At-Home First Aid Kit: Must-Have Essentials

It's essential to have a first aid kit around for emergencies. It should be easily accessible and ready to take on the go because you never know what kind of medical situation you might find yourself in.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 44% of Americans do not have first aid kits, and 48% do not have emergency supplies. These kits are not meant to substitute the advice or counsel of a medical professional but to help stabilize emergent conditions until proper treatment is administered or reduce non-emergent conditions from becoming worse.

First aid kits are handy toolkits that can be extremely useful in times of medical need.

First-Aid Kit Basics: Planning for Better At-Home Medical Care

Having a well-stocked first aid kit available at home within easy reach can help treat basic injuries and illnesses, infection prevention and an unnecessary trip to an urgent care center or the ER.

When it comes to first aid kits, you can either purchase a pre-assembled kit and add to its contents or put one together for customization. Making a first aid kit can be beneficial for families with specific health concerns, as not all suppliers of pre-made kits will have the things you might need in terms of medications or specific health conditions. Making a list of particular allergies or health issues can significantly help customize the kit and figure out what may be added or removed.

Every so often, it's essential to clean out your emergency medical kit and replace it with new products. Most items have expiration dates; using a product that's gone bad not only makes the kit ineffective but greatly reduces its ability to work as it's intended. Remember to keep your kit in a dry, locked, and convenient location, out of children's reach.

Necessary Supplies for Your At-Home First-Aid Kit

The American Red Cross recommends the following items for a family of four. You can print off this list and use it when you’re building your first aid kit.

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches).
• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes).
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch).
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram).
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets.
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each).
• 1 emergency blanket.
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve).
• 1 instant cold compress.
• 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large).
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each).
• 1 3 in. gauze roll (roller) bandage.
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide).
• 5 3 in. x 3 in. sterile gauze pads.
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches).
• Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass).
• 2 triangular bandages.
• Tweezers.
• Emergency First Aid guide.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care provides patients with quality care and services. Staff are ER-trained to determine patient conditions, and patients only pay for the level of service they receive—either ER or urgent care. The emergency department is open 24/7. The urgent care clinic is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. You don’t need an appointment; all walk-ins are welcome.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care is located at 1075 Medical Center Parkway, Maumee, OH 43537.