What Should Every EMT Carry?
What Should Every EMT Carry? A Practical Everyday Kit Built by Paramedic.
You don’t need to haul an ambulance on your belt—but you do need the right tools staged where you can reach them fast. As a paramedic-owned team, we built this practical everyday carry guide to help you stay efficient, confident, and compliant on duty and off.
The Mindset: Simple, Repeatable, and Policy Friendly
- Simple – Only carry what you use every week.
- Repeatable – Same loadout every shift builds muscle memory.
- Policy Friendly – Match your agency’s rules, scope, and training.
Think in layers: pockets → belt/IFAK → bag → off-duty kit.
Pocket Essentials for Every EMT
If you carry nothing else, carry these:
- Nitrile gloves (2–3 pairs)
- Tourniquet staged for immediate use
- Trauma shears
- Pen, marker, and small notepad
- Mini light (penlight or compact headlamp)
These cover first-contact needs: scene safety, bleeding control, exposure, and documentation.
Belt or IFAK Loadout: Fast-Access Gear
Use a compact pouch or outer-bag IFAK stocked with:
- 1 additional tourniquet
- S-folded or compressed gauze
- Pressure dressing (Israeli-style)
- Chest seals (if allowed)
- Emergency blanket
- Medical tape & 4x4 gauze pads
- CPR face shield or compact CPR mask
Personal Bag Loadout
Your bag should complement—not duplicate—the ambulance:
- Extra nitrile gloves
- Gauze pads, rolls, ABD pads, and tape
- Pressure dressing & elastic wrap
- Occlusive dressings (if in scope)
- Cold packs
- Thermal blanket
- Hand sanitizer, alcohol pads, trash bag
- Assorted bandages & minor wound supplies
- Spare batteries & backup pen
Off-Duty Everyday Carry (EDC)
Keep it light but capable. In your car:
- Tourniquet
- Compressed gauze
- Pressure dressing
- Chest seals (if trained/allowed)
- CPR mask or face shield
- Space blanket
- Adhesive bandages & small antibiotic ointment
What Should Every EMT Carry?
Gloves, a tourniquet, trauma shears, pen and marker, a small light, gauze, a pressure dressing, chest seals (if approved), an emergency blanket, and a CPR barrier device. Stage items across pockets, belt, and bag for immediate access.
What Should Be In All First Aid Kits?
- Gloves
- Adhesive bandages & gauze pads
- Rolled gauze & medical tape
- Pressure bandage or elastic wrap
- Antiseptic wipes & alcohol pads
- Antibiotic ointment & hydrocortisone cream
- Instant cold pack
- Thermometer, tweezers, small scissors
- Emergency blanket
- Basic OTC meds (home use only)
Top 10 Items for a Basic First Aid Box
- Gloves
- Adhesive bandages
- Gauze pads
- Rolled gauze
- Medical tape
- Antibiotic ointment
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Instant cold pack
- Triangular bandage or elastic wrap
- Emergency blanket
Top 10 Items for an Emergency Kit
- Tourniquet
- Compressed gauze
- Pressure dressing
- Chest seals
- CPR barrier
- Emergency blanket
- Headlamp + spare batteries
- Nitrile gloves
- Multi-tool or sturdy shears
- Emergency contact/allergy list
Staging Tips That Save Seconds
- Set your pouch the same way every time
- Use small zip bags to keep gauze dry
- Pre-rip medical tape
- Stage your tourniquet before your shift
- Practice deploying gear with gloves on
Stay Within Policy & Scope
Carry only what your agency allows. Label your gear, keep it clean, and replace anything used or compromised.
Ready to Stock Up the Smart Way?
A compact first aid kit plus an extra tourniquet and gloves is the best starting point. Add a CPR mask and you're ready for most emergencies. Our mailing list includes members-only deals and training tips.
Quick Definitions
- Nitrile gloves: Latex-free synthetic exam gloves with high puncture and chemical resistance.
- Pressure dressing: Bandage designed to apply direct pressure over a wound.
- Occlusive dressing: Airtight chest wound seal (use only if allowed by protocol).
Summary
You don’t need more gear—you need the right gear, staged in the right place. Pockets for essentials, belt IFAK for life threats, bag for resupply, and a slim off-duty kit in your car. Stay consistent, stay within scope, and train with what you carry.
