From Bags to Bandages: Our History as a First Aid Kit Manufacturer

At E-FirstAidSupplies, we manufacture hundreds of thousands of first aid kits every year for thousands of customers—from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, government agencies, and healthcare providers. But our story didn’t begin with shelves full of gauze and bandages—it began with a sewing machine, a bulk order, and one unexpected question.

It All Started in 1994

Back then, our founder was running a successful bag manufacturing business. A corporate client called and asked if we could produce 600 empty first aid pouches with their logo to give to their employees. We delivered the pouches 6 weeks later without issue.

The next day, they called again around 9am and asked.
Can you fill them too?

Surprised, our founder asked, “With what?”
“With whatever goes in a first aid kit,” they replied.

They explained that deciding on kit contents internally would take months of red tape and committee approvals. But if they could simply purchase pre-filled kits, they could sidestep the process and deliver immediate value and close the book on the project.

Without missing a beat, our president responded:

“Give me until 2 p.m. and I’ll drop off a sample.”

He handed a wad of cash to the office secretary and gave her a plan:

“Go to CVS, buy a first aid kit, open it on the hood of your car, then go back in and buy everything inside—but in bulk.”

She did exactly that. By early afternoon, we had our first sample kit ready. The client loved it.

“This is what I love about working with small businesses,” they said.
“You can just get things done—no red tape.”

Our team hustled to source enough supplies, clearing out local pharmacies to fulfill the order. That first filled kit marked the beginning of a new business—and over time, that business grew into what is now E-FirstAidSupplies.

In 2001, we launched our e-commerce site to meet rising demand. Since then, we’ve evolved from a handful of product offerings to a full-scale operation with over 110 traditional and specialty first aid kits, plus custom kitting services for medical, industrial, and emergency preparedness needs.


First Aid Kits Made in the USA—Because It Matters

While nearly 90% of first aid kits sold in the United States are manufactured overseas, we’ve made a long-standing commitment to do things differently. With over 50 years of manufacturing experience, we proudly build our kits right here in the U.S.

3 different first aid kits made by fieldtex products in the usa

For our soft-sided kits, we manufacture the bags ourselves and assemble every kit in-house at our facility. For plastic and metal case kits, we source American-made containers and fill them with high-quality medical supplies—many of which are domestically sourced as well.

Most importantly, our kits are made to order, not mass-produced and stored in a warehouse waiting to be sold. When you place an order, our team starts assembling it that same day—ensuring you receive fresh, precisely built kits tailored to your specifications.

Choosing American-made kits supports better quality, greater supply chain transparency, and real manufacturing jobs—and that’s something we take seriously.


More Than First Aid: We Build Kits That Solve Problems

Our strength isn’t just in what we make—it’s in how we solve complex problems through kit design. Over the years, we’ve worked with organizations of all sizes to develop solutions tailored to specific industries, environments, and regulations.

We’ve created specialty kits for:

  • Industrial safety programs
  • Government disaster relief
  • Outdoor retail brands
  • Youth sports organizations
  • Clinical trials and private label consumer products

Each kit is carefully built for purpose, compliance, and ease of use—whether it’s meant for a field medic, a facility safety manager, or a retail consumer.


Real Projects, Real Impact: Custom First Aid & Medical Kits in Action

We don’t just manufacture kits—we solve real-world problems for our clients. Whether it’s helping communities in crisis or building brand presence through private labeling, our kitting services are designed to be flexible, fast, and reliable.

Here are just a few examples of how we’ve delivered under pressure and at scale:


50,000 PPE Kits Delivered During COVID-19

In late 2020, a national healthcare organization approached us with a critical request: assemble 50,000 PPE kits to distribute to members who were just beginning to reenter society after months of isolation. These kits needed to help people navigate a world where everyday activities—like grocery shopping—still carried real risk.

traveling with a mask on

Each kit included masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and an informational card with tips for staying safe and healthy during the pandemic. The project was time-sensitive, and sourcing PPE in bulk during that period was no small task.

Thanks to our established supplier network and responsive in-house production team, we were able to source the materials and complete the full order in just eight weeks—a remarkable turnaround during one of the most turbulent supply chain periods in recent history.


Private Label First Aid Kits for Auto Dealerships

While promotional kits aren’t the core of our business, we’ve built lasting relationships with clients who want quality giveaways that provide real value.

One such example is a chain of auto dealerships in the Midwest that orders 5,000 private-labeled first aid kits annually. These kits, customized with the dealership’s logo, are gifted to customers purchasing new vehicles and are designed to be tucked into glove boxes—adding both practicality and brand visibility.

The kits use one of our stock first aid formats, making them efficient to produce and easy to replenish year after year.


Hygiene Kits for the Homeless

We’re proud to support nonprofits and charitable organizations across the country in their outreach to underserved populations.

For several local and national charities, we manufacture custom hygiene kits tailored for distribution to individuals experiencing homelessness. These kits typically include toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, shaving cream, soap, and other essentials. Each organization can choose between travel-size or full-size products, and the kits are packed in either resealable plastic bags or sturdy storage boxes, depending on need.

Most orders range from 100 to 500 units, and no two versions are exactly the same—we’re always ready to adjust contents to align with specific missions or donor preferences.


Endless Custom Kit Variations for Specialized Needs

Beyond these examples, we’ve created countless custom kits for niche use cases:

  • Concussion protocol kits for sports teams and schools
  • Active shooter triage kits for emergency response planning
  • Bleeding control kitspet emergency kits, and more

Clients frequently approach us with unique problems that require unique solutions—and we welcome the challenge.


Our Process: From Idea to Execution

We make it easy to bring your custom kit to life. Whether you’re starting from scratch or already have a concept in mind, we’ll guide you through each step.

1. Discovery & Planning

We begin with a consultation to understand your goals, use case, and regulatory requirements.

2. Sourcing & Content Development

Our team identifies the best components, based on medical standards, budget, and your target audience.

3. Prototyping

We assemble and price a working sample of the kit for review and feedback.

4. Branding & Packaging

Choose from our stock packaging or design a fully custom, private-labeled kit to match your brand.

5. Production & Fulfillment

Once approved, we kit and ship everything from our U.S.-based facility—whether it’s 100 or 100,000 units.


Let’s Build Your Kit

If you’re looking for a partner to help assemble, source, and distribute custom medical kits, we’d love the opportunity to work with you.

Whether you’re prototyping a new concept or rolling out a nationwide program, our team brings the experience, flexibility, and scale to make it happen—fast.