Range First Aid Kit: Complete, Brand-Specific Guide for Shooters

When you step onto a shooting range, you’re thinking sight picture, trigger press, and safety. But there’s one piece of safety equipment that can literally buy you time when seconds matter: a well-built range first aid kit. From minor cuts and hot-brass burns to life-threatening bleeding or chest injuries, the right gear—paired with training—turns bystanders into first responders.

Why a Range-Specific First Aid Kit?

Generic kits are built for office mishaps and hiking scrapes. Ranges are different. Realistic risks include massive hemorrhage, penetrating chest trauma, burns, eye injuries, sprains/fractures, and cardiac events. EMS may take minutes—or longer—to arrive. Rapid bystander intervention with bleeding control and CPR/AED can mean survival.

Mindset First, Gear Second: Training You Should Have

Equipment without training is just heavy fabric. Commit to learning skills that match your kit:

• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS)—recognize emergencies, deliver compressions, ventilations, and AED use.
• CPR/AED—accessible training for anyone who wants cardiac arrest response skills.
• Stop the Bleed—national initiative teaching tourniquet use, wound packing, and direct pressure.
• Emergency First Aid Fundamentals—trauma management training tailored to shooters.

Want an on-site course? Email info@nysafeinc.com to schedule a BLS/CPR/AED class for your range or club.

Comfort vs. Lifesaving Gear

We sort kit items into Comfort (cuts, stings, blisters, headaches, mild burns) and Lifesaving (bleeding control, airway, chest trauma). Many “comfort” items can become critical (e.g., aspirin during chest pain, cold packs for heat stroke). Both belong in a well-rounded kit, but lifesaving gear is the core.

Range Kit Sizes (Plus a Dedicated IFAK)

Below are full, brand-specific packing lists for Small, Medium, and Large kits (plus an IFAK), including why each item matters. Use this as a template, then tailor for your mission and space.

Kit Size Comparison

Small Range First Aid Kit (Personal)

Goal: Treat yourself or a nearby shooter fast, with minimal bulk.

Lifesaving Gear

• Limb tourniquet (C-A-T® Gen7, SOF®TT-W, or SAM XT)
• Hemostatic gauze (Combat Gauze®, Celox™, or ChitoGauze®)
• Compact pressure bandage (Emergency Bandage® “Israeli” or Olaes® Modular)
• Pocket mask/NuMask® for rescue breathing
• Oral rehydration salts for heat/dehydration emergencies

Comfort Gear

• Pain relief & allergy meds (aspirin, acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, antacids, anti-diarrheal)
• Burn gel & anti-itch cream
• Adhesive bandages, alcohol preps, triple antibiotic ointment
• Moleskin pads, tweezers, Tegaderm® dressings
• Instant cold pack, N95 mask, 2 pairs nitrile gloves

Medium Range First Aid Kit (Instructor/Group)

Goal: Redundancy for multiple minor injuries and one major casualty; better splinting and burn care.

Lifesaving Gear

• Two limb tourniquets (different models for flexibility)
• 2–3 packs hemostatic gauze (Combat Gauze®, Celox™, ChitoGauze®)
• Modular pressure bandage (Olaes® or Emergency Bandage®)
• Vented chest seal twin pack (HyFin® Vent)
• Burn dressings (Water-Jel® 4×4 or 4×16) + irrigation solution
• SAM® Splint 36”, trauma shears, airway mask, oral rehydration salts

Comfort Gear

• Expanded med packs, burn gels, 20+ adhesive bandages
• 20+ alcohol preps, 5+ triple antibiotic ointments
• Coban™ wraps, poison ivy wipes, cold packs
• 4 pairs nitrile gloves, N95 masks

Large Range First Aid Kit (Club/Facility)

Goal: Handle multiple casualties or long EMS delays. Add airway adjuncts, evacuation tools, and burn/chest supplies.

