First Aid Kits Contents  

A well-stocked first-aid kit, kept within easy reach, is a necessity in every home. Having supplies gathered ahead of time will help you respond effectively to injuries and emergencies at a moment's notice. You should keep at least one first-aid kit in your home, in your car and at work in easy-to-retrieve locations that are out of the reach of young children.

What should be in a first-aid kit?   

• First-aid manual
• Adhesive tape, adhesive bandages in assorted sizes, elastic bandage and bandage strips (Band-Aid)
• Antibiotic cream, solution, towelettes or wipes
• Thermometer
• Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs
• Sterile gauze, gauze pads and roller gauze in assorted sizes
• Soap or instant hand sanitizer
• Eye goggles
• Disposable instant cold packs
• Lubricants such as petroleum jelly
• Plastic bags for the disposal of contaminated materials
• Safety pins in assorted sizes
• Sharp scissors, tweezers and a needle
• Sterile eyewash, such as a saline solution
• Aluminum finger splints
• A bulb suction device for flushing out wounds
• Hydrocortisone cream (1%)
• Calamine lotion
• Alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
• Small, waterproof flashlight and extra batteries
• Mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Crescent)
• Disposable latex or plastic gloves
• Activated charcoal (use only if instructed by your poison control center)
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Over-the-counter oral antihistamine (Benadryl)
• Aspirin and nonaspirin pain relievers (never give aspirin to children)
• Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream
• Personal medications
• If prescribed by your doctor, drugs to treat an allergic attack, such as an auto-injector of epinephrine (EpiPen)
• Syringe, medicine cup or spoon
• Cell phone and re-charger that utilizes the accessory plug in your car dash
• Emergency phone numbers
• Candles and matches for cold climates
• Emergency blanket
• Sunscreen

After stocking the first-aid kits:

• Read the first-aid manual to understand how to use the kits and review the manuals with your kids. 
• Store first-aid kits in places that are out of children's reach but easily accessible for adults.
• Check the kits regularly every three months. Replace missing items or medicines that may have expired and make sure the flashlight batteries work. 

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