Having a well-stocked first aid kit in your house will allow you to respond quickly to a wide variety of emergencies.
Here are 27 essential items to include in your first aid kit.
According to the American Red Cross, essential items that should be included in a first aid kit include the following:
First aid skills can be critical in certain scenarios and may include:
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Aluminum chloride topical is a medication used as an antiperspirant to manage excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and to control minor bleeding and/or growth of excessive new tissue (granulation tissue) in the wound healing process, after a nail or callus debridement. Common side effects of aluminum chloride topical include skin irritation, burning sensation, prickling sensation, transient stinging, and itching (pruritus). Consult your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.
The leaves, stems, and roots of anamu have been traditionally taken as tea or tincture to treat infections, headaches, fever, and cold. It is topically applied for skin fungal infections and to heal cuts and wounds. Do not take anamu if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid taking anamu if you have an increased tendency to bleed or bruise easily (bleeding diathesis), or if you are on blood thinning medications (anticoagulants). Use with caution if you have diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes). Side effects of anamu may include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and low blood pressure (hypotension).
Bacitracin topical is an antibiotic ointment applied locally to prevent infection in minor skin injuries including cuts, scrapes, and burns. Bacitracin ointment is also used to treat superficial infections in the eye surface and eyelids. Common side effects of bacitracin topical include rash, itching, pain, contact dermatitis, and hypersensitivity reaction (rare). Common side effects of bacitracin ophthalmic include eye irritation, pain, burning, stinging and itching, blurred vision, nausea, diarrhea, rectal itching, loss of appetite (anorexia), excessive sweating (diaphoresis), blood disorders, and hypersensitivity reaction.
Burn types are based on their severity: first-degree burns, second-degree burns, and third-degree burns. First-degree burns are similar to painful sunburns. The damage is more severe with second-degree burns, leading to blistering and more intense pain. The skin turns white and loses sensation with third-degree burns. Burn treatment depends upon the burn location, total burn area, and intensity of the burn.
Cadexomer iodine is a topical antiseptic medication used to treat and prevent infection in minor burns, cuts, and scrapes, and to clean wet ulcers and wounds and protect them from infection. Cadexomer iodine is available over the counter (OTC) as a gel or ointment. Common side effects of cadexomer iodine include application site reactions, eczema, hypersensitivity reaction, and increased thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level. Do not take if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Castor oil/trypsin is a combination topical product used to treat skin ulcers, burns, sunburn and wounds. Castor oil/trypsin helps relieve pain and promote wound healing. Castor oil relieves pain and promotes new skin cell formation and trypsin breaks down dead skin tissue. Common side effects of castor oil/trypsin include transient burning sensation, skin irritation, itching, and allergic reaction.
Echinacea is a group of flowering wild plants belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae/Compositae), commonly called coneflowers. Extracts from echinacea have been traditionally used to treat various ailments including the common cold, skin disorders, wounds, and respiratory and other infections. Do not use echinacea if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Common side effects of echinacea include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, unpleasant taste, sore throat, fever, dizziness, altered fertility, severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), redness (erythema), itching (pruritus), and widespread rash (exanthema).
First aid is providing medical assistance to someone a sick or injured person. The type of first aid depends on their condition. Preparedness is key to first aid, like having basic medical emergency kits in your home, car, boat, or RV. Many minor injuries may require first aid, including cuts, puncture wounds, sprains, strains, and nosebleeds. Examples of more critical first aid emergencies include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and heatstroke.
Some seizures are caused by brain diseases, tumors, genetic conditions, or other illnesses or disorders that can be diagnosed (symptomatic seizures). When the cause for the seizures is unknown, they are referred to as idiopathic or cryptogenic seizures. If a person has a seizure, loosen the clothing around his/her neck and remove sharp objects around the person to prevent injury. After the seizure, lay the person on his/her side to maintain an open airway. If the seizure lasts more than five minutes or if the person cannot be awakened after the seizure, call 911. Learn common seizure triggers, including foods or medications, hormones, stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, or sensitivity to light.
Bandaging a wound like a burn, cut, or scrape requires different techniques depending on which part of the body was hurt. Ace bandages, liquid bandages, bandage wraps, waterproof bandages, elastic bandages, and other types are available to cover and protect your wound from dirt and water.
Wound care treatment at home involves performing cuts and scrapes first aid including cleaning the injury and applying antibiotic ointment and a bandage. Use wound care products like adhesive bandages, hypoallergenic bandages, sprays, tape, and gauze. If cuts and scrapes don’t heal, see your doctor.
Are you always prepared for a first aid crisis? See which basic first aid items to pack to treat minor scrapes, cuts, and stings when you're on the go.
Wound care for cuts and scrapes includes treatment to clean and bandage the injury. Should you use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, ointment, or butter on a wound? Should you pull a bandage off fast or air out a wound? Take this quiz to test your medical knowledge.
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement fluids. Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke (a medical emergency) if not treated.
Menthol/zinc oxide topical is a combination medication used for the temporary relief of pain and itching associated with diaper rash, fecal, and urinary incontinence, feeding tube, wound drainage, and minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Common side effects of menthol/zinc oxide topical include local irritation and local hypersensitivity reaction.
Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin/pramoxine is an antibiotic ointment topically applied on minor cuts, scrapes, burns and wounds to prevent infection and relieve pain. Common side effects of neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin/pramoxine include itching (pruritis), rash, allergic contact dermatitis, and hypersensitivity reactions. Consult with your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Silver sulfadiazine is a broad spectrum antimicrobial medication topically applied on burn wounds to prevent infection. Common side effects of silver sulfadiazine include rash, itching, pain, burning, skin discoloration, photosensitivity, red, raised lesions (erythema multiforme), skin tissue death (necrosis), Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrosis, exfoliative dermatitis, liver inflammation (hepatitis), and others. Consult your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.
What should be in your first-aid kit? Take this quiz to understand trauma and learn the truth about how to administer first aid.
Zinc oxide topical is an OTC diaper rash ointment used to prevent and treat minor abrasions, burns, chafing, diaper rash, insect bites, and minor skin irritation. There are no significant side effects associated with using topical zinc oxide diaper rash cream products. Minor skin sensitivity or irritation has been reported in some individuals. Zinc oxide is considered generally safe to use if pregnant or breastfeeding.
