What should I keep in my first aid kit?

Keeping a well-stocked first-aid kit at home can mean the difference between dealing with a minor accident or injury yourself, or having to take a trip to your local hospital to have it dealt with.

However, when it comes to creating your own first aid kit, there is a vast range of first aid items to choose from. If you’re looking to create your own kit and don’t know what to include in it, below is a list of recommended items from the CDC along with a few alternatives for more specialized situations.

CDC Recommended First Aid Kit Inclusions 

• Plasters in a variety of different sizes and shapes
• Small, medium, and large sterile gauze dressings
• At least 2 sterile eye dressings
• Triangular bandages
• Crêpe rolled bandages
• Safety pins
• Disposable sterile gloves
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Alcohol-free cleansing wipes
• Sticky tape
• Thermometer (preferably digital)
• Skin rash creams, such as hydrocortisone or calendula
• Cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings
• Antiseptic cream
• Painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen
• Cough medicine
• Antihistamine cream or tablets
• Distilled water for cleaning wounds
• Eyewash and eye bath

Additional Items for a Hiking First Aid Kit

• Anti-diarrheal pills
• Poison ivy/poison oak treatment
• Insect sting treatment
• Rehydration salts
• Waterproof packaging to carry kit
• Headlamp (or flashlight)
• Whistle
• Heat-reflecting emergency blanket
• Personal locator beacon (optional)

Additional Items for a Sports First Aid Kit

• Athletic tape
• Moleskin
• electrolyte tablets
• Muscle gel
• cohesive gauze
• A sling

Additional Items for a Bug Out Bag

A bug out bag is an easily portable bag or rucksack containing survival supplies for use in an emergency situation such as an earthquake or alien invasion. This might sound ridiculous, but the CDC has a preparedness page for a zombie outbreak.

• Drinking-Water (3 Liters)
• Collapsible Water Bottle
• Hard Water Bottle
• Metal Water Bottle / Canteen
• Water Filters / Purification Systems
• Water Purification Tablets 
• Protein / Energy Bars
• MREs / Dehydrated Meals
• Spork
• P-38 Can Opener
• Metal Cooking Pot
• Metal Cup
• Pot Scrubber
• Portable Stove
• Stove Fuel 
• Tarp
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Ground Pad
• Wool Blanket
• LED Headlamp
• Mini LED Keychain
• Light Glowstick
• Mini LED Light
• Candles
• Batteries
• 550 Parachute Cord (
• Cotton Bandana
• Duct Tape 
• 55 Gal. Contractor Garbage Bag 
• Resealable Bags 
• Sunglasses
• N95 Face Mask
• Sewing Kit
• Latex Tubing (3’)
• Survival Axe
• Fishing Kit
• Condoms 
• Binoculars
• Face Paint
• Military Surplus Survival / Snare Wire
  

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