What To Put In Your First Aid Kit

Pack these first aid essentials and you’ll be ready for anything

From a cut while making dinner to a scraped knee at the park, having the right tools on hand in a first aid kit can give you a quick fix.

Before you start shopping for supplies, a little research will go a long way. That way you can get the supplies you need — and avoid paying for ones you don’t.

Why do you need a first aid kit?

“A first aid kit is essential to get at least the basic care you need immediately for minor cuts or abrasions to serious injuries,” says Ripal Patel, PA-C, a physician assistant at Geisinger. “It could be lifesaving when you need care the most.”

Consider separate first aid kits for your home and your car. That way, you’re prepared no matter where you are.

Choosing the right first aid bag

Protect your medical supplies from spills by storing them in a waterproof bag.

Another option: “If you don’t want to buy a waterproof bag, store all your first aid kit items in resealable plastic bags to keep water from ruining the things in your kit,” says Ms. Patel.

Labeling each bag with a waterproof marker lets you find things easily (and quickly). Be sure to store your first aid kit somewhere handy, but out of reach of children and pets.

Supplies for your first aid kit

Even before you get supplies, make a list of emergency phone numbers to keep in the kit. Consider including numbers for:

An emergency contact, like a friend or family member
Healthcare providers for everyone in your household
Emergency services
The local non-emergency line
Poison control
Important work contacts

Think about medications to keep in your first aid kit that can help in an emergency, like aspirin for heart attacks.

“If you suspect someone is having a heart attack, give them 4 baby aspirin before the ambulance arrives,” says Ms. Patel.

However, she adds, don’t give aspirin to children or to anyone taking blood thinners.

Besides aspirin, other medications to keep in your first aid kit might include:

Aloe vera gel
Calamine lotion
Laxatives
Antacids
Antibiotic ointment or spray
Hydrocortisone cream
Allergy medicine like Benadryl^® or Claritin^®
Over-the-counter pain relievers (like Tylenol^® or Advil^®)
Personal medications prescribed by your doctor, like an EpiPen^®
Thermometer
Blood stopper wound dressing

Don’t forget the bandages

Another crucial first aid kit supply? Bandages. To treat a variety of injuries, consider stocking your first aid kit with these:

Absorbent compress dressings
Various sizes of adhesive bandages
Adhesive cloth tape
Gauze roll bandage
Sterile gauze pads
Triangular bandages

Along with your bandages, items like tweezers, alcohol prep pads and nonlatex gloves can help when preparing and dressing injuries.

Ms. Patel also recommends including a tourniquet to treat heavy bleeding. Add a flashlight and instant cold packs to your car kit, as well.

Maintaining your first aid kit

A couple of times a year, check your first aid kit for any used up or expired medications and replace them as needed. That way, you’ll have the most effective medications on hand when you need them most.

Ms. Patel recommends checking the items in your car kit every 3 to 6 months and your home kit monthly.

What to leave out of your first aid kit

Knowing what to leave out of your kit can leave more room for the essentials. When you’re packing your kit, avoid these things:

Too much medicine

You probably don’t use your first aid kit often. Since medicine can expire quickly, consider stocking your kit with a few single-use packets instead of full-sized bottles.

Items you won’t use

What you pack in your kit will depend on where you’re using it. For example, if you live in an urban area, you probably don’t need a snake bite kit at home. But it may be useful when you’re camping or hiking. Focus on including only relevant items in your kit at home.

Antibiotics

If you have extra antibiotics, you may be tempted to include them in your first aid kit. But resist the urge and leave them out. Like other medicines, antibiotics expire. Plus, they may not be safe for someone else to take. If someone in your household needs antibiotics, talk to a healthcare provider. They can prescribe the right type and dose.

Other items to leave out: bulky batteries or surgical instruments.

Be prepared

Keeping a first aid kit handy will prepare you to deal with minor injuries anywhere, even on the go. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re prepared.