When it comes to preparedness, first aid is one of the most essential pillars. Whether you’re hiking solo, caring for your family, or part of a survival group, having the right medical supplies can save lives. In Canada, first aid kits should follow guidance from recognized authorities:
- Canadian Red Cross – provides personal and community first aid kit recommendations.
- St. John Ambulance Canada – publishes family and workplace kit standards.
- Health Canada – sets guidelines for the safe use of over-the-counter medications.
- CSA Z1220-17 – a Canadian Standards Association standard that specifies required first aid kit contents for workplaces and remote locations.
The kits below are built by combining and scaling these official Canadian sources. Each step up (Individual → Family → Survival Group) expands capacity and capability while remaining grounded in standards.
1. Individual First Aid Kit
This kit is compact, portable, and designed for personal use during everyday activities, camping, or commuting.
Contents (Based on Canadian Red Cross & CSA Z1220-17 Minimum Requirements):
- Adhesive bandages (various sizes) – 20+
- Sterile gauze pads (4×4 cm, 10×10 cm) – 5 each
- Adhesive tape (medical grade) – 1 roll
- Antiseptic wipes or swabs – 10
- Antibiotic ointment – 1 tube
- Elastic bandage (tensor) – 1
- Triangular bandage – 1
- Small scissors & tweezers
- Disposable medical gloves – 2 pairs
- CPR face shield/barrier device
- Alcohol hand sanitizer – 1 small bottle
- Emergency blanket (Mylar) – 1
- Personal medications (e.g., inhaler, EpiPen)
- First aid manual (pocket version)
Use Case:
Great for hikers, commuters, or anyone wanting a quick-access kit. Light and compact enough to keep in a backpack or vehicle.
2. Family First Aid Kit
This kit expands on the individual kit to handle multiple people, minor household accidents, and more serious injuries until professional help arrives.
Contents (Based on St. John Ambulance Family Kits & CSA Requirements):
- All items from the Individual Kit, plus:
- Extra adhesive bandages (50+) and gauze pads (10+)
- Larger sterile dressings (10×20 cm, abdominal pads) – 5
- Burn dressings or burn gel – 2
- Cold packs (instant) – 2
- Eye wash solution (saline) – 1 bottle
- Eye pads – 2
- Thermometer (digital)
- Oral rehydration salts – 2 packets
- Pain relievers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, safe for adults & children)
- Antihistamines (allergy relief)
- Oral thermometer and disposable covers
- Additional triangular bandages – 2
- Splint (SAM splint or foldable type) – 1
- Larger scissors and extra tweezers
- Notebook and waterproof pen (for recording vitals, allergies, treatments)
Use Case:
Designed for households, camping families, or small group outings. Covers common injuries like cuts, sprains, burns, and allergic reactions.
3. Survival Group First Aid Kit
For prepper communities, survival retreats, or organized emergency groups, this kit functions as a field medical station. It includes trauma supplies and is organized in modules for rapid response.
Contents (Based on CSA Z1220-17 Remote/Worksite Kits, plus TECC/TCCC Adaptations for Preppers):
- All items from Individual and Family Kits, plus:
- Trauma dressings (Israeli bandage style) – 4
- Hemostatic agents (e.g., QuikClot gauze) – 2
- Chest seals (vented, twin pack) – 2
- Tourniquets (CAT or SOFTT-W) – 2
- Airway adjuncts (oropharyngeal, nasal airway set with lubricant)
- Bag-valve mask (BVM)
- Blood pressure cuff & stethoscope
- Glucometer with test strips
- Larger quantity of gloves (10+ pairs)
- Field surgical kit (for trained responders only)
- IV starter kit & fluids (if advanced medical providers are present)
- Extra medications:
- Antibiotics (for group use, if prescribed by a licensed doctor)
- Extra antihistamines and painkillers
- Splints (SAM splints, rigid splints) – multiple
- Suture kit or wound closure strips
- Large trauma shears
- Headlamp with red/white light for night treatment
- Portable stretcher or foldable evacuation chair
- Waterproof case or rugged backpack for organization
Use Case:
For survival groups, retreats, or remote communities preparing for extended emergencies. Can address trauma, stabilize patients, and support ongoing care until evacuation or recovery.
How the Sources Were Used
- Canadian Red Cross provides the baseline for personal kits, ensuring individual preparedness.
- St. John Ambulance Canada outlines what households and families should keep on hand, scaling up for multiple people.
- CSA Z1220-17 ensures workplace and remote-site kits meet legal Canadian standards for size, remoteness, and risk. These lists were expanded for family and group applications.
- Health Canada guidance was applied when adding medications, ensuring only safe, over-the-counter items are listed unless prescribed by a physician.
- For the survival group kit, I drew on Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) best practices, but carefully adapted them so they remain realistic in Canada, where certain supplies (like prescription antibiotics or IV fluids) require medical authorization.
What is CSA Z1220-17?
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) created CSA Z1220-17: First Aid Kits for the Workplace to set national standards for first aid kit contents in Canadian workplaces. This standard specifies:
- Different kit levels depending on workplace size, location, and risk level.
- Minimum required supplies, such as dressings, bandages, gloves, and first aid manuals.
- Remote/isolated workplace provisions, which require more advanced supplies due to delays in emergency services.
By aligning prepper kits with CSA Z1220-17, we ensure that supplies aren’t just “best guesses,” but meet nationally recognized Canadian safety standards.
Comparison Table: Individual vs Family vs Survival Group Kits
| Item / Supply Category | Individual Kit | Family Kit | Survival Group Kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adhesive bandages | 20+ | 50+ | 100+ |
| Sterile gauze pads | 5 | 10+ | 20+ |
| Large dressings | – | 5 | 10+ |
| Antiseptic wipes | 10 | 20+ | 40+ |
| Antibiotic ointment | 1 tube | 1+ tube | Multiple |
| Elastic (tensor) bandage | 1 | 2 | 4+ |
| Triangular bandages | 1 | 3 total | 6+ |
| Burn dressings / gel | – | 2 | 4+ |
| Cold packs | – | 2 | 4+ |
| Eye wash & pads | – | Yes | Expanded supply |
| Pain relievers | Personal meds | Adult & child | Stocked (OTC + prescribed) |
| Antihistamines | Personal meds | Yes | Bulk supply |
| Splints | – | 1 | Multiple (SAM + rigid) |
| Trauma dressings | – | – | 4+ |
| Hemostatic agents | – | – | 2+ |
| Chest seals | – | – | 2 (twin pack) |
| Tourniquets | – | – | 2+ |
| Airway adjuncts | – | – | Full set |
| Bag-valve mask | – | – | 1 |
| Diagnostic tools | – | Thermometer | BP cuff, stethoscope, glucometer |
| Gloves | 2 pairs | 6 pairs | 10+ pairs |
| Emergency blanket | 1 | 2+ | Multiple |
| Stretcher | – | – | Portable stretcher |
| Documentation tools | Small manual | Notebook + manual | Full records + manuals |
Final Thoughts
Each level of kit builds on the previous one, but the standards remain Canadian:
- Canadian Red Cross and St. John Ambulance shape the foundation.
- Health Canada provides medication safety guidance.
- CSA Z1220-17 ensures contents align with recognized Canadian safety standards.
- TECC adaptations prepare survival groups for trauma and long-term emergencies while respecting Canadian laws.
Finally, remember: a kit is only as useful as the training behind it. Taking a certified St. John Ambulance or Red Cross First Aid course ensures that you can use your supplies correctly when it matters most.
- Individual Kit = lightweight & personal.
- Family Kit = household & multi-person safety.
- Survival Group Kit = community-level preparedness.
