Essential Items for a Home First Aid Kit

A well-stocked first aid kit turns a minor accident into a minor inconvenience. Cuts, scrapes, splinters, burns and sprains are part of daily life, and the right supplies within reach make them simple to deal with. This checklist sets out what a home kit should contain and why each item earns its place.

Bandages and dressings

MedlinePlus and the American Red Cross both list these as the core of any kit.

• Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes: for small cuts and scrapes.
• Sterile gauze pads: to cover larger wounds and apply pressure to stop bleeding. Non-stick pads are kinder to healing skin.
• Adhesive tape: to hold gauze in place.
• Gauze roll (roller bandage): to secure dressings on arms and legs.
• Elastic bandage: for wrapping wrist, ankle, knee and elbow injuries.
• Triangular bandage: for wrapping injuries and making an arm sling.
• Eye pads or an eye shield.

Tools

• Scissors: to cut tape, gauze and clothing.
• Tweezers: to remove splinters and ticks.
• Disposable gloves: to reduce the risk of contamination. Choose non-latex gloves if anyone in the household has a latex allergy.
• Thermometer: the Red Cross specifies a non-mercury, non-glass type.
• Instant cold compress: for bumps, sprains and swelling.
• Emergency blanket.
• Breathing barrier with a one-way valve: for giving rescue breaths.
• Safety pins.

Cleaning and protecting wounds

• Antiseptic wipes: to clean around a wound.
• Soap and clean water: the first choice for washing a cut.
• Sterile cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs.
• Hand sanitizer: to clean your hands when you cannot wash them.
• Face mask: to reduce the risk of contaminating a wound.

Medicines to consider

A ready-made kit often contains no medicines, so these are added separately. MedlinePlus lists:

• antiseptic solution or wipes;
• antibiotic ointment;
• sterile eyewash, such as saline solution;
• calamine lotion for stings or poison ivy;
• hydrocortisone cream, ointment or lotion for itching.

It also suggests a syringe, medicine cup or medicine spoon for giving exact doses. Many households add a pain and fever reliever and an antihistamine. Choose these with a pharmacist’s advice, taking account of the ages, allergies and medicines of the people in your home. Keep medicines in their original packaging with the instructions, and never give aspirin to children.

Information

• A first aid manual or guide.
• Emergency phone numbers: 911, your doctor, a nearby pharmacy and Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
• A list of each family member’s medicines, allergies and conditions.

Personal additions

The Red Cross recommends including personal items such as medications, emergency phone numbers and anything your healthcare provider suggests. Examples:

• an epinephrine auto-injector for someone with severe allergies;
• a rescue inhaler for asthma;
• glucose tablets for someone with diabetes;
• spare prescription medicines.

Ready-made or self-assembled?

Ready-made kits

Convenient, compact and organized. Our Home First Aid Kit, 100 Pieces includes adhesive bandages, gauze dressings, tape, an elastic bandage, antiseptic wipes, scissors, tweezers and gloves in a soft zip bag. It does not contain medicines.

Building your own

Lets you choose quantities and quality, but takes more effort. Use a sturdy, clearly labeled container.

Most households do best with a ready-made kit as the base, plus personal additions and a supply of extra bandages such as our Assorted Adhesive Bandages.

How many kits?

• Home: the main kit, in a central place.
• Car: a second kit.
• Travel, sports and outings: a small pouch.

Where to keep it

• In a cool, dry place that every adult knows.
• Within easy reach of adults, but out of the reach of young children.
• Not in a steamy bathroom, which shortens the life of dressings and medicines.

Using the kit: treating a minor cut

MedlinePlus sets out the basic steps:

1. Wash your hands with soap to prevent infection.
2. Wash the cut thoroughly with mild soap and water.
3. Use direct pressure to stop the bleeding.
4. Apply antibacterial ointment and a clean bandage that will not stick to the wound.

Get medical help if the bleeding is severe or cannot be stopped, for example after 10 minutes of pressure; if the wound is deep, gaping or caused by a bite; or if it shows signs of infection, such as warmth, redness, swelling, a throbbing sensation, a red streak or pus.

Checking and restocking

The Red Cross advises checking the kit regularly, checking expiration dates and replacing any used or out-of-date contents. Every three to six months:

• replace what has been used;
• discard expired ointments, wipes and medicines;
• make sure sterile packs are intact and dry;
• check the thermometer battery;
• update the phone numbers and medicine list.

What not to keep in the kit

• Expired or unlabeled medicines
• Other people’s prescription medicines
• Rusty or blunt scissors
• Opened sterile dressings

Learn the skills

Supplies help only if you know what to do. Consider a first aid and CPR course from a recognized organization, and read the kit’s guide before you need it.

The bottom line

Dressings, bandages, a few tools, wound cleaning supplies and good information make up a complete home first aid kit. Check it regularly and tailor it to your household. Find kits and refills in our medical supplies range.

Sources

1. MedlinePlus. First aid kit.
2. American Red Cross. Make a First Aid Kit: What to Include.
3. MedlinePlus. Cuts and puncture wounds.
4. MedlinePlus. First Aid.