Accidents happen. Be prepared by having an easily accessible first aid kit at home and in the car. With a well-stocked kit, you can treat minor injuries quickly or be the first to respond when something more severe occurs.

Although many pre-assembled kits are available for sale, it is recommended that you create your own custom first aid kit. This will save you money and ensure that the items you need are included.

Although the contents of first aid kits may vary, there are a few staple items that are must-haves for any complete kit. Choose all items carefully, as there are usually many brands and varieties for salemake sure you choose the one that fits your needs and your wallet.

One of these staple items is rubbing alcoholthat bottle of smelly, stinging liquid in the medicine cabinet that Mom insisted be applied to every cut and scrape. So, what is this magical solution, and what type is best to include in a first aid kit?

Lets start with the basics.

What is rubbing alcohol?

Rubbing alcohol is a solvent containing a concentration of 70-91% isopropyl alcohol and water. Some brands of rubbing alcohol use ethyl alcohol (ethanol), which is the same type of alcohol found in beer, wine and liquor. This solvent usually contains other ingredients. 70% isopropyl alcohol is recommended for first aid and everyday home use.

How is rubbing alcohol used?

Rubbing alcohol is commonly used as an external first aid antiseptic to remove dirt, decrease germs, prevent infection and temporarily relieve pain in minor cuts, scrapes and burns. Alcohol should not be used on open wounds, but on intact skin surrounding the edges of a wound. Leave the job of open wound irrigation to hydrogen peroxide.

Other uses of rubbing alcohol include instrument sterilization, household cleaning, and as a rubbing liquid to relieve muscle and joint pain.

What types of rubbing alcohol are available?

Liquid rubbing alcohol can be purchased at any drug, grocery, health, or beauty store. Store brands are best because they save you money without compromising quality or ingredientsthe chemical makeup of isopropyl alcohol is the same regardless of brand name. Store brand rubbing alcohol is usually priced around $1.00-$1.50 for a 16-ounce bottle.

As a convenient alternative to liquid alcohol, individually wrapped alcohol swabs have entered the drug store market in recent years as a way to cleanse the skin and help fight bacteria at the site of application. Disposable, one-time use swabs soaked in alcohol are wrapped individually to prevent leakage and drying out. Store brand versions are typically priced around $1.70-$2.00 for 100 swabs.

What type of rubbing alcohol is best for a first aid kit?

Choosing the type of alcohol included in your first aid kit is a matter of preference. If you want to conserve space, dont anticipate using alcohol for other home uses, or are assembling a first aid kit for the car or travel, wrapped alcohol swabs are your best choice. If space is not an issue and you may use the alcohol for other jobs around the house, keeping a bottle on hand is the clear choice. Be sure to keep the bottle near your first aid kit.

CAUTION: Rubbing alcohol is for external use only, and is poisonous if taken internally. Keep out of reach of children. If accidentally ingested, contact your Poison Control Center immediately. Rubbing alcohol is also flammable.