Creating a first aid kit for your home – and even your car – helps keep first-aid items in one easy place. It’s also fairly easy to do and low cost.
You can either create your first-aid kit from scratch or purchase one from a local drug store and tailor it to your family’s needs.
16 Items to Include in the First Aid Kit:
- Contact list: Keep a list of emergency contacts, including those of close friends, neighbors, and family members. Make sure you include contact information for your primary care physician, and if you have children, their pediatrician.
- List of prescribed medications and known allergies: Having this information readily available helps paramedics and other medical professionals treat you more effectively. Even though there are several apps available to help you track meds, a printed list is easy for everyone to access.
- Prescriptions: Make sure you stock any medications prescribed by your physician, such as insulin, epinephrine injectors (EpiPens), heart medication, asthma inhalers, etc.
- Copies of insurance and medical records
- Adhesive bandages
- Allergy and anti-itch medications
- Antibiotic ointment
- Aspirin
- Antacid
- Burn ointment
- Eye wash solution: In addition to rinsing irritants out of your eyes, eye wash can be used as a general decontaminant.
- Laxative
- Petroleum jelly or other lubricant
- Scissors
- Thermometer
- Tweezers
Additional Tips
Store your kit in a cool, dry place and periodically check it for items that are expired and need to be restocked. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the kit is located, and encourage everyone to put it back where they found it. That way, you're set for the next time you need it.