This article is meant to be a complete guide to assembling a thorough first aid kit for your homestead. You can’t always avoid injuries even if you take precautions by having the perfect tools and clothing. The many jobs that homesteading requires make the risk of having an injury pretty high.
I like to have all the tools and materials I need to perform first aid in the event of an injury. Plus, I like to keep some over-the-counter medication around in case of sickness or allergic reactions. But before we get to the list, let’s talk about why we need the things on the list.
Getting to a Hospital Can Take a While
Most often, homesteaders choose to live a little ways away from the hustle and bustle of a town or city. We like our peace and quiet and the tranquility of life without noisy neighbors. This means we need to be prepared to handle emergencies when they occur. Being able to handle minor injuries such as scrapes and burns is important, but it is also important to know how to respond to major emergencies such as broken arms or gun shot wounds.
Life on a homestead can get a bit dangerous depending on how you run it. In the event of a gun shot wound, stopping the bleeding before taking the injured person to the hospital could save your family member’s life. In the case of a broken arm, you can stabilize the arm first at home to help decrease the pain before making the trip to the hospital.
This is Life, it Doesn’t Hurt to be a Little Over-Prepared
Sometimes homesteading can feel like an over-extended camping trip, especially when you are first starting out. Being prepared with a first aid kit is worth the time it takes to put one together and the designated space so you can store a complete kit.
We’re not talking about going backpacking, where we would be very limited on space and only need to pack the bare essentials. We’re not even talking about going camping where we would be limited on what we could pack in our car or trailer. We are talking about your homestead and it’s worth it to make sure you are well-prepared for potential emergencies as well as for small injuries that may come up.
Common Injuries on the Homestead
It is only reasonable to expect injuries to happen on your homestead. After all, it’s an active lifestyle that requires constant attention. Below I have listed a few of the more common injuries you can expect to see on your homestead.
Blisters
Not wearing the proper gloves while swinging a shovel, rake, or any other hand tool could cause friction blisters. They are bubbles on your skin that are filled with fluid, caused by friction.
Another kind of common blister is a result of extreme heat or cold. Working your homestead in the winter without proper gloves could result in blisters from frostbite. Similarly, working too long in the sun can result in a sunburn, which results in blisters.
Sometimes while clearing your land you may come in contact with plants that are unfamiliar to you and it turns out that you are allergic to them. If you rubbed up against the plant, you might end up with blisters. It is similar to getting blisters as a result of a poison ivy allergy.
Insects can take the blame for some itchy blisters. Mosquito bites and spider bites are common on the homestead. While mosquito bites can be irritating, spider bites can be cause for more attention, especially if you were bit by a brown recluse spider. It has an extra-nasty bite that blisters before bursting to form a painful open sore.
Chain Saw Injuries
Chain saws are not toys and a lack of respect and attention to safe handling may result in severe injuries. Each year, approximately 36,000 people in the US are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries from using chain saws.
Clearing trees and cutting firewood are important jobs on the homestead that require operating a chain saw. Accidents can occur if you haven’t chosen the proper size of chain saw to match the job. Not sharpening the teeth on your chain saw and not lubricating the blade can also result in injuries.
Other causes of chain saw injuries include not wearing the proper protective equipment, not checking the area where you will be cutting for possible hazards such as nails or cables, cutting above or below waist level, not keeping your cutting area clean as you go, or your family members being close to you as you are cutting and are injured as a result.
Cuts
As you can imagine, the list of possible ways for getting cut is endless while working your homestead. Mending fences, pruning trees, butchering meat, sharpening chain saw blades, and installing barbed wire are just a few of the ways you can get cut if you don’t take the necessary precautions, wear the proper attire, and use the appropriate equipment for the job.
Heat Exhaustion
Working too hard and long in the heat can result in dizziness and fatigue. On the homestead we often push ourselves because we are excited about a project we are working on and want to complete it. Just keep in mind that staying hydrated and cool in hot temperatures is a must.
Hunting Injuries
Improper handling of a weapon or lack of communication between hunting partners can result in shooting accidents. Not wearing blaze orange attire or pulling the trigger when you see movement but are unsure if it is an animal can result in death or serious injury.
Machine Related Injuries
Accidents caused by improper use of equipment, malfunction of equipment, or careless attention to safety protocol may cause injuries and can even result in death. Each year approximately 100 US farmers are killed from their tractors rolling over while being used. It is reported that each year in the US there are over 30,000 gas and electric chain saw related injuries.
