Do you have a first aid kit or medicine cabinet/drawer in your home? It’s a good idea to keep basic medical supplies on hand in case of emergencies, especially if you have kids around.
In my house, we have a variety of medical supplies in several places, and sometimes we can’t find what we’re looking for. I’ve even ended up buying multiples of things we already have because I couldn’t find them! One of my fall projects is to organize all the first aid supplies to see what we have and what we need to buy. So, I thought I’d share some of my process with you!
Let me know what supplies you keep in your first aid kits in the comments! I’d love to get ideas from you in case I’ve missed something important.
First Aid Kit Supplies
You can find pre-made first aid kits at drugstores, grocery stores, retailers, and online stores. These kits are handy if you don’t know what to include, or if you don’t want to take the time to assemble the supplies yourself.
However, pre-made kits sometimes include items you or your family may not need, and there may not be extra space to include other items specific to your family. Keep this in mind when deciding whether to buy one that’s already put together or making your own first aid kit.
According to the Mayo Clinic, here’s a list of basic supplies you should have on hand:
- Bandages of various sizes
- Adhesive tape
- Cotton balls and cotton swabs
- Disposable non-latex gloves
- Scissors and tweezers
- Hand sanitizer
- Antibiotic ointment
- Thermometer
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Instant cold packs
You may also want to keep some basic medications in your kit, such as:
- Aloe vera gel
- Calamine lotion
- Laxatives
- Antacids
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Cough and cold medications
- Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Aspirin
You can see the full list of supply and medication recommendations from the Mayo Clinic here.
In addition to basic supplies, it’s important also to have a first aid manual. You should also include emergency phone numbers in your kit, such as contact information for your health care providers, local emergency services, and emergency road service providers (if the kit is in your car). Be sure to have the numbers for the poison help lines available, as well! You can reach Poison Control online at www.poison.com or by calling 800-222-1222; help is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
The American Red Cross recommends that you check and update your first aid supplies regularly and replace any outdated contents. Be sure to check expiration dates! You’ll also want to be sure you have any personal medications or supplies that are specific to you and your family in your kit.
Where should you keep your first aid kit?
It’s important to have access to first aid supplies in your home. We keep supplies in both bathrooms because they’re on separate levels of our house. If you live in an area that is prone to weather-related events, such as tornadoes or hurricanes, you may want to tailor your kit and its location based on those.
It’s also a good idea to keep a small supply kit in your car. You can easily find small pre-made kits that can slip into your glove compartment, console, or into a seat organizer. You never know when you’ll need a few bandages!
Depending on where your kit is located, there are additional supplies you might want to have available, such as waterproof flashlights, extra batteries, headlamps and waterproof matches. You could also include things like sunscreen, bug repellant, blankets, and extra cell phone chargers. Your emergency kit is a great place to have a solar charger!
If you participate in certain activities like camping or hiking, you can also buy first aid kits that include items specific to those activities. Keep first aid kits with your other supplies for these activities so you don’t forget to bring them along on your adventures! The supplies in our car came in handy when we were fishing with our family one day, and one of my nephews cut his hand on a fish hook. We were able to take care of the cut right away because we were prepared with bandages!
If you have kids or pets in your home, be sure to keep your first aid supplies out of reach. However, make sure older children know where the supplies are stored and what they’re used for.
Scan and submit your supply purchases
Don’t forget to include your first-aid supply purchases in the shopping trips you report to NCP! Whether you’re buying a pre-made kit, purchasing supplies to create your own, or restocking the items you already have in your home, we want to know about it. First-aid supplies are often items purchased when we need them, instead of part of a regular shopping trip, so it can be easy to forget about them.
Share with us in the comments what types of items you keep in your kits, where you keep them, and any other suggestions you have. We’d love to hear from you!
Regards,
Taylor
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We have a few spots in our home for the first aid kits..
1..In our kitchen it’s in a cupboard this is our main go too.it has cough ,colds,stung,tick tweezers,burn..meds vitamins .and all the bandaids from Scooby Doo to princess and regular one.lol.
2..We have a cupboard in our upstairs hallway..that has all your first aid supplies…
3..The garage….we just have your basics..duct tape.. bandaid..burn…no liquids due to the garage isn’t heated..it’s basically for if you hurt your self and you are bleeding we have it till you get into the house …
I carry a small first aid kit in a pouch when traveling, a small antibacterial cream and band aids, aspirin and advil pm to take if our sleep is really messed up by a long flight.
Omg this was extremely helpful thank you taylor
I also would recommend putting some Narcan you just never know if you have to use it on someone I know I just had to and used two of them on someone sadly it was to late when I got them but it was one thing I keep on hand also where I live we have a good Samaritan Law for giving that so check with your state on that.
I keep my first aid kit in the kitchen next to my flashlight and I have waterproof matches and a couple candles close by as well
I also keep Orajel, burn ream, eyewash, waterproof medical tape and antacids
I have a first aid kit store in closet storage for any use if we need for emergency. Thank you for that reminder note it is helpful for my family.
I have one at home also I have items in my car for travel on the road, which I have been doing for many years, like towels, lotion, etc.
Having worked in the medical field most of my life, and my brother having once been a Volunteer Search And Rescue member we have very extensive kits. Splints, instant hot and cold packs, scalpels, sutures, slings. Pretty much, between us we could perform emergency surgery if the need should arise. That of course is the main kit, on the main floor of the house, and the regular everyday kits in each of our bathrooms. His on the second floor and mine in the basement.
I feel like I have a pretty well established first aid kit that I have pretty much all of the things in the recommended list of items.
I have a little of supplies, I know I need to fix this. I only have me now. I did have everything I needed because I had children home. Empty nest now.
I LOVED the reminder of occasionally going through your items for expiration dates! I must remember to do that! After reading your blog I DID go through my first aid kits & found THREE expired medications!! THANK YOU.
Good. We already have those listed items in my medicine cabinet.
We have these items in our home I think it’s very important to keep them around its the fastest way to cure someone from any pain .
I have just about all the items you have listed in my medicine cabinet/emergency kits. Coban wrap is a game changer in my home! Love how it doesn’t hurt when you remove it, like adhesive tape can. It’s also easy to use when I need first aid for my dog.
Thank you for this article about a First Aid Kit. I don’t have one yet, and this will be very helpful when I assemble one.