Lifesaving Gear

• 3–4 tourniquets staged in visible, accessible spots
• 4–6 packs hemostatic gauze (mixed brands)
• Large trauma dressings (8×10, 12×12) + multiple Emergency Bandage®/Olaes®
• 2 twin packs of vented chest seals (HyFin® Vent)
• Airway adjuncts (nasopharyngeal airway set, lubricants)
• Soft stretcher, emergency blankets, eye shields
• Water-Jel® burn dressings + sterile burn blanket
• Sterile irrigation water/saline, large syringe, povidone-iodine swabs, Steri-Strips® or ZipStitch®

Comfort Gear

• Comprehensive med drawer
• Splints of various sizes (36″, 18″, finger)
• Coban™ wraps (1–4″)
• Dental repair kit, instant cold packs, 10+ pairs gloves, masks

IFAK: The Dedicated Trauma-Only Pouch

An Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) is trauma-only, built for massive bleeding, airway obstruction, and chest wounds. Carry one in addition to your general kit.

• Tourniquet (C-A-T® Gen7, SOF®TT-W, or SAM XT)
• Hemostatic gauze (Combat Gauze®, Celox™, ChitoGauze®)
• Pressure bandage (Emergency Bandage® or Olaes®)
• Chest seals (vented pair, e.g., HyFin® Vent)
• Nasopharyngeal airway + lube
• Compressed gauze, trauma shears, mylar blanket, gloves

Deep Dive: Tourniquets

Buy authentic, field-proven models—C-A-T® Gen7, SOF®TT-W, and SAM XT are CoTCCC-recommended. Avoid counterfeits by buying direct from suppliers like North American Rescue or TacMed Solutions. Pre-stage for one-handed use and practice under stress.

Deep Dive: Hemostatic Gauze

Choose between kaolin-based (QuikClot® Combat Gauze) or chitosan-based (Celox™, ChitoGauze®). All are effective; training and technique matter more than chemistry. Pack tightly and hold pressure for at least 3 minutes.

Deep Dive: Compression Bandages

• Emergency Bandage® (Israeli)—simple, effective, pressure bar design.
• Olaes® Modular Bandage—built-in gauze, occlusive sheet, and pressure cup for versatility.

Deep Dive: Chest Seals

Carry vented seals like HyFin® Vent to prevent air ingress and allow egress in chest wounds. Apply on exhalation to a wiped-dry chest. Non-vented seals can work, but vented are modern best practice.

Deep Dive: Burns, Splints & More

• Burn care: Water-Jel® dressings and sterile burn blanket
• SAM® Splints: versatile for fractures
• Eye shields: protect injured eyes during evacuation
• Irrigation: sterile water/saline and syringes
• Soft stretcher & blankets: move casualties safely and prevent hypothermia

Where to Buy

Buy direct from reputable EMS suppliers to avoid counterfeits. Recommended: Rescue Essentials, Chinook Medical, and North American Rescue.

Maintenance

• Inspect every 6–12 months
• Replace expired meds
• Restock used gear immediately
• Store in climate-controlled space
• Label and stage clearly

FAQs: Range First Aid Kits

Do I really need a trauma kit at a shooting range?

Yes. While rare, gunshot wounds and severe trauma require immediate bleeding control—tourniquets, hemostatic gauze, and chest seals save lives.

What’s the difference between a range kit and a regular kit?

Regular kits are for minor injuries. Range kits include lifesaving tools tailored to firearms risks.

Which tourniquet should I buy?

C-A-T® Gen7, SOF®TT-W, and SAM XT are all CoTCCC-recommended. Buy authentic, not knock-offs.

Which hemostatic gauze is best?

Combat Gauze®, Celox™, and ChitoGauze® are all effective. Pick one and train with it.

How often should I check my kit?

Every 6–12 months and after every use. Restock and reseal.

Do I need training?

Yes. BLS/CPR/AED and Stop the Bleed training are strongly recommended.

What about children or youth shooters?

Adjust splint sizes and CPR training for pediatric response.

What should I do if EMS is delayed?

Prioritize bleeding control and airway management. Call 911 immediately and self-apply if needed.

How do I store kits outdoors?

Use waterproof containers and check contents more often due to weather.

Final Thoughts

Building a range first aid kit is about responsibility. Emergencies may be rare, but preparation ensures you’re ready when seconds matter. Pair your kit with life-saving training such as BLS/CPR/AED, Stop the Bleed, and firearm-specific first aid programs.

To schedule a BLS/CPR/AED class for yourself or your group, email us at info@nysafeinc.com.

Stay safe. Train hard. Be ready.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical training or advice. Follow local laws and use devices only within your level of training.