Home first aid kit checklist: what every family kit should contain
A good home first aid kit covers cuts, burns, sprains, fever and pain: plasters, sterile dressings, roller and triangular bandages, tape, gloves, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, scissors, a thermometer, a cold pack, a foil blanket and basic medicines. For a 72-hour kit, add a week of your regular medicines and a first aid guide.
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The checklist
This list follows the American Red Cross recommendation for a family of four and the UK government’s Be Ready checklist, adapted for a 72-hour home kit.
Wound care
- Assorted plasters, including waterproof ones (about 25)
- Sterile gauze pads, small and large (about 10)
- 2 large absorbent or trauma dressings
- 2 roller bandages, about 7.5 cm and 10 cm (3 in and 4 in) wide
- 2 triangular bandages (slings)
- Adhesive medical tape
- Antiseptic wipes and antiseptic cream
- Sterile eyewash or saline
Tools and protection
- Disposable non-latex gloves (several pairs)
- Tweezers and blunt-ended scissors
- Digital thermometer
- Instant cold pack
- Foil emergency blanket
- CPR face shield with one-way valve
- Safety pins
- First aid instructions on paper
Medicines
- Painkillers and fever reducers (paracetamol, ibuprofen), including children’s versions
- Antihistamine tablets and cream for allergies and stings
- Hydrocortisone cream for rashes
- Oral rehydration salts
- Anti-diarrhoea tablets
- At least 7 days of every regular prescription medicine, with a written list of doses
Check with a pharmacist or doctor which medicines are suitable for children, pregnancy and anyone with health conditions. Aspirin is not given to children under 16 in many countries.
Extras for a 72-hour emergency
A first aid kit for everyday scrapes assumes you can call an ambulance or go to the pharmacy. In a wider emergency, help may be slower, so add:
- A pressure or trauma dressing for serious bleeding.
- Extra supplies for chronic conditions: test strips, inhalers, spare glasses or contact lenses.
- Hand gel and wet wipes, in case water is off.
- A first aid manual: apps don’t help when the phone is flat.
- A head torch, for treating injuries in the dark.
Ready-made kit or build your own?
A ready-made kit is the fastest start, and good ones are inexpensive. Their weakness is the mix: lots of tiny plasters, few large dressings, and no medicines. Buy one, then top it up with the items above.
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family first aid kit | Home base kit | Hundreds of pieces, in a case | Check price on Amazon |
| Compact first aid kit | Grab bag, car, travel | Small and light | Check price on Amazon |
| Emergency trauma bandage | Serious bleeding | Pressure dressing | Check price on Amazon |
| Digital thermometer | Fever in children and adults | Fast, non-glass | Check price on Amazon |
| First aid manual | Without internet | Step-by-step pictures | Check price on Amazon |
| Oral rehydration salts | Diarrhoea, heat | Sachets or tablets | Check price on Amazon |
We don’t list prices because they change often. Use the button to see the current price on Amazon.
How to keep it ready
- Keep it in a clearly labelled box in a cool, dry place, out of children’s reach.
- Tell everyone in the house where it is.
- Replace anything you use straight away.
- Check dates twice a year, for example when the clocks change.
- Keep a smaller kit in the car (in some countries it is legally required) and in the grab bag.
Skills matter more than kit
A kit is only as good as the person using it. Sweden’s In case of crisis or war brochure encourages everyone to complete a CPR course. Red Cross societies, St John and many local organisations run short first aid courses, often in a single evening. Learn how to stop serious bleeding, put someone in the recovery position, and do CPR.
The first aid kit is part of every kit on this site, from the basic 72-hour kit to the older people and care kit.
Questions people ask
What should be in a basic home first aid kit?
Assorted plasters, sterile gauze pads and dressings, roller and triangular bandages, adhesive tape, disposable gloves, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, scissors, a digital thermometer, an instant cold pack, a foil blanket, a CPR face shield and first aid instructions, plus painkillers and antihistamines.
Is a ready-made first aid kit good enough?
It’s a good start. Most ready-made kits are heavy on small plasters and light on large dressings, so add a couple of trauma or pressure dressings, a thermometer and your own medicines.
How often should I check my first aid kit?
Twice a year, and after every use. Replace expired medicines, sterile items with damaged packaging and anything you used.
Where should I keep the first aid kit?
Somewhere cool, dry and easy to reach for adults but out of reach of children: a high kitchen cupboard is common. Keep a smaller kit in the car and grab bag.
Should I take a first aid course?
Yes. Sweden’s civil-defence brochure explicitly encourages people to learn CPR. Red Cross societies and St John run short courses in many countries.