13 Things You Should Always Have in Your Home First Aid Kit

Photo by Roger Brown: https://www.pexels.com/photo/first-aid-kits-on-white-background-5149757/

Many people are shocked by the fact that most accidents happen in the home, but when you think about it, it makes sense; we spend most of our time at home, so of course, accidents are going to be more common in our houses.

That is why it is so important for our health and wellbeing that we all have a first aid kit in our properties. That way, if anything goes wrong and we, or our family members, are injured or unwell, we can take quick action to help.

If you do not currently have a first aid kit at home and you are wondering what you will need to have in one, here are 13 things that you simply cannot do without.

1. Bandages and plasters

Cuts and scrapes are amongst the most common injuries we suffer in our homes, so it is important that your first aid kit is populated with plenty of plasters of all sizes, gauze and bandages, so you can patch them up when they happen and atop bleeding and infection from getting worse.

2. Antiseptic wipes

Of course, before you apply a plaster or bandage to a wound, it is important to clean it up so that you can reduce the likelihood of it becoming infected and needing further medical attention, which is why you should always have antiseptic wipes and sprays available too.

3. Latex gloves

Latex gloves are useful to have as they will allow you to treat wounds and injuries without adding your germs into the open cut.

4. Tweezers

Tweezers are great for getting things like splinters and fragments of glass or rocks out of a wound when you are cleaning it before you apply a bandage, so they are a very useful addition to any first aid kit and one that is often overlooked.

5. Thermometer

It is a good idea to add a thermometer to your first aid kit as your temperature is often one of the first signs that you are really unwell. If you or a family member has a high fever, it could signify that they have some kind of infection that needs to be treated or checked out by a medical professional.

6. Over-the-counter treatments

If you can, it is sensible to gather together a number of useful over-the-counter treatments like paracetamol, ibuprofen, laxatives, cold and flu remedies, cough syrup, and things like that, so that, whenever you or your family come down with something, you can quickly nurse yourselves back to health by taking a readily available medicine.

It’s so much nicer having everything you need ready to hand than having to go out to the shops to buy medicine when you are already feeling unwell, too.

7. Hot and cold packs

Having a handful of hot and cold packs in your first aid kit will mean that if you pull a muscle when exercising or come down with a migraine, you can find fast relief and start treating the issue immediately.

Cold packs are great for treating swelling, so if you twist your ankle or fall and bump your head, they can really help to ease your pain and minimise your injuries, and they can also be used on headaches too. 

Hot packs are particularly good at easing cramps, such as period pains and muscle cramps, and they are also great at fighting issues like back and neck pain too.

However, some people find that one or the other works better on all of their issues, so a bit of trial and error may be needed to find the optimum temperature for your ailments.

8. Scissors

Having scissors in your first aid kit, that are sterile, is a good idea as it will enable you to cut bandages and apply treatments without having to use kitchen scissors which may be dirty and could cause bacteria to be passed on to the wound site.

9. Rash creams

It is not uncommon for people to get rashes in the home due to touching certain plants when gardening or coming into contact with harsh chemicals that can cause the skin to become itchy and inflamed. Having, then rash creams like calamine lotion and calendula cream available will ensure you can get the instant relief you need when you come out in an annoying rash.

10. Eyewash

Getting chemicals in the eye can cause blindness if treatment is not quickly sought, so having a medical-grade eye wash and eye bath in your first aid kit is important, yes, it’s unlikely to happen, but if it does, you will be prepared and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

11. Bottled water

One thing that people do not think about when putting their first aid kit together is the possibility of an emergency like a storm that could cause their vital services to stop working. This is a possibility and if it happens, it is a good idea to have a supply of bottled water and maybe even some powdered food available to tide you over.

12. A torch

For similar reasons, having a torch in your first aid kit, so you can find and apply treatments if the power is out, is also a smart move that a lot of people simply do not think about.

13. A list of emergency contacts

Last but not least, having a list of emergency contacts, such as your GP, the local minor injuries hospital, and any other important contacts who can help you with your health when you need it, safely stored in the emergency first aid kit will mean that you can find the help you need quickly, even in a panicked situation.

Putting together a first aid kit for your home need not take long, and it won’t be expensive, but it will mean that next time you have a health crisis, you can patch yourself up quickly before you seek any additional help you may need with your illness or injuries, although, hopefully, you will not have cause to use your kit at all!