Stocking Your Family First Aid Kit

In the world we live in, things could go wrong at any time. One thing that the pandemic has taught us is to always be prepared for the worst-case scenarios. Who knows, you could be hosting a brunch party or have an elderly with chronic disease at home; having a first aid kit can always take you out of hot waters.

Preparedness and prepping are pretty big buzz words out there right now, especially in homesteading circles.  That said, we’re not planning to build a bunker, stock up on guns, or have a year’s worth of food supply in our basement (more power to you if that’s your goal, though), but we are also not comfortable with our family’s current state of preparedness.  For instance, we didn’t even have a proper first aid kit until we decided to write this post! Please tell me we’re not alone.

How about you stock your family first aid kit as a new year resolution in case anything happens? We figured a few of you out there feel the same way, so we decided to start a series on Prepping for Beginners.  We thought a good place to start would be creating a well-stocked first aid kid.

Most drug stores or chemists sell ready-made first aid kits, stocking one yourself can help you save on the cost. So, we set about collecting and buy all the necessary things to have in a well-stocked first aid kit.  Here’s the list that we came up with. We hope it helps you consider your first aid kit and create one yourself if you are currently living without it.

Creating a Well-Stocked First Aid Kit

There is no end to the medical supplies you can get for your first-aid kit. The key principle is to include provisions that are better suited to your family’s needs. If your family includes both kids and the elderly, make sure you add appropriate medications inside. Every first aid kit, whether domestic or specialist, these few things are fundamental to every first aid kit:

  • Adhesive Tape
  • Antibiotic Ointment
  • Alcohol Prep Pads
  • Bandages
  • Instant Cold Packs*
  • Qtips/Cotton Balls
  • Gloves
  • Gauze
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Hand Sanitizer*
  • Liquid Bandage*
  • Eyewash
  • Thermometer
  • Bulb Syringe
  • Butterfly Bandage*
  • Space Blanket *
  • Breathing Barrier

In case you don’t want to head out to the drug store to get the supplies or don’t trust online vendors, here are some reliable links you can check out.

  • Dynarex Cold Pack 5 x 9 24
  • New-Skin Liquid Bandage
  • Bausch & Lomb Eye Wash
  • Swiss Safe Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets
  • ADC Adsafe CPR Mask Pocket Resuscitator Kit
  • Organic Activated Charcoal Capsules

Medicines to Include

Home medical chest with medicine - pills, capsules, blisters, nose sprays, bottles
Home medical chest with medicine (pills, capsules, blisters, nose sprays, bottles), patches and electronic thermometer. Health care, medicaments keeping concept. High quality photo
  • Activated Charcoal*
  • Aloe Vera
  • Antihistamine*
  • Calamine lotion
  • Antacids
  • Pain Reliever
  • Hydrocortisone*
  • Blood Stop Powder*

Some of these medicines are not suitable for children. So, if you have children at home make sure you procure some children’s syrups.

Miscellaneous First Aid items to Include

  • Instructions for using specific items (i.e., breathing barrier, butterfly bandages, etc.)
  • Emergency numbers in case something goes wrong.
  • List with contents of the kit to keep it well stocked

So that’s it!  It was pretty simple and so worth the small amount of time it took us to assemble.

Where to Keep the Family First Aid Kit

Domestic woman putting first aid kit with vitamins, drugs, antibiotics
Domestic woman putting first aid kit with vitamins, drugs, antibiotics and cure at kitchen cupboard. Neatly pharmacy medicines storage organization. Packing container box with treatment pills of shelf

Moreover, it is essential to remember that this kit should be kept locked up in a cool, dry place and out of reach of your children. Although most people consider their bathroom cabinets the right place to place kits, the humid atmosphere inside can be harmful to the medicines.

Being a gathering space in the home, Kitchens are better suited for keeping your kit. Not to mention it is one of the high-risk zones in the house. If you don’t have a specialized box for the equipment, you can use a sealable bag to prevent the outer atmosphere from interfering with the meds inside.

While you have a family first aid kit at home, you must keep one in your car as well.  

Next up:

  • Herbal First Aid Kit
  • Bug Out Bag
  • 72-Hour Emergency Kit
  • Car First Aid Kit
  • Mini-First Aid Kit

At least one person in your home should have the basic knowledge and training of providing first-aid treatment. They should also be responsible for checking the stocked supplies every six months and replacing the medications if they expire.

Common Injuries that Require First Aid Care

A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you tackle common injuries to severe ailments in time before any professional help arrives.

Wounds and Bruises – Kids are common victims of wounds, bruises, and sometimes even bleeding. In case of a bruise, you can simply apply an antiseptic to the wound. You can either put a bandage on top after applying an ointment or leave it as it is. In case of bleeding, put pressure on the affected area with the help of a clean cloth. Once the bleeding stops, apply a band-aid or wound it with a sterile gauze or bandage.

Choking – if you see someone choking on food, guide them to cough more forcefully. If they are able to cough, it’s good news. However, if they have trouble forcing it out, start by calling 911 soon after. Meanwhile, give 4 – 5 forced blows at their back between their shoulder blades. Not working? Give them 4 – 5 forced thrusts from behind, push the object out and clear the airway.

Allergic Reactions – Allergic reactions can be triggered from different stimuli from food to environments to insects. If anyone in your family suffers from a mild allergic reaction, an antihistamine will do the job. However, if they exhibit severe allergic reactions like throat or tongue swelling, use an EpiPen while calling 911 emergency.

Heart Attack – Heart attacks can be fatal if not taken care of as soon as possible. Fast and efficient first aid can help prevent a heart attack and, in turn, death. If you or anyone in your family feels severe chest pain or tightness that leads to neck and back, start by chewing a 300mg dose of aspirin (only if you are un-allergic to aspirin). Don’t forget to call the emergency service in the meantime.   

FAQs: Stocking Your Family First Aid Kit

1. Do family first aid kits include medicines?

Yes, family first aid kits include common medications like aloe vera, antacids, laxatives, antihistamines to deal with common ailments. Moreover, it is equally necessary to have syrup for the common cold and flu if you have children at home.

2. What is the ideal place to keep a first aid box?

The kitchen is an ideal place to keep your first aid kit as it is the place that receives the most foot traffic. This makes it easier to reach in case of an emergency.

3. Is it essential to have first aid training?

Although basic instruction for applying medication and band-aiding, having proper first aid training can keep you out of harm’s way in most situations. If you do not have a first aid medical training institute nearby, you can easily acquire first aid training online from the American Red Cross institute.

Conclusion

First aid kits are fundamental to every household, ensuring a safer living. However, most homes still don’t have a stocked first aid kit at home, leading to extreme risks. We have enlisted all the necessary things you should have in a first aid kit to limit health risks associated with your loved ones.