When disaster strikes, we worry about what we’ll do for food, water, power, and so forth. But it’s often injuries that create the biggest problems. Without first aid supplies, things like cuts, burns, infections, allergic reactions, dehydration, and broken bones can quickly escalate into serious conditions.
It’s not enough to just have bandaids and aspirin. It’s crucial that you have a well-stocked first aid kit that can handle a wide range of injuries and medical problems when professional help isn’t available.
In this guide, we’ll go over the essential first items every home should have, from wound care materials like gauze, antiseptics, and ointments, to medications that address pain, allergies, stomach issues, and infection. We’ll also cover important tools like tourniquets, gloves, splints, and water purification methods.
Note: The first aid items are listed in alphabetical order. Let’s dive in.
1. Adhesive tape
Also called medical or first-aid tape, adhesive tape holds gauze bandages and splint material in place.
2. Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel soothes and helps soothe and heal burns and other minor skin irritations.
3. Antacid
An antacid treats upset stomach, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea by neutralizing excess stomach acid and protecting the lining.
4. Antibiotic ointment
Applying antibiotic ointment to a wound site before bandaging helps prevent infection.
5. Anti-diarrhea medication
The loss of fluid in a severe case of diarrhea can become life-threatening. Include tablets (like these) in your first-aid supplies.
6. Antihistamine
These capsules, tablets, or liquid medications help treat allergic reactions from insect bites, seasonal allergies, and some foods.
7. Antiseptic wipes
You can use antiseptic wipes/towelettes to clean wounds, lowering the chance of infection.
8. Bandages
Gather a variety of bandages in assorted sizes and styles (wraps, strips, adhesive, non-stick, butterfly, etc.) to treat many injuries.
9. Cold packs
Disposable instant cold packs (like these) help bring down swelling and inflammation.
10. Cotton pads
Cotton pads and cotton balls can be used to apply pressure to a wound, absorb discharges, apply medicine, and cushion a tender area.
11. Cotton-tipped swabs
You can use sterile cotton swabs to gently clean and apply topical medicine to delicate areas of the body.
12. Disposable latex-free gloves
When water is at a premium, you can wear these gloves to reduce exposure to germs and bodily fluids.
13. Duct tape
You can use duct tape to create a makeshift bandage, sling, or splint. Plus, you can use it to remove splinters, thorns, or cactus spines.
14. Eye pads
An eye pad can protect an injured eye and absorb any drainage from the eye after an injury.
15. Eyewash solution
Sterile eye solution helps rinse debris and pollutants out of the eye. You also can use it to cleanse wounds in other parts of the body.
16. Finger splint
Aluminum finger splints (like these) help immobilize injured fingers, helping to reduce pain and prevent further injury.
17. First-aid manual
We are used to relying on the internet to answer many of our questions. But what if the internet is down or you cannot access it during an urgent situation? Having a basic first-aid manual on hand can be life-saving.
18. Gauze
You’ll want a selection of thick and thin gauze rolls and pads to apply pressure to wounds to stop bleeding and to wrap after cleaning and treating.
19. Hand sanitizer
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers help stop the transmission of bacteria and other pathogens, especially when the ability to wash your hands is limited.
20. Hydrocortisone ointment
Hydrocortisone treats skin irritations by reducing redness, swelling, and itchiness.
21. Hydrogen peroxide
You can use this antiseptic solution to help prevent the risk of infection from minor cuts and burns.
22. Pain relievers
Stock up on pain medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, to lower fevers and treat headaches and other aches and pains.
23. Petroleum jelly
As a lubricant that can be used all over the body, petroleum jelly can soothe and help heal and protect the skin after minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
24. Protective face masks
Keep a supply of protective KD-95 face masks on hand to shield from smoke and other pollutants in the air.
25. Scissors and tweezers
Scissors and tweezers are helpful for removing foreign objects from wounds and cutting bandages and tape.
26. Super glue
If a cut is deep and a trip to a clinic is impossible, a strong adhesive made from ethyl cyanoacrylates may work in place of stitches.
27. Thermometer
Both an excessive fever and an abnormally low temperature (hypothermia) can be life-threatening, but they each require different remedies. You can use this handy tool to determine body temperature. Choose one (like this one) that is easy to read, non-mercury, and non-glass.
28. Tongue depressors
These sterile wooden sticks can come in handy for their intended use as well as for making splints, applying ointments, and mixing solutions.
29. Tourniquets
These bands work to control excessive, life-threatening bleeding by stopping the blood flow to an arm or leg injury.
30. Water purification tablets
Having clean drinking water is essential to your health. Yet many crisis situations can impact our water supply. Having these tablets as part of your first aid kit will give you some peace of mind.
What about personal prescription medications?
Each family has its own unique medical needs. It may be epinephrine auto-injectors, inhalers for asthma, or insulin. Talk with your medical provider about ways you can keep an extra supply of your prescribed medication on hand for an emergency.
For example, consider asking your doctor for 60- or 90-day refills rather than 30-day supplies of the medicines you need every day.
After you gather your supply of the above items, there are some other things to organize and plan as part of your emergency first-aid preparations:
You also may want to consider taking a first-aid course through your local community college or the American Red Cross. Contact your local chapter for information on these classes for adults and children. You can find in-person, online, and hybrid options.
We only have to think back to the early days of the pandemic to realize that certain necessary items (like toilet paper!) can disappear off the shelves during a crisis. Hoarding is not the answer, but organized, thoughtful preparation is.
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