7 First Aid Items That Make a Great Gift (Gift Ideas for Christmas and Birthdays)

First aid supplies make some of the best gifts around! Not only do first aid kits have a very practical use (saving lives––kind of important), but they also have a serious cool-factor. Most people love receiving first aid gear as a gift, and after reading this guide you'll know why!

Some of the best first aid items to give as gifts include tourniquets, pressure bandages, booboo kits (small first aid kits), trauma kits, medical scissors, stethoscopes, and medical bags. First aid kits are kind of like snowflakes - there are tons of different kinds and something for everyone!

Whether it's Christmas, a birthday, Mother’s Day, or Father's Day, first aid supplies make great gifts (and I don't just mean ban-aids!).

Best First Aid Items to Give as a Gift

Got someone who's difficult to buy for? A first aid item might be just the thing. The fact is, many people overlook first aid gear. And, when they get some real first aid supplies (we're talking tourniquets, chest seals, pocket masks, and pressure bandages), they're usually grateful.

When you give the gift of first aid supplies, not only are you giving them a cool item, but you’re also giving the gift of safety, preparedness, and peace of mind. Okay, let's get into the list!

These first aid supplies make the best gifts:

1. Give a Tourniquet as a Gift
2. Give a Pressure Bandage as a Gift
3. CPR Face Mask is a Great Gift
4. A Pocket First Aid Kit Gift Idea
5. Trauma Kit First Aid Kit Gift Idea
6. Give a Medical Bag as a Gift
7. Medical Gear Outfitters Gift Card

If you're not already in love with each of these items, let me explain why they make such good gifts.

Give a Tourniquet as a Gift

The tourniquet is a great gift because it's not something that many people think about (it's surprising and exciting). And, even if someone already has a tourniquet, you really can't have too many! Not only are tourniquets interesting (and can bring up some great discussions about safety, as well as avoid cheap off-brand tourniquets), but they are also a cool piece of gear that people enjoy carrying in backpacks and car consoles.

Who should get a tourniquet? Well, everyone! But in the interest of some specifics, here are a few ideas . . . think about hunters, gun owners, woodworkers, people who work in dangerous areas, people in the medical field, and those who work on farms or industrial sites.

Note: The SWAT-T is a great tourniquet that is simple to use and relatively inexpensive.

Now, if you have a tourniquet, you need it's younger brother.

Give a Pressure Bandage as a Gift

A pressure bandage might now seem "cool", but just take my word for it: they are. In World War Two, they carried these things in little tins, and they'd have sulfa pills mixed in with them. A lot of people have been saved from a well-placed bandage.

These days, pressure bandages are often sealed in airtight plastic wrapping, and they include some extra accessory goodies. The OLAES bandage is like the Swiss Army Knife of pressure bandages - it includes an eye shield, an occlusive dressing, packing gauze, and can be used as a sling, an ankle wrap, a head wrap, an abdomen wrap, and (you guessed it) more.

Needless to say, the pressure bandage is an awesome gift! And it's only about $10!

Who should you gift a pressure bandage to? Think about those who commute each day to work, kids on sports teams, outdoorsmen, skiers and snowboarders, skateboarders, bikers, and anyone who is interested in preparedness.

Okay, we've talked about giving the gift of bleeding control (maybe we could call it the gift of blood), now let's talk about giving the gift of breathing. Hey, everyone likes to breathe, right?

CPR Face Mask is a Great Gift

A CPR face mask is a great gift for a couple reasons. From a purely gift-giving perspective, the CPR pocket mask is portable, inexpensive, and can be used as a stocking stuffer (if you're buying for Christmas) or it pairs well with another gift.

Now, why is it important? You may have heard that hands-only CPR is now recommended. This is true; however, what a lot of people get wrong is that hand-only CPR is recommended for those who are not trained to provide rescue breaths (or may be hesitant to perform rescue breaths on someone they don't know).

What this means is that rescue breaths are still recommended to be administered by those who are trained and providing rescue breaths (especially to children and drowning victims), is still very important.

If you'd like to give some CPR masks, you can either give the full mask, or the smaller CPR barrier. The full mask gives a better seal, but the barrier is easier to carry and a bit cheaper. Having several of each kind is a good idea.

Okay, we've talked components - now it's time to level up.

A Pocket First Aid Kit Gift Idea

What's cooler than a piece of first aid gear? Lots of pieces of first aid gear! But in seriousness, first aid supplies is a pack animal. There are useful components by themselves, but most of the time you're better off having multiple items to deal with a host of issues.

For example, if you're impaled in the chest with a knife, you'll need bandages, airway supplies, chest seals, and an emergency blanket to keep you warm. For this reason, if you're going to give fear aid gear as a gift, you should think about giving someone an entire first aid pouch.

And what better place to start than with some daily essentials. Something like this BooBoo first aid kit is a great small gift, and it's got lots of useful items that many people need every day. You can store things like band-aids, aspirins, ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, and more!

This gift goes well with other items and can be a great addition to a larger first aid kit. Just keep in mind that while a super small first aid kit is great for those common items, you should also have a larger first aid kit around to deal with the life-threatening issues.

Who should you give this gift? Moms and days, friends and family, aunts and uncles, teachers and coaches -  the small first aid kit should be in everyone's purse or pocket.

Trauma Kit First Aid Kit Gift Idea

Do the best things come in small packages? Well, sometimes, but when it comes to first aid kits, the best things often come in medium, just-about-right packages. If you're not sure what items are most important, then a great place to start is with a reputable premade trauma kit, such as this Civilian Medical Trauma Kit.

When you give someone a trauma kit, you ensure that they have pretty much everything they need to save a life. Sure, these will cost a little bit more, but they are worth every single penny. These kits have tourniquets, gauze, scissors, gloves, chest seals, airway adjuncts, and come in an easy-access pouch.

Who is this great for? Really, anyone, but especially think about backpackers, campers, road-trippers, and those who want something to store in the vehicle.

Give a Medical Bag as a Gift

Sometimes, you'll want to build your own first aid kit. Or, you'll have a family member who has plenty of gear, they just don't know where to put it all. If you know someone like this, then giving them a medical pouch or bag can make a great gift! And they can store whatever they want! A tourniquet, a pen, and maybe a pack of bubble gum.

Also, if you're not sure what should be in a first aid kit or a survival kit, you can read up on some of the most important disaster supplies. Most family members and friends are happy to have some gear to keep them safe in an emergency!

Who is this for? That person who might be less than disorganized, or for someone who likes to build their own kit.

Medical Gear Outfitters Gift Card

Do you know what pairs great with a medical bag? A gift card to Medical Gear Outfitters so that they can fill that bag up! If you're just not sure what to get someone, then a gift card is a great option.

Who is this for? This is a great gift for someone you know already likes first aid and survival gear, and you're just not sure what they already have. Don't let anyone tell you a gift card isn't thoughtful!

Conclusion: Give the Gift of Life (First Aid Gear)

First-Aid gear makes a great gift. It's not too big, not too expensive, it's cool, a good conversation starter, and it can save someone's life! Here's the only thing to remember: if you give someone some first aid gear, be sure to buy one for yourself too. Why?

So that you can learn how to use it, and then show them! The gear is worthless if it's not properly used! Get trained!