge crisis.

  1. Stuff Is Expired

While it is not a show-stopper if you have acetaminophen a little past its expiration date, things really become an issue if you get a kit that has been made with outdated supplies. Some less expensive kit supplies do not even have expiration dates on them so you have no idea how old the supplies really are. A quality medical first aid kit is made using fresh supplies with expiration dates, where applicable, and there should be an easy system for replacing old items when needed.

  1. I Used It Once and Now It Is A Huge Mess…

If a first aid kit can’t be “put back together” it is a bit like Humpty-Dumpty….a broken mess. A quality first aid kit makes it possible to repack the kit once it has been used. Content cards and directories make this process simpler and encourage users of the kit to keep it neat and tidy. This makes treatment faster and easier each time the kit is opened.

  1. I Don’t Know What I Used, So Now I Have To Go Buy Another One

If there is no way to easily figure out what has been used in a first aid kit, the tendency is to ignore the problem until you need the kit again. What happens, sadly, is that the one item that was used before and never replaced is the very item you need the next time you open the kit! Most people then throw up their hands and go buy another kit. Then the cycle starts again. Some people have ended up with as many as five or six first aid kits in various levels of disarray! Instead, look for a first aid kit can be refilled. In a quality first aid kit, missing items are easily accounted for and replaced. A top of the line custom kit provider will even offer kit refill services which do all this for their clients. Make sure you buy a quality first aid kit and keep it filled.

  1. The Bag Fell Apart!

Nothing is worse than discovering  your first aid kit bag is falling apart when you are deep into the jungle or down a river to nowhere…The bag that holds your first aid supplies must be made to the highest standards, using the best grade of materials and rugged enough for the most extreme adventures. A quality first aid kit bag can be seen in the details of its construction and in the quality of its materials. It never hurts to find a first aid kit bag with a lifetime guarantee. That means that the manufacturer really goes the extra mile to make exceptional bags. It cannot be stressed enough that your medical first aid kit is only as good as the bag that holds it together. If the bag goes, so does the kit and your ability to respond to a medical emergency.

There are many quality medical first aid kits on the market. Make sure to evaluate them carefully so you will select the best possible kit for your purposes. If you’d like to talk to us, it’s easy. Here are 3 quick ways to contact us:

  1. Call 406-321-1184 or 800-474-1961
  2. Email us at help@wildernessmedical.com
  3. Book your own appointment at

Filed Under: Adventure and Eco Travel, Blog, Home Preparedness

Testimonials

I have been a user of Wilderness Medical kits for several years. My Wilderness Medical kit has traveled the world with me from kayaking the high Arctic, crossing the Patagonian Ice Cap, and trekking through the Himalayas. After a lot of research including consulting with physicians, I came to the conclusion that the Wilderness Medical kits were far and away the most comprehensive and practical medical kits commercially available. Read more
Most comprehensive and practical medical kit availableNew York, New York
Loved how the kits came back. We have 3 kits all together and they are worth every penny. Whatever you did to (refill and reorganize) them… they are just like new… Read more
Superb Refill Service
Took my father, who’s not in the best of health, to Alaska and had a couple of minor mishaps where the kit came in handy. Read more
Just Got Back From Alaska...
Thanks for the great kit! I showed it to a few friends (2 doctors and an EMT) and they were VERY impressed. B.St.
Very Impressed!
To me though, all of that would not have mattered had your service been bad. Fortunately, working with your company has been a joy. Read more
The Best I Have Experienced in a Long, Long Time
In preparation for my 3,500 mile unsupported trans-Atlantic rowing expedition, I approached Wilderness Medical with a tall order. Read more
2,950 Mile Solo Row Across The Atlantic
The design and internal organization of the kit made it very easy to tailor and repack for specific day-to-day needs. Read more
Just Returned from Darfur, Sudan...
I appreciate all of the personalized help. I will recommend your services to all of the environmental and safety people I know. J. Bowen, Geology Technician
Personalized Help
All looks good, love the zip lock packaging. In this day and age, customer service and customer care is number one. I vote with my checkbook. I want to have a TQE experience… Total Quality Experience. You can bet I will be calling you in the future. Sandra Summers
Total Quality Experience
Very comforting to know that I have all of the supplies I could use at hand should they be needed. Read more
I Can Take Care of Myself and My Family
I have seen my share of emergencies where persons were not prepared to handle them. Read more
Most Important of All Is To Be Prepared To Take Care of My Family
It was very easy to get the custom contents I wanted. Response was swift and accurate. Read more
J. FrostImpressed With The Quality
The kit was fully stocked, catalogued, very well organized, and reasonably priced. Read more
Helped Me Create A Custom First Aid Kit
We have standardized on the Wilderness Medical Systems first aid kits as they provide a good combination of top quality items, perfect for our extensive trips. Read more
Boy Scouts Using Wilderness Medical Systems KitsScoutmaster, trip leaderMerrickville, Ontario, CanadaMerrickville Venturer Scouts
Now my kit accompanies me while working and playing at all times. Read more
Travel To Africa
Dr. Miller's Clinic in Haiti
We used our kit in Haiti and it was a GODSEND!  Great organization and well thought out supplies made our work easier.  Dr. David Miller
Our Kit...Was A GODSEND!
This is a photo with a Pogotta tribe boy in Laikipia, Kenya.  He had a big abscess on his leg.  Thanks to your kit, I was able to treat him very thoroughly.  Thank you Wilderness Medical Systems!!  Dr. Sekiguchi
Able To Help Tribe in Kenya

Contact Us

1258 Stillwater River Road
Nye, MT 59061

Phone: 406-321-1184
800-474-1961
help@wildernessmedical.com

Our Headquarters

1258 Stillwater River Road
Nye, MT 59061

Phone: 406-321-1184
800-474-1961
help@wildernessmedical.com

Our Hours

Mon-Fri 9:00AM-5:00PM

Need help during off hours?
Call 406-321-1184

Get Help

Need help to choose the right medical kit system for your needs? Start by requesting THE QUIZ below:

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