The insider’s guide to healthy Hawaii: 9 first aid kit essentials that aren’t bandages

When emergencies arise, having a well-stocked first aid kit, kept in an easy-to-reach place, can help you spring into action at a moment's notice. Loaded with the right supplies, your emergency bag can help patch a scraped knee, wrap a sprained ankle and so much more.

Sure, you can purchase a ready-made kit from your local drugstore or buy one online, but building your own lets you customize and might even save you some money, says Christopher Hogan, MD, practicing surgeon and Trauma Medical Director with Doctors Hospital of Augusta in Augusta, Georgia.

Dr. Hogan is an advocate for first aid kits, saying, "I think they're underappreciated; they're definitely something that every house should have probably a couple of." Here's what he thinks you should have in your kit.