How to Make the Best First Aid Kit for Your Home

If there is one thing I’m sure of it’s that accidents happen. So today I’m going to share what I keep in our home first-aid kit to hopefully give you some ideas on how to make the best first aid kit for your home as well. I like to be prepared, just in case. Now you can too!

Why Do We Need A First Aid Kit At Home?

I could answer this question with a simple quote of Murphy’s law that states,  “everything that can go wrong will”. It’s scientific. But really, the things you don’t even think about, tend to happen. Especially when you’re a parent.

Things like boys and knives. Which inevitably find themselves together. Or nature’s children that like to walk around barefoot. And then end up stung by a mysterious insect. Also, if you’re like me, and end up with a brad nail sticking through your thumb.

But don’t panic! You can handle it all. And I’ll show you how you can breathe a little easier if you know you’re set up with a few essentials.

My kids know where our First-Aid Kits are kept. Which is both good and bad. It’s good because they typically care for the small stuff themselves. But it’s also bad because we do have a pretty decent band-aid roll-over in our house.

Free PDF Printable EBook + Inventory List

This is as good a time as any to mention I’ve actually created a free PDF so go ahead and sign up below to download it for free. I tried to go into some detail about all the things you might want to consider in your first aid kit, but in addition to the information inside there are also links to sources where more information is available.

In the back of the ebook, there is also a printable list you can use to make sure you are able to keep track of when you’d like to keep stocked. Because without keeping it full you may find yourself in a situation where you’re needing something and find out you’d forgotten to rebuy it. So, it’s good to keep somewhat of an inventory and check on your stock every few months. Might even be useful to add it to your calendar or set a reminder on Google or Alexa if you have it.

You can download the simple Printable First Aid Kit Checklist for Free Here.

Best First Aid Kit For Your home | Q& A

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Where Should You Keep A First Aid Kit?

Most medications are kept in dry, dark, cool places. I personally keep mine in my hallway closet on a higher shelf. Because I have children I take that into consideration and try to keep most of it out of their reach. I have seen a large number of people keep things like this above the refrigerator, but I wouldn’t recommend that because of the heat the refrigerator generates.

What makes the most sense to me, if I didn’t have small children, would be to keep it in the bathroom, pantry, or closet. You may also consider what is the easiest and quickest location should there be an emergency.

Some first aid kit boxes also allow for them to be installed on the wall, so that is an option as well.

Is It Cheaper To Build Your Own First Aid Kit?

Honestly, it can go either way. I would have to say it is less expensive to make a list and compile your own thorough kit. Because you have the ability to have more of what you need and less of what you don’t as well as particular brands you might want vs off-brand which results in a personalized kit made for you and your family.

There are a few reasons why I am not in the “store made” first aid kit camp. First, they are generalized kits, which means they are not built to fit your family’s needs. Second, most kits expire in 3-5 years so there is a strong possibility those rarely used items they come packed with (probably half of what you pay for) will expire before you even get to use them. And in conclusion, they end up being a waste of money.

The only occasions I think they work fairly well for are things like keeping in a vehicle, in a diaper bag, or in a camping kit, though, I would personally opt for a kit made specifically for our needs in those situations as well.

Recommended Tools & Supplies

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I am not a medical professional, I am not giving medical advice. I am simply telling you the things we use in my household, my personal experiences, and opinions on products I use. However, If you need professional medical advice please see your doctor.

Bandaids

Bandaids in this house has a bit of a revolving door. No sooner do I refill than I find wrappers on the floor by the hall closet where I keep the first aid kit. The benefit is my kids are prepared to independently take care of small issues themselves. I’m glad they feel like they can take care of themselves because I’ve made it accessible for them. But it’s still a challenge to keep them stocked up. These are just a few of the choices we keep in our Home First Aid Kit. The ones not listed that are pertinent to us are waterproof because we are commonly at the pool during the summer and they come in handy.

• Basic First Aid Manual
• Bandaids – 100 Flexible Fabric One Size
• 100 Assorted Package
• Extra Large (10 Pack)

Antibiotic Ointment & Spray

Since I have children in my household we use antibiotic ointment on a regular basis. I have only recently started using Sovereign Silver and I have been extremely happy with the results we’ve had. As well as the fact that It’s more on the natural side of first aid which is where I lean.

• Neosporin First Aid Antibiotic Ointment (1 oz)
• Dermoplast First Aid Spray
• Sovereign Silver Fine Mist Spray

Gauze Pads & Rolls

Occasionally you will have wounds that are larger than the area a bandaid could help you with. And when you have an open wound that is larger than a bandaid the last thing you want to do is put anything with adhesive on your wound. Gauze pads are extremely useful in a first aid kit for your home. We’ve had a few instances where a bandaid would not do and you go through a box of gauze pads in a week easily since you must keep a wound clean and change it out at least once a day.

