Home first aid kit: what it should contain and how to keep it up to date
The complete checklist for a family first aid kit, by category: dressings, instruments, antiseptics and common medicines. Plus what to add for children and for emergencies.
In short
- A home kit is bigger than a car kit: a range of dressings, instruments, antiseptics, common medicines and a first aid manual.
- Keep the family's daily medicines separately, with at least 7 to 14 days in reserve.
- Check the kit twice a year and replace anything expired or used.
- The most valuable thing in the kit is the person who knows how to use it: a first aid course takes a day.
Most of us have a box of medicines at home, usually a mix of half-used blister packs, stray plasters and a thermometer that no longer works. That isn’t a first aid kit. A real kit is organized, complete, checked and, above all, known to everyone in the household.
In a crisis, when ambulances are overstretched and pharmacies may be closed, a good kit and some basic knowledge can make the difference.
Dressings
- Adhesive bandages (plasters) in assorted sizes, including waterproof ones
- Sterile gauze pads (5×5 cm and 10×10 cm)
- Elastic and gauze bandages in several widths
- Triangular bandage (for an arm sling)
- Medical adhesive tape
- Hemostatic or compression dressings
- Blister plasters
- Wound closure strips for small cuts
Instruments
- Blunt-tipped scissors
- Tweezers (for splinters and ticks)
- Digital thermometer
- Disposable nitrile gloves
- CPR face shield (with valve)
- Safety pins
- Foil blanket
- Small flashlight
- Flexible splints (SAM type) for immobilization
Antiseptics and care
- Saline vials (for rinsing wounds and eyes)
- Antiseptic solution (for example povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine)
- Hand sanitizer
- Burn cream or gel
- Cream for insect bites
Common medicines (over the counter)
Choose them with your doctor or pharmacist and always follow the leaflet:
- Pain and fever reliever
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antihistamine
- Anti-diarrheal and oral rehydration salts
- Antacid
- Eye drops (artificial tears)
For children you need pediatric forms and doses, based on weight and age, as advised by their doctor.
The family’s daily medicines
If someone takes regular treatment (for blood pressure, diabetes, heart, thyroid, epilepsy, asthma), this is the most important part of preparedness. Try to always have 7 to 14 days in reserve, stored separately, plus a list of the medicine names, doses and prescribing doctor. Details in emergency medication supply.
Documents
- A small first aid manual or printed cards
- A list of each family member’s allergies and chronic conditions
- Blood groups, if you know them
- Your family doctor’s phone number
Where to keep it and how to maintain it
- Somewhere dry and cool, not the bathroom (humidity ruins dressings and medicines), within reach of adults but away from small children.
- Everyone in the household should know where it is.
- Twice a year, check expiry dates and replace what you’ve used. Return expired medicines to a pharmacy rather than putting them in the bin.
More important than the kit: knowing how to use it
A basic first aid course teaches you, in a few hours, things that save lives: CPR, stopping bleeding, the recovery position, what to do with burns, fractures or choking. The Red Cross and similar organizations run them almost everywhere. It’s worth every adult in the family taking one.
Recommended equipment
What to look for when buying. Links go to partner shops; if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Details.
Complete family first aid kit
A good starting point, to top up with your family's own medicines and needs.
- Sturdy case with labeled compartments
- Over 100 items, including dressings in several sizes
- Contents list inside the lid
Tourniquet
For severe limb bleeding. Use it only if you've been trained, on a course.
Foil blankets and nitrile gloves
Cheap and light: put a few in every kit.
Frequently asked questions
Which medicines should go in the kit?
Over-the-counter medicines for pain and fever, allergies, diarrhea and heartburn, plus a cream for burns and bites. Choose them with your doctor or pharmacist, especially if your household includes children, older people, pregnant women or anyone with a chronic condition. Always follow the dose on the leaflet.
Where can I take a first aid course?
The Red Cross or Red Crescent society in most countries runs basic first aid courses with a certificate, as do St John Ambulance in the UK and several Commonwealth countries, and many local hospitals and community organizations. They usually take a few hours to a day.
Is a car first aid kit enough for home?
No. A car kit contains the legal minimum for a road accident. For home and for a crisis lasting several days, you need more dressings, medicines and instruments.
Sources and further reading
Preper is for general education and does not replace instructions from your local authorities or advice from a doctor. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.