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Every house needs a First Aid Kit. You never know when you might have an emergency or need a Band-Aid, burn cream, or even a wrap for a twisted ankle. We’re human. We get hurt. I recently dripped hot oil onto my finger. It was one drop but the damage was done. It immediately blistered. Fortunately, I had burn cream and a decent bandage on hand to cover it. I can’t tell you how many times I have needed a bandage and didn’t have one. It sucks having to wrap your finger in a paper towel and scotch tape it.
Beyond the typical first aid materials we think of there are some things we don’t always think of. So, I have put together a more comprehensive list of items to have on hand.
First Aid Kit List:
Bandages and Other Dressings
Some of the most important things you need in your first aid kit are bandages. Lots of them and in assorted sizes. You can get these in fabric or plastic. I prefer the fabric bandages as they are more flexible. Here is what I recommend:
- 40 Medium Bandages
- 30 Mini Bandages
- 30 Fingertip Bandages
- 20 Knuckle Bandages
- 5 Triangular Bandages
- 20 Butterfly Closures
- 10 Large Sterile Gauze Pads
- 20 Medium Sterile Gauze Pads
- 5 Oval Eye Pads
- 1 Large Serile Trauma Pad
- 1 Adhesive Wound Dressing
- 1 2″ Stretch Gauze Roller Bandage
- 1 4″ Stretch Gauze Roller Bandage
Cleansing and Hygienic Products
Next, you will want to have an assortment of cleansing products to prepare the area for treatment. You will want to include the following:
- 20 Alcohol Prep Pads
- 5 Pairs of Gloves
- 10 Antiseptic Wipes
- 1 Antiseptic Spray
- 1 Hand Sanitizer
Treatment
You need to have a selection of items to treat wounds. Some common ones you will want to have include:
- 10 Sting Relief Pads
- 1 Instant Ice Pack
- 1 Tube of Burn Cream or 10 Burn Cream Packets
- 1 Tube of Antibiotic Ointment or 10 Antibiotic Ointment Packets
- 1 Burn Spray
- 1 Eyewash
- 1 Bottle of Aspirin or 10 Aspirin Packets
- 1 Bottle of Non-Aspirin or 10 Non-Aspirin Packets
- 1 Emergency Blanket
Tools
Finally, you need to have a few tools on hand to use in the treatment of wounds. Include the following:
- 1 CPR Mask
- 1 Roll of First Aid Tape
- 1 Pair of Trauma Shears
- 5 Finger Splints
- 50 Cotton Swabs
- 10 Safety Pins
- 1 Pair of Tweezers
Once you have gathered the necessary supplies, you will want to find a bin or bag to keep them in. I have a plain plastic bin with a lid that I keep all our medications plus our first aid kit in. Instead of buying everything individually you can purchase kits online that have most of the items you need plus a case to keep them in. I actually purchased a kit that came in a zippered pouch, bought the additional items the kit didn’t have, and put those items along with the pouch in my bin.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure you get some sort of first aid kit together. You may never need most of the items in it. But I feel about a first aid kit the way I feel about a lot of other things. When I don’t look my best is when I run into someone I know. It’s when I’ve left my phone at home that I end up have car trouble. And it’s always when you don’t have a first aid kit that you end up needing one. So, you might as well be prepared.