• Gauze Pads 4×4 (50 pack)
• 3×3 (25 pack)
• Gauze Rolls (12 pack)

Athletic, Surgical Tape, & Elastic Bandages

We don’t use athletic tape much anymore since my son retired from soccer, but surgical and elastic bandages still come in handy for the kids as well as us adults.

• Surgical Tape (12 Rolls)
• Athletic Tape (4 pack)
• Elastic Bandages (4 pack)

Scissors & Tweezers

The blunt tip scissors are useful when using gauze rolls or pads on a larger wound. At least that’s how I’ve used them. Tweezers are pretty self-explanatory. I’m always amazed at how much pain a tiny shard of wood, glass, or metal can cause you. And when you need tweezers, a good pair to ensure you’re able to actually extract it is 100% required. The pairs in first aid kits are generally worthless.

• Blunt Tip Medical Scissors (5.5″)
• First Aid Tweezers

Ice & Heating Pads

I go into more detail in my Free Ebook about the differences between Ice & heating pads and when one should be used over the other. So, suffice it to say they are both fairly necessary in a first aid kit for your home.

• Ice Packs (3 pack)
• Heating Pad

Antiseptic

Because I have children I do my best to keep pain-free antiseptic in my household. I grew up in a home where wounds got scrubbed clean with steaming hot water, soap, and iodine. Therefore, we hid injuries as a kid just to avoid the pain of cleaning them!

• Antiseptic Wash – Hurt Free
• Betadine First Aid Wash – No Sting
• Isopropyl Alcohol (2 pack)
• Hydrogen Peroxide – Food Grade

Pain Reliever

To be honest we don’t use a lot of pain relievers in our household. But since I know it’s one of those things you don’t need until you really do need it, I do keep a bottle of adult and child’s pain reliever in our kit.

• Pain Relief Tablets (200 count) Adult
• Children’s Pain Reliever

Gloves

There are a few instances we’ve dealt with that I would have absolutely loved a pair of gloves and wouldn’t you know I didn’t have any. So, now I make sure to have at least a box in our extended kit in the closet. One example that comes to mind is when we dealt with a case of MRSA staph infection, when cleaning out the wound you most definitely do not want to get any of that on your skin.

• Nitrile Gloves – Medium Size (100 count)

Antihistemine for Allergies

For those days when you are being attacked by all that vicious pollen, mold, or dander in the air keep this on hand.

• Antihistamine Tablets (400 count)

Vapor Rub, Epsom Salts, & Activated Charcoal

When I am inflicted with a cold my favorite thing to use is Mentholatum because it is so versatile in calming you down. I also rub it under my nose to help me breathe and on my lips to keep them from chapping while I breathe in and out through my mouth.

Epsom salts make for a very calming bathtime for myself as well as my kids. They’re also good for detoxing or helping to heal sore muscles.

Activated charcoal is an amazing commodity to have in a first aid kit for your home. Its great for drawing out toxins from your body, stomach bugs, upset stomach, it’s versatile and 100% natural.

• Vapor Rub – Mentholatum Lavender Scent
• Epsom Salt – Lavender Scent (3 lb bag)
• Epsom Salt – No scent (8 lb bag)
• Activated Charcoal Tablets (400 count)
• Activated Charcoal Powder – Organic (1 lb bag)

Lotions & Gels

Whatever ails you as far as relations to plants or bugs, calamine and hydrocortisone lotion do the job. Arnica Gel is a magical solution that dissipates bruises in a fortnight, I’m not exaggerating. And if you have a burn, particularly a sunburn, there is not a lot that beats Aloe Vera. For other burns, I recommend Calendula gel because I’ve used it and it is extremely efficient.

• Calamine Lotion
• Hydrocortisone (3 pack)
• Arnica Gel (4.2 oz)
• Petroleum Jelly (3 pack)
• Aloe Vera Organic
• Calendula Burn Cream

BONUS: Other Recommended Supplies

A Few Other Items You Should Not Forget To include In A First Aid Kit For Your Home

• Aluminum Finger Splints (3 sizes)
• Tongue Depressors (100 count)
• Thermometer – American Red Cross
• Tums Fruit Chewable Antacids – (160 count)
• Milk of Magnesia

And don’t forget the container! My exact containers were from my local Home Depot, You can find them here Husky 36 Compartment Stacking Containers

This is a comparable one from Amazon, *Stanley Sortmaster 2 Pack

This would also make a great condensed Kit, *Stanley Organizer Multilevel

I hope I have given you some inspiration to tackle a first aid kit for your home, answered some questions you may have had, or even reminded you of some things you might need to restock!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Julie