THERE is a certain inevitability about it, isn't there - you're just setting off on hols, having a day out at the seaside, a picnic in the park, an outing on a Greek island where no one speaks English and the chemist is closed because it's a Saint's Day/strike/second Thursday in the month. Then disaster strikes.

Someone gets stung or steps on a piece of glass, sprains a wrist or ankle. And are you prepared for it?

If you are, congratulations. You were probably a scout or guide, learnt how to Be Prepared and you can stop reading now.

The rest of us might like to think of a few emergency measures.

Carrying a First Aid Kit around with you makes excellent sense and every home should have one, of course. If your First Aid preparations amount to a gunged up tube of antiseptic in the back of the bathroom cupboard or a few plasters in your pocket, maybe it's time to stock up. We've been looking at some of the ready-made kits on the market.

BOOTS TRAVEL KIT, £10.95

Zipped nylon bag contains assorted plasters, blister plasters, strip, tape, antiseptic wipes, cream, wound and eyewash, Melolin dressings, crepe bandage, gloves, scissors, leaflet.

FOR: The only one to have eye wash, very useful on windy sandy beaches, dusty areas or where insects go straight for the eyes. Blister plasters are useful too.

COUNTY KIT, SAVERS, £1.99

Cigarette-pack size box contains: bandage, plaster, safety pins (lots) scissors, antiseptic wipes, dressing pad, gloves and strapping.

FOR: Small enough to fit into handbag, pocket or back pack. Not comprehensive but good value for money and space.

FAST AID PATCH ' N GO, SAVERS, 79P

Resealable bag containing plasters, antiseptic wipes and soothing wipes.

AGAINST: Easier and cheaper just to take a few from packets of plasters and wipes you keep at home.

ELASTOPLAST £10.54

Rigid red plastic box contains large pack of plasters, cotton wool, tape, three Melolin dressings, three adhesive wound dressings, six antiseptic wipes, cream, emergency dressing, bandage, scissors, safety pins, useful First Aid leaflet.

FOR: Lots of stuff in this, but probably better for home or the car, than carried around.

SAFEWAY £9.99

Zipped nylon bag contains tweezers, wipes, antiseptic cream, plasters, wound dressings, triangular bandage, safety pins, gloves, scissors, microporous tape, bandage, leaflet.

FOR: This was the only one to contain tweezers - vital for stings and splinters.

SAINSBURYS £6.99

Small zipped nylon bag contains waterproof plasters, antiseptic wipes, bandage, Melolin dressings, microporous tape, scissors, leaflet.

AGAINST: The cheapest travel kit, also had the least in it, but a good starting point if you wanted to add your own.

SAVLON KIT £3.95

Cigarette pack size box contains plasters, four wipes, tube of antiseptic cream, two safety pins, two dressings, bandage, leaflet.

FOR: Small but basic. Expensive for what it is.

SUPERDRUG Box £8.49

Zipped nylon bag contains six antiseptic wipes, cream, soothing wipes, 12 plasters, large plasters, absorbent dressings, microporous tape. Crepe bandage, gloves, scissors, safety pins, First Aid leaflet.

FOR: One of the better equipped and cheaper middle range kits.

Travel Kit £4.49

Plastic pouch contains four antiseptic wipes, cream, washproof plasters, absorbent dressings, microporous tape, soothing wipes, First Aid leaflet.

AGAINST: Quite useful, but expensive.

Out and About Handypack 99p

Contains insect repellent wipes, soothing wipes, antiseptic wipes, various plasters.

FOR: Small but useful.

CONCLUSION

There was no First Aid Kit that had everything we might need. Tweezers were a strange omission when so many were keen to give you triangular bandages and scissors, which seem fairly luxurious really.

BEST BET: Try the Boots, Safeway or Superdrug kits in the squashy nylon bag. They have a little spare space in which you can add the items you're likely to need. REMEMBER to replace anything you use.

AT last - some good news from the countryside. Last autumn we told you about the Henshaws who farm alongside the A66 opposite East Layton, near Richmond. A young couple with two small children, they were determined to make a success of farming their way, so were raising their animals in traditional ways, to high welfare standards, and selling the meat direct to the public at farmers' markets and a small shop attached to their home.

They had great plans for building a big new farm shop. Then as it rained and it rained and it rained, work was ever more delayed. They finally got the building finished in February and then came foot-and-mouth which meant they instantly closed the farm gate to customers.

However, earlier this month, they finally opened. It's a light and airy building, which includes a small cafe with splendid views and the shelves are stocked with local produce.

"It was always our intention to source everything locally. It makes our shop special, helps other producers and helps the whole area in the end," say the Henshaws.

So there are Wensleydale and Swaledale cheeses, Brymor ice cream from Jervaulx, Rosbebud Preserves, Raydon jams and chutnies from Stalling Busk, Lanchester Apple Juice, Yorkshire punch, Acorn organic milk from Archdeacon Newton and Alison's Country Pantry cakes and biscuits from Middleton in Teesdale. Plus, of course, well-hung beef from their own Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle, their own pork and ham and local lamb.

"I think people are more careful about the source of their food. Here we can tell you exactly where everything has come from," they say. "Even after the long closure, customers are finding their way to the new shop. Our old customers have come back and we've had new customers calling. It's hard work and early days, but maybe things are ready to change for the better."

* Mainsgill Farm Shop, on the A66, open daily 9.30am-6.30pm.

Published: 29/06/2001