First aid kit: what to put in one, using the Red Cross checklist
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- BAND-AID Brand All-Purpose Portable Compact First Aid Kit. Best for: A starter kit for home or car. See options on Amazon
- Large home first aid kit in a hard case. Best for: Families who want more supplies in one place. See options on Amazon
- Instant cold compress packs. Best for: Restocking a kit. See options on Amazon
The Red Cross checklist
| Item | Amount | Size or detail |
|---|---|---|
| Absorbent compress dressings | 2 | 5 x 9 inches |
| Adhesive bandages | 25 | Assorted sizes |
| Adhesive cloth tape | 1 | 10 yards x 1 inch |
| Antibiotic ointment packets | 5 | About 1 gram |
| Antiseptic wipe packets | 5 | Not specified |
| Aspirin packets | 2 | 81 mg each |
| Emergency blanket | 1 | Not specified |
| Breathing barrier | 1 | With one-way valve |
| Instant cold compress | 1 | Not specified |
| Nonlatex gloves | 2 pairs | Size large |
| Hydrocortisone ointment packets | 2 | About 1 gram each |
| Gauze roll (roller) bandage | 1 | 3 inches |
| Roller bandage | 1 | 4 inches wide |
| Sterile gauze pads | 5 | 3 x 3 inches |
| Sterile gauze pads | 5 | 4 x 4 inches |
| Oral thermometer | 1 | Non-mercury, non-glass |
| Triangular bandages | 2 | Not specified |
| Tweezers | 1 | Not specified |
| Emergency first aid instructions | 1 | Not specified |
This is the American Red Cross list for a family of four. Use it to check a ready-made kit before you buy, or as a shopping list if you build your own.
Where to keep first aid kits
The Red Cross advises keeping a first aid kit in your home and in your car, carrying one or knowing where to find one, and learning where the kits are at your workplace. Some kits are designed for activities such as hiking, camping or boating.
Ready.gov, the federal preparedness site, lists a first aid kit as part of a basic emergency supply kit and suggests preparing supplies for home, work and cars, since you do not know where you will be when an emergency happens. Make sure everyone in the household knows where the home kit is kept.
Buy a kit or build your own
The Red Cross says first aid kits come in many shapes and sizes, can be bought at a drug store, or can be made yourself. A ready-made kit is convenient; building your own lets you choose the sizes and brands you prefer.
- Count the essentials. A big piece count does not guarantee the essentials. Check that a kit includes the gauze, tape, gloves and cold compress on the Red Cross list.
- Fill the gaps. Add missing items individually; see our tweezers guide and hydrocolloid bandages guide.
- Choose a sturdy case you can find quickly and carry easily.
Personal items to add
The Red Cross says to include personal items such as medications, emergency phone numbers, and other items your health care provider suggests. Ready.gov adds that about half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day, and that an emergency can make refills hard to get, so keep your prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines and vitamins organized and protected.
Ready.gov's list of extra supplies also includes non-prescription medicines such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medicine, antacids and laxatives, as well as prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution.
Check and restock your kit
- Check regularly. The Red Cross says to check expiration dates and replace used or out-of-date contents.
- Review yearly. Ready.gov suggests rethinking your needs every year and updating your kit as your family changes.
- Replace after use. Restock bandages, gloves and cold packs as soon as you use them so the kit is ready next time.
For wound cleaning, see what the evidence says in our hydrogen peroxide guide and rubbing alcohol guide. For itchy bites and rashes, see our hydrocortisone cream guide.
Know when to call for help
A kit is for minor injuries and for helping until professional care arrives. The Red Cross includes emergency first aid instructions in its checklist; read them before you need them, and consider a first aid and CPR class. Call emergency services right away for severe bleeding, trouble breathing, chest pain, a serious burn, a head injury with confusion, or any emergency where you are unsure what to do.
What to look for when you buy
BAND-AID Brand All-Purpose Portable Compact First Aid Kit
Best for: A starter kit for home or car
A compact ready-made kit you can check against the Red Cross list and top up with missing items.
Watch out: Add gauze rolls, a cold compress or gloves if the kit lacks them.
See options on AmazonLarge home first aid kit in a hard case
Best for: Families who want more supplies in one place
A larger kit makes it easier to cover the Red Cross family-of-four list.
Watch out: Count the gauze, tape and gloves, not just total pieces.
See options on AmazonInstant cold compress packs
Best for: Restocking a kit
The Red Cross lists an instant cold compress, and they are single use.
Watch out: Replace after each use.
See options on AmazonQuestions people ask
- What should be in a basic first aid kit?
- The Red Cross lists bandages, gauze, tape, ointments, wipes, gloves, a cold compress, tweezers, a thermometer, a blanket and instructions.
- Where should I keep a first aid kit?
- The Red Cross says at home and in your car; Ready.gov adds work.
- How often should I check my first aid kit?
- Regularly; check expiration dates and replace used or out-of-date items.
- Is it better to buy or make a first aid kit?
- Either works, per the Red Cross; compare any kit with its checklist.
- What personal items should I add?
- Medications, emergency phone numbers and items your health care provider suggests.
Sources
- Make a First Aid Kit: What to Include (redcross.org), American Red Cross
- Build A Kit (www.ready.gov/kit), Ready.gov, U.S. Department of Homeland Security