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I went through this first aid kit one section at a time, and somewhere around the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation shield I caught myself wondering if it’d be weird to just keep one in my purse. There’s a lot packed into this little red bag, more than I expected from something this size.
Protect Life sent me this 250-piece kit to look over, and I’m happy to have it. It’s small, it feels sturdy, and it’s set up so you aren’t digging around for the one thing you need.
Quick Verdict
- Buy it if: you want one well-stocked kit that still tosses easily into a suitcase or backpack
- Skip it if: a handful of bandages in a drawer is all you’re after
- My favorite feature: every little thing sealed in its own pouch
- Would I buy again? Yes
What Makes This More Than a Bandage Kit
Next to the usual bandages and gauze, there’s an emergency blanket, a whistle, a compass, a light stick and a CPR face shield. I’d call it a survival kit as much as a first aid kit.
Maybe the whistle and compass count as first aid too, I’m not sure. Either way, I’m glad they’re in there.
Protect Life 250-Piece Survival First Aid Kit
A 250-piece first aid kit in a zip-up bag, with a smaller kit tucked in the lid and a few survival extras.
Protect Life 250 Piece Kit Specs
- Pieces: 250
- Bag size: 9.4 x 6.3 x 3.15 inches, per Protect Life
- Weight: 1.46 pounds, per Protect Life
- Bag: ripstop fabric with a carry handle
- Inside: bandages, alcohol prep pads, antiseptic towelettes, cotton swabs, cotton balls, gauze pads, an eye pad, an abdominal pad, a triangular bandage, tape, blister relief, gloves, tweezers, scissors, safety pins, an emergency blanket, a whistle, a compass, a light stick, a CPR face shield, a printed first aid guide and a mini kit
Where Does a Kit Like This Belong?
In the house, and in my bag when I travel. My first thought was the car, until I remembered Protect Life makes a separate car kit. For the car, the BLINGSTING car emergency kit I tried rides in my trunk.
It’s also a great size for backpacking. Bringing the whole thing wouldn’t take up much room in a pack. And if you’re stocking up for power outages, it makes sense next to the Pronly 3 band radio I keep for storm season.
What It Looks Like Inside
The zipper glides, and the bag opens up into a bunch of little inner pockets. It’s very organized, and I want to keep it that way. What I like most is that everything sits in its own sealed bag, so it stays clean until you need it, and you can seal it right back up after.
One section is all bandages. Another holds alcohol prep pads, antiseptic towelettes and cotton swabs. Then there are sterile cotton balls, gauze pads and an eye pad, the kind for an actual eye, not the electronic kind.
Three Things I Noticed Right Away
- A tiny kit in the lid: it holds bandages, safety pins and cotton swabs. Say you’re camping. The full kit stays with your stuff in the tent and the little one goes with you on a walk.
- A fold-out first aid guide: it walks you through checking the scene, checking the person and checking their breathing. It’s very easy to blank out in an emergency, so having the steps written down is really helpful.
- Blister relief: I need it pretty often, so it’s nice to see it in here.
The guide covers the steps but not your own details. For those, I made a free wallet card for your medicines, allergies and who to call over on Admin Arcade, and a spare copy could live in this kit.
Little Things I Liked
- The bag is sturdy enough to refill and keep using
- It folds back up nice and compact
- The tweezers are a good, big size
Good to Know Before You Order
- There’s a carry handle on the side for grabbing it in a hurry.
- There’s no pain reliever in it, so add your own if you want some on hand.
Common Questions About First Aid Kits Like This
Do first aid kits expire, and how often should I check mine?
Some of the supplies do. The American Red Cross says to go through your kit once a year and replace anything that’s expired. Its shelf life list puts alcohol wipes and antibiotic ointment at about two years, and it says bandages and tape get less sticky over time. It also says to swap out gauze if the package is wet or discolored, even when it isn’t past its date.
Can I keep a first aid kit in my car?
Yes, the kit can ride along. Medicine is the exception. MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s health site, says not to keep medicine in a car’s glove compartment, since it can get too hot, too cold or wet there. If you’ve added any to your kit, keep that part somewhere cool and dry at home.
Should you pop a blister?
Try not to. The American Academy of Dermatology says opening a blister up raises the risk of infection, and that most heal on their own in one to two weeks. Cover it loosely with a bandage in the meantime. Their one exception is a blister that’s large and very painful, where draining it may be needed to ease the pain.
How do you use a triangular bandage as a sling?
St John Ambulance’s steps start with the hurt arm supported and the bandage slid underneath it, with the point of the triangle under the elbow. One end goes behind the neck, the other folds up over the forearm, and the two tie in a reef knot above the collarbone on the hurt side. Adjust it until it holds the arm out to the tip of the little finger, then pin or tuck the loose corner at the elbow. The kit’s safety pins work for that. They also say to check the circulation in the fingertips every 10 minutes.
Other First Aid Kits to Compare
- M2 BASICS 350 Piece Wall Mount First Aid Kit: a red hard case that hangs on the wall or carries by a handle, with 350 pieces sorted into fold-out trays behind a clear front. You can see when you’re running low on something before you even open it.
- American Red Cross Deluxe All Purpose First Aid Kit: a soft pack with 299 pieces in clear zip pockets that leans toward everyday care, with pain reliever, burn and sting packets, a thermometer and a finger splint instead of survival extras.
- EVERLIT Emergency Trauma Kit: a 75-piece tactical pouch built around serious bleeding, with a CAT GEN-7 tourniquet, a pressure dressing, compressed gauze and a splint roll.
Am I Keeping This One?
Yes, it’s staying. If you want one kit that covers the basics plus a few survival extras, and that splits into a mini kit for a day out, this one does it.
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