First-Aid Kit (for Parents) (2024)

A well-stocked first-aid kit, kept within easy reach, is a must for every home. Having the right supplies ahead of time will help you handle an emergency at a moment's notice. Keep a first-aid kit in your home and in your car. Also bring a first-aid kit when your family travels.

You can buy a first aid kit at drugstores or a local Red Cross office, or make one of your own. If you make one, use containers that are roomy, sturdy, easy to carry, and simple to open. Plastic tackle boxes or containers for storing art supplies are ideal because they're lightweight, have handles, and offer a lot of space and separate sections.

What Should a First-Aid Kit Include?

Put these in each of your first-aid kits:

  • an up-to-date first-aid manual
  • a list of emergency phone numbers
  • sterile gauze pads of different sizes
  • adhesive tape
  • adhesive bandages (Band-Aids) in several sizes
  • an elastic bandage
  • a splint
  • antiseptic wipes
  • soap
  • hand sanitizer
  • antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
  • sterile water, saline (saltwater), or irrigation solution and a large syringe for washing cuts
  • tweezers
  • sharp scissors
  • safety pins
  • disposable instant cold packs
  • alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
  • a thermometer
  • tooth preservation kit
  • plastic non-latex gloves (at least 2 pairs)
  • a flashlight and extra batteries
  • a mouthpiece for giving CPR (you can get one from your local Red Cross)
  • an eye shield
  • eye wash solution

Keep medicines your family might need in your kit, such as:

  • antibiotic ointment
  • hydrocortisone cream (1%)
  • calamine lotion
  • acetaminophen and ibuprofen
  • an antihistamine (anti-itch medicine), like Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin, or store brands
  • extra prescription medicines (if you're traveling)
  • medicine syringes and cups

After you've stocked your first-aid kits:

  • Read the first-aid manual so you'll understand how to use what's in your kits. (If your kids are old enough to understand, review the main points with them.) Read the manual from time to time and check to see if it is up to date.
  • Store first-aid kits out of children's reach but where adults can easily get them.
  • Check the kits regularly. Replace missing items or anything that has expired.
  • Make sure babysitters and other caregivers know where the kit is and how to use it.
  • Check the flashlight batteries to make sure they work.
  • If you're flying, pack the first-aid kit in your checked luggage. Many of the items won't be permitted in carry-on bags.

Medically reviewed by: Melanie L. Pitone, MD

Date reviewed: June 2022

First-Aid Kit (for Parents) (2024)

FAQs

What would you include in your family first aid kit? ›

The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following:
  • 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
  • 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes), also found within our Family First Aid Kit.
  • 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
  • 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)

Can you get free first aid kits? ›

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit is available for free from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

What two items should not be in a first aid kit? ›

Inflammable substances: Items that may catch fire or cause an explosion, such as petrol or aerosols, should not be included in a first aid kit. Bleach: Although bleach is often used to clean wounds, it should not be included in a first aid kit due to the potential for skin irritation or infection if misused.

What to put in a family emergency kit? ›

Additional items to consider include:
  1. Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. ...
  2. Complete change of clothing including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy shoes. ...
  3. Fire extinguisher.
  4. Multipurpose tool.
  5. Matches in a waterproof container.
  6. Duct tape.
  7. Dust mask to help filter contaminated air.

Do I really need a first aid kit? ›

A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you respond effectively to common injuries and emergencies. Keep at least one first-aid kit in your home and one in your car. Store your kits someplace easy to get to and out of the reach of young children.

Should every home have a first aid kit? ›

It's important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home so you can deal with minor accidents and injuries. Your first aid kit should be locked and kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.

Can you create your own first aid kit? ›

You can easily build your own first-aid kit to be prepared for most emergencies, including cuts, burns, sprains, and more. A first-aid kit for summer can also include aloe vera gel for sunburns, numbing spray or cream to treat insect bites, and extra water to treat dehydration.

What is the difference between a first aid box and a first aid kit? ›

Answer. Answer: first aid box is a box containing medicinal things keep for any emergency or other, whereas first aid kit is an treatment given to an injured person which is not so properly done .

What is first aid kit checklist? ›

First Aid Kit Checklist
Item 1Wound cleaner / antiseptic (100ml)
Item 2Gauze Swabs for cleaning wounds x 25
Item 3Cotton wool for padding (100g)
Item 4Sterile gauze (minimum quantity 10)
Item 51 x pair of forceps (for splinters)
19 more rows

What is the most important thing in a first aid kit? ›

The Five Most Important Items for a First Aid Kit

Bandages and dressings –a few adhesive bandages and gauze dressings to cover wounds. Antibiotic cream – check the expiration date. Scissors to cut dressings, clothing, rope, seatbelts and more. Needle-nose tweezers to pull out splinters, ticks, thorns and rattlesnake ...

What Cannot be in a first aid kit? ›

The things that are not recommended to be included in a first aid box are any kind of medication or tablets. If you help, reach out to one of our first aid training experts and we can advise what specifically to have in your first aid box depending on your workplace and sector you operate.

What goes bad in a first aid kit? ›

Disintegration: Supplies like bandages, tape, scissors, and gloves in your first aid kit will degrade over time. Sterility: If not used by the expiration date, first aid supplies and packaging can lose integrity, allowing bacteria to enter the sterile dressings and tools.

How to improvise a first aid kit? ›

When it comes to how to make a first aid kit for home, as well as all of the essentials mentioned above, you should include:
  1. Thermometer. To check temperatures for those suffering from a fever. ...
  2. Sterile tweezers. ...
  3. Sterile eye dressings. ...
  4. Instant ice pack. ...
  5. Burn relief gel. ...
  6. Antihistamines. ...
  7. Painkillers. ...
  8. Cough medicine.
Aug 17, 2020

What are 10 medicines in a first aid kit? ›

Medications
  • Aloe vera gel.
  • Calamine lotion.
  • Anti-diarrhea medication.
  • Laxative.
  • Antacids.
  • Antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine.
  • Hydrocortisone cream.
  • Cough and cold medications.

What should I have in a first aid box at home? ›

What Should a First-Aid Kit Include?
  1. an up-to-date first-aid manual.
  2. a list of emergency phone numbers.
  3. sterile gauze pads of different sizes.
  4. adhesive tape.
  5. adhesive bandages (Band-Aids) in several sizes.
  6. an elastic bandage.
  7. a splint.
  8. antiseptic wipes.

What is typically included in a first aid kit? ›

A basic first aid kit should contain:
  • Triangular bandages.
  • Crepe ('conforming' or elastic) bandages of varying widths.
  • Non-adhesive (non-stick) dressings of varying sizes.
  • Disposable gloves (medium and large), preferably made of non-latex material.
  • Thermal blanket.
  • Notepad and pencil.
  • Plastic bags of varying sizes.

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