According to The University of Tennessee, “on average, 113 youth less than 20 years of age die annually from farm-related injuries (1995-2002), with most of these deaths occurring to youth 16-19 years of age (34%). Of the leading sources of fatal injuries to youth, 23% involved machinery (including tractors), 19% involved motor vehicles (including ATV’s), and 16% were due to drowning.”
Neck and Back Injuries
Lifting, pushing, shoving, and carrying all put strain on your neck and back. On the homestead we are constantly carrying heavy loads and lifting heavy objects. Knowing how to lift properly and what your limit is will save you neck and back pain.
The Complete Checklist
Instructions
It’s a smart idea to have a First Aid Manual on hand at your homestead. This manual on Amazon is really inexpensive and is perfect for someone like me who has no medical background. There are lots of photos and diagrams and it uses clear simple language. It has great reviews on Amazon from medical professionals as well as non-medical people like myself. I would buy a copy for your homestead and keep it with your first aid kit.
The Basics
Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together, make sure it has all the items you may need. The following checklist is what the American Red Cross recommends you have in a first aid kit for a family of 4. Depending on the size of your family, you may want to adjust these numbers.
- 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
- 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
- 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
- 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
- 5 antiseptic wipe packets
- 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
- 1 blanket (space blanket)
- 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
- 1 instant cold compress
- 2 pairs of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
- 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
- Scissors
- 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
- 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
- 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
- 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
- Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
- 2 triangular bandages
- Tweezers
- First aid instruction booklet
I recommend this First Aid Kit sold on Amazon. It is a best seller and includes more than the recommended items from American Red Cross. The only think lacking is the breathing barrier (with one-way valve), which is used when needing to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation This isn’t a big deal for us because our kit is used on our homestead where we are all friends and family.
Check your kit every 6 months for expiration dates and replace any out-of-date items. After treating an injury be sure to replace the used materials so you will be prepared for the next emergency.
Bandages
In addition to what the American Red Cross recommends above, we like to keep extra bandaids on hand. It’s easy to buy them in boxes and store in or near your first aid kit.
Povidone-iodine
We just call it Betadine, which is a brand name. Simply put, it’s an antiseptic used to prevent infections. It is used for external use only. We used this so much while living in Indonesia where humidity is high and infections spread quickly. Applying a small drop to an open cut always prevented infections. It is sold over the counter, or you can use this Amazon link. This is a must have in our family’s first aid kit! They also sell a spray, but I always buy it in liquid form. One bottle will last you a long time!
Medications
If you or your family members take prescription medications, be sure to include those in your kit. You might not have extra medications that you can store in your first aid kit, but be sure to include a personal note that specifies what medication it is and who it is for.
Other Stuff
Blood Types
Having each member of your family’s blood types listed in your first aid kit is really practical in times of emergencies. If you don’t know your blood types here are a few suggested ways to figure it out.
- Visit your local health clinic and ask to have them test your blood type. Call ahead to make sure your clinic provides this service.
- Donate blood and ask the staff if they can tell you what your blood type is. Call ahead to make sure they’ll give you your blood type.
- Call a doctor who has already drawn your blood. If he already has it on file, then you just need to ask!
Emergency Phone Numbers
Emergency phone numbers could include your doctor’s number and emergency contact numbers, such as your spouse’s, children’s or parents’.
Health Insurance Name and Policy Numbers
You may not think about your health insurance ID card very often but it is like your passport to care and coverage. It’s best to carry your health insurance ID card in your wallet, but include this information in your first aid kit for each of your family members as well.
Take a First Aid and CPR Class
If you’re like me, you have no medical background. It’s important for me to do everything I can to be prepared to help my family in the case of an emergency. There’s no telling what kind of emergencies will come up as you work your homestead.
Learning to recognize and care for a variety of first aid emergencies such as burns, cuts, scrapes, illnesses, as well as head, neck, and back injuries will be so beneficial to your homestead. I recommend taking a First Aid and CPR Class.
American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR courses are approximately $113.00. They are offered in three options.
- Classroom These are local classes held at convenient locations and times for you. You will participate in hands-on training and learn from experienced instructors. This class provides full certification.
- Online With this option you will work at your own pace and schedule. They are interactive and customizable courses. You will have unlimited course access for two years.
- Online + Classroom This option combines the flexibility of online classes with hands-on training. You will also be provided full certification.
Go to the American Red Cross Take a Class website and search for the type of class you wish to take based on your location. They will provide you with class descriptions, dates and times, as well as locations for available classes in your area.
What’s Missing?
I want this First Aid Guide to be as helpful and complete as possible. I have done my best to include the information I believe will equip you to handle emergencies that may come up on your homestead. What does your homestead first aid kit include that I have not listed in this article? Please comment below so that other readers will benefit from your knowledge.
