Your first aid kit should be tailored to your families needs. A small cardboard box with a lid works but a hard plastic case similar to a fishing tackle box works best. Keep your kit in an easily accessible place and out of reach of small children. Remember the special needs of people in your family (extra glasses, sugar for diabetics, also diapers and baby supplies for infants).
Photo of personal emergency medical kit
BASICS:
The following items are recommended as basic items for a family first aid kit.
- Sterile gauze squares (2″, 3″, 4″)
- Roller gauze (1″, 2″, 3″)
- Plain absorbent gauze pads
- Eye dressings
- 3-Triangular bandages
- Assorted adhesive dressing(such as bandaids)
- Pair of small scissor
- Pair of tweezers
- Oral thermometer
- Tongue blades and cotton tipped applicators
- Tube of petroleum jelly
- Safety pins in assorted sizes
- Cleansing agent (soap)
- First aid hand book
- NON-PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
- Some non-prescription drugs to be considered are as follows.
- Aspirin or acetaminophen: To reduce fever or pain
- Anti-diarrhea medicine
- Antacid: For stomach upset
- Emetic: To induce vomiting following poisoning.
- Laxative: High fiber foods are helpful also.
- Eye wash
- Rubbing alcohol
- Antiseptic or Hydrogen peroxide
- Vitamin supplements
BANDAGES
Bandages can be easily made from sheets torn into strips. You can use clean rags, disposable diapers and sanitary pads for dressings. Dressings can be held in place by the torn sheets, men ties or stockings. It’s not a bad idea to purchase some bandages either.
OTHER SUPPLIES
- Plastic bag for waste disposal
- Paper cups
- Spoons
- Needle and thread
- Splinting material
- Disposable diapers (can be used as dressing)
- Sanitary napkins (can be used as dressing)
- Formula (if needed for infant)
- Medicine dropper (to measure bleach for water purifying)
- Cold packs
- Hot packs
- Cotton
- Tissues
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Matches
- Pre-moistened towelettes
- Hand lotion
- Pocket knife
- Ace bandage
- Extra eye glasses
- Sunscreen lotion
SPECIAL
Special prescription medicines such as insulin, heart medicine or high blood pressure medicine. Obtain specific information from your doctor or pharmacist on labeling, storage, how much to store and how often to rotate it.
- Taylor to family needs.
- Basic first aid kit items.
- Non-prescription and prescription drugs.
- Bandages and dressings.
