First Aid Kit

Building, stocking, and maintaining first aid supplies.

A kit is a memory aid for skills you already have. Buying one does not make you trained, and a perfect kit at the bottom of a closet helps no one. Stock it for the situations you will actually face, keep it where you can reach it, and check it twice a year.

Basic Home First Aid Kit

Wound Care

Medications

Tools

Other Essentials

Advanced/Trauma Kit

For those with training or remote locations:

Bleeding Control

Airway

Other Advanced Items

Location-Specific Kits

Car Kit

Basic home kit plus:

• Reflective vest
• Flares/triangles
• Jumper cables
• Blanket
• Water bottles
• Non-perishable snacks
• Phone charger
• Basic tools
• Duct tape

Office/Workplace Kit

Basic home kit plus:

• AED (automated external defibrillator)
• More supplies (more people)
• Prescription medication info
• Emergency contact list
• Incident report forms

Outdoor/Hiking Kit

Basic kit (compact version) plus:

• SAM splint
• Emergency whistle
• Signal mirror
• Water purification
• Emergency shelter
• Fire-starting supplies
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Blister treatment (moleskin)
• Snakebite kit guidelines

Travel Kit

Compact basic kit plus:

• Prescription medications (extra supply)
• Motion sickness medication
• Diarrhea medication (Imodium)
• Electrolyte packets
• International emergency numbers
• Medical information card
• Insurance information
• Prescription copies

Specialized Items

Epinephrine Auto-Injector (EpiPen)

• Prescription required
• For known severe allergies
• Learn how to use before emergency
• Check expiration regularly
• Keep accessible (not locked away)

Glucagon

• Prescription required
• For diabetic emergencies
• Training needed for administration

Narcan (Naloxone)

• Available without prescription in many areas
• Reverses opioid overdose
• Consider if opioids in household

Container Options

Choose based on:

• Where it will be stored
• How it will be transported
• Environment (wet, dusty, etc.)
• Number of people served

Organization

Labeling

• Label sections clearly
• Color code by type (red = bleeding, blue = medications)
• Include quick reference card
• List contents on outside

Arrangement

• Most critical items on top/front
• Group by type
• Keep similar items together
• Make inventory list

Maintenance

Monthly Check

• Are supplies accessible?
• Is anything obviously depleted?
• Any visible damage?

Quarterly Check

• Replenish used items
• Check expiration dates
• Replace expired items
• Test equipment (flashlight, etc.)

Annual Review

• Full inventory
• Replace old/damaged items
• Update based on needs
• Review first aid knowledge

Expiration Dates

Check regularly:

• Medications (critical)
• Antibiotic ointments
• Sterile supplies (may degrade)
• Cold packs (may lose effectiveness)

Replace medications before they expire.

Storage

Location

• Easily accessible
• Known to all household members
• Away from children (or secured)
• Not exposed to extreme temperatures
• Not in damp locations

Multiple Kits

Consider having kits in:

• Home (main floor, bedroom)
• Each car
• Workplace
• Garage/workshop
• Outdoor gear

Teaching Others

• Show family where kit is located
• Review contents together
• Practice basic skills
• Ensure everyone knows emergency numbers
• Review regularly

Building vs. Buying

Pre-Made Kits

Pros:

• Convenient
• Organized
• Often good value

Cons:

• May include unneeded items
• May miss needed items
• Quality varies

Building Your Own

Pros:

• Customized to your needs
• Know exactly what you have
• Can prioritize quality

Cons:

• More time and effort
• May forget items
• Often more expensive

Best approach: Start with basic pre-made kit, customize and upgrade.

Cost-Saving Tips

• Buy supplies in bulk
• Use store brands
• Watch for sales
• Check expiration dates when buying
• Don't overbuy (supplies expire)

Quick Reference Card

Include in your kit:

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
911 - Emergency
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222

CPR: 30 compressions, 2 breaths
Choking: 5 back blows, 5 abdominal thrusts
Bleeding: Direct pressure
Heart Attack: Call 911, give aspirin
Stroke: FAST - Face, Arm, Speech, Time

Key Points

1. Have a kit - Something is better than nothing
2. Customize for your needs - Medical conditions, activities, location
3. Know what's in it - Review contents
4. Know how to use it - Training matters
5. Keep it accessible - Not locked away
6. Maintain it - Check regularly, replace expired items
7. Tell others - Family should know where it is
8. Have multiple kits - Home, car, work

Where to Go From Here

A kit and a manual will not make you proficient. Hands-on practice will. The next steps are practical:

• Take an in-person course. American Red Cross and American Heart Association run regular CPR/AED and first aid classes; many fire departments run free community sessions. Two hours on a mannequin teaches more than any chapter can.
• Take a Stop the Bleed class. The skills are simple, the gear is cheap, and bleeding control is the second most common bystander save after CPR.
• If you spend time outdoors, take Wilderness First Aid. The decision-making changes when EMS is hours away.
• Refresh every two years. Skills decay. Guidelines update.
• Keep this tutorial as a reference. Re-read the chapter that fits the situation, not all of them.

You won't always feel ready. Nobody does. The person who acts is the one who has rehearsed the first three steps enough that the fourth one comes without thinking.