First aid · · 7 min read

First aid kit: what to keep at home and how to store it

A home first aid kit is for small problems and the first minutes of a bigger one, such as cuts, scrapes, sprains, minor burns, fever and itchy stings. A tidy kit has a short list of items kept in one place, with expired things thrown out and everything out of children's reach. It is not a replacement for emergency care: in a serious situation, call 911 first.

Illustration of a red first aid case with a white cross, a thermometer, an elastic bandage roll and an adhesive bandage

In short

  • Wound care supplies matter more than a long list of pills.
  • Keep everything in one place so you can find it quickly in an emergency.
  • Check the kit regularly, replace what is running low and discard what has expired.
  • Medicines belong out of sight and out of reach of young children, with caps locked after each use.
  • Personal prescriptions, allergy information and emergency contacts deserve their own spot in the kit.

Supplies and tools: the core of the kit

MedlinePlus lists the basics. These are the items you will reach for most often.

  • adhesive bandages in assorted sizes, sterile non-stick gauze pads and adhesive tape;
  • elastic bandages for sprains, and triangular bandages, which can also make an arm sling;
  • disposable gloves, latex or non-latex, plus hand sanitizer and a face mask;
  • disposable instant ice bags, sterile cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs;
  • a thermometer and tweezers for ticks and splinters;
  • a syringe, medicine cup or medicine spoon for measuring doses;
  • a first aid manual.

Keep this part at the top of the box so you are not digging past packets of tablets to find a bandage.

Over-the-counter items: a short, sensible list

  1. Cuts and scrapes.MedlinePlus suggests an antiseptic solution or wipes, an antibiotic ointment and a sterile eyewash, such as contact lens saline solution.
  2. Itching and stings.Calamine lotion for stings or poison ivy, and hydrocortisone cream, ointment or lotion for itching.
  3. Pain and fever.Ready.gov lists pain relievers among the over-the-counter basics. Choose a product made for the person who will use it, and follow the label or your pharmacist's advice on how much and how often.
  4. Stomach upset.Ready.gov also suggests antacids and anti-diarrhea medicine. Ask a pharmacist before giving either to a child.

Leave out anything without its original packaging and label, other people's prescriptions and leftovers from old courses of treatment. Do not keep antibiotic pills in the kit for self-treatment: they are for a clinician to prescribe.

The personal section

About half of Americans take a daily prescription, and Ready.gov notes that in an emergency, refills and open pharmacies can be hard to find. Organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and vitamins, and keep a small supply of regular medicines ready to grab.

  • a written list of your regular medicines and what each is for;
  • a list of allergies and past reactions to medicines;
  • any prescribed emergency medicine, such as a quick-relief inhaler or an epinephrine auto-injector, kept where everyone in the home knows to find it and checked for expiry;
  • prescription eyeglasses or contact lens solution if you need them;
  • your clinician's phone number and an emergency contact.

Where to store it, and how to check it

  1. One place.MedlinePlus advises keeping all supplies in one location so you can find them in an emergency. Ready.gov suggests airtight plastic bags and one or two easy-to-carry containers.
  2. Keep medicines in their own packaging.The label carries directions, strength and expiry. Check the label or ask your pharmacist about storage conditions, because some medicines need a cool or dry spot and some need the refrigerator.
  3. Check on a schedule.MedlinePlus says to check the kit regularly, replace low supplies and discard expired items. Ready.gov suggests rethinking your needs every year as your family changes.
  4. Date what you open.Write the opening date on products such as drops and ointments so you know how old they are.

Getting rid of old medicines

The FDA says the best option is a drug take-back location, such as a local pharmacy or police station, or a prepaid mail-back envelope. If neither is available, check the FDA Flush List. Do not flush any medicine unless it is on that list. Otherwise, mix the medicine with something unappealing such as dirt, cat litter or used coffee grounds, do not crush pills, seal the mixture in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Scratch out personal information on prescription labels before throwing the empty container away.

Safety in a home with children

  • Keep medicines where young children cannot reach or see them, and remember purses, bags and nightstands.
  • Always lock the safety cap and return the medicine to its safe place right away.
  • Teach children what medicine is and why only a trusted adult should give it.
  • Measure a dose with the device that comes with the medicine, such as an oral syringe or dosing cup. If there is none, ask your pharmacist. Do not use household spoons.
  • Read the label, never give a child more than the package says, and do not give two products with the same active ingredient.
  • Ask a doctor or pharmacist about anything you do not understand before giving a medicine.

If a child may have swallowed a medicine, get help immediately, call your local poison center or 911, and take the package with you. Do not wait for symptoms.

Car and travel kits

A small wound kit, gloves, scissors and a flashlight make sense in a car. Ready.gov suggests keeping a grab-and-go case with at least 24 hours of food, water and medicine for work or travel, and notes you may need other supplies depending on where you will spend time. Extreme heat in a parked car is hard on medicines, so carry them with you rather than leaving them in the glove box.

Red flags: skip the kit and call 911

Call 911 for loss of consciousness, a seizure, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, bleeding that does not stop with pressure, chest pain, signs of a stroke, a severe injury or burn, or a suspected poisoning. A kit helps with the first minutes only. The emergency team handles the rest.

Questions and answers

Can I use a medicine after its expiration date?

It is safest not to. Ready.gov and MedlinePlus both say to replace or discard expired items, and that matters most for emergency medicines such as an auto-injector or inhaler.

Should I keep leftover antibiotics at home?

No. Antibiotics are for a clinician to prescribe for a specific infection. Leftovers belong in a take-back program, not in your kit.

Where should I keep the kit?

Somewhere easy to reach for adults but out of reach of young children, ideally in one container. Tell everyone in the house where it is.

Can I flush old pills?

Only if the medicine is on the FDA Flush List. For everything else, use a take-back option or follow the FDA's trash method.

What should I add for a baby or toddler?

Ask your pediatrician or pharmacist. Children's needs depend on age and weight, so a clinician should pick the fever medicine and show you how to measure it with the right dosing tool.

Sources

  1. MedlinePlus — First aid supplies
  2. Ready.gov — Build a Kit
  3. FDA — Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know
  4. CDC — Medication Safety for Children

Sources checked on 29 October 2026.

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