A good home first-aid kit covers three jobs: stopping small bleeds, cleaning and covering wounds, and easing minor burns, stings, or sprains until you can get more help if needed. The American Red Cross recommends building a kit around a core set of wound-care supplies, protective gear, and a few basic tools, then checking it regularly so nothing inside has expired or run out.
You don’t need anything fancy. A clear plastic bin, a zippered pouch, or even a labeled shoebox works, as long as it’s easy to grab and everyone in the house knows where it lives.
Quick Answer: The Core Supply List
Based on Red Cross guidance for a family-sized kit, here’s what to stock and roughly how much to keep on hand.
- Wound covering: assorted adhesive bandages, a few absorbent compress dressings, sterile gauze pads in two sizes, and a roll of adhesive cloth tape
- Wound cleaning: antiseptic wipe packets
- Skin protection ointments: antibiotic ointment packets and hydrocortisone ointment packets
- Tools: scissors, tweezers, and a couple of roller bandages in different widths
- Protective gear: two pairs of non-latex gloves and a breathing barrier with a one-way valve
- Comfort and monitoring: an instant cold compress, a space blanket, an oral thermometer, and two triangular bandages
- Basic medication: a small packet of aspirin (this is a general first-aid list item, not a recommendation for your situation — see the caution below)
- A first-aid instruction booklet, so anyone in the house can follow steps under stress
This list is meant for a family of about four. If your household is larger, has small children, or includes anyone with a chronic condition, ask a pharmacist or your healthcare provider what else to add, since a general list can’t account for personal medical needs.
Where to Put Your Kit
Keep at least one kit somewhere central and easy to reach, like a hallway closet or under the kitchen sink, away from heat and direct sunlight, which can break down ointments and adhesives faster. A smaller version in the car and one in a bag for travel or outdoor activities means you’re covered wherever you are. If you have young kids, store the kit up high or in a cabinet with a child lock, but make sure every adult in the house can still get to it fast.
How Often to Check and Replace Supplies
A first-aid kit is only useful if what’s inside still works. Set a reminder to go through your kit at least twice a year, for example when clocks change, and check three things every time.
- Expiration dates. Ointments, antiseptic wipes, and medications like aspirin all have expiration dates printed on the packaging. Replace anything that’s expired, even if the packet looks unopened.
- Used or low supplies. Restock bandages, gauze, and gloves as soon as you notice you’re running low, not after you’ve run out.
- Damaged packaging. Sterile items are only sterile if the wrapper is intact. Toss anything with a torn or opened seal, even if it looks unused.
Write the date you restocked on a piece of tape inside the lid. It’s a small habit that makes your next check much faster.
A Simple Restocking Checklist
Use this as a quick reference for how often to check each category of supplies.
- Bandages and gauze — check for torn packaging or low supply every 6 months
- Ointments and antiseptic wipes — check expiration dates every 6 months
- Medications, such as aspirin — check expiration dates every 6 months
- Gloves and the breathing barrier — check for cracking or brittleness once a year
- Instruction booklet — confirm it’s still current and readable once a year
Basic Wound Care: Cuts and Scrapes
For most everyday cuts and scrapes, the same basic sequence applies.
- Stop the bleeding. Apply firm, direct pressure with a clean gauze pad or cloth until bleeding slows or stops.
- Clean the wound. Gently rinse it with clean tap or bottled water to remove dirt and debris.
- Cover it. Apply a clean, dry bandage or dressing to keep the area protected while it heals.
- Watch it. Check the wound daily for signs it’s healing normally.
Call a healthcare provider if a wound doesn’t stop bleeding after about 10 minutes of firm, steady pressure, if it’s deep, gaping, or came from a dirty or rusty object, or if you notice increasing pain, swelling, redness, warmth, drainage, or a fever in the days after the injury, since these can be signs of infection.
Basic Burn Care: Minor Burns Only
For a small, minor burn where the skin is red and painful but not blistered or broken, cool running water is the first step. Hold the burned area under cool (not ice-cold) running water for several minutes, then cover it loosely with a clean, non-stick dressing. Avoid butter, oil, or ice directly on a burn, since these can trap heat or damage the skin further.
Get medical care right away for any burn that is large, deep, blistered over a wide area, on the face, hands, feet, or genitals, or caused by chemicals or electricity. These are outside the scope of home first aid.
Urgent Warning Signs: When to Call 911
A first-aid kit is for minor injuries. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away, and skip home treatment, if you see any of the following:
- Bleeding that won’t stop after firm pressure, or blood that is spurting
- A wound to the chest, abdomen, pelvis, neck, or a deep wound to the head
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing
- Chest pain, sudden difficulty breathing, confusion, or fainting
- A large or deep burn, or any burn on the face, hands, or genitals
- A suspected broken bone with visible deformity, or a joint that looks out of place
- Any injury where the person is unconscious, unresponsive, or not breathing normally
When in doubt, it’s always safer to call for help than to wait and see.
Extra Care for Certain Situations
A general kit works for most households, but a few groups need extra thought. If anyone in your home has a known allergy that requires an epinephrine auto-injector, keep it with the kit and make sure it’s not expired. Households with young children should double-check that medications like aspirin and any small items, such as safety pins or tweezers, are stored where kids can’t reach them. If someone in the home is on blood thinners or has a bleeding disorder, ask their provider what extra precautions to take for even minor cuts, since bleeding can take longer to control.
Related Reading
A first-aid kit is one piece of a bigger safety habit. If you’re setting up supplies for the road or a trip, our beginner’s travel wellness kit checklist covers what to pack beyond wound care. If you’re dealing with ongoing aches rather than an acute injury, see our guide on posture and back pain, including when to see a professional. And if sore joints from daily movement are part of why you’re thinking about home care, our piece on joint-friendly exercise for sore knees may help too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many first-aid kits should a household have?
Most households benefit from at least two: one central kit at home and a smaller one in the car. A third for travel bags or outdoor gear is a good add-on if you’re often away from home.
Can I just buy a pre-made first-aid kit instead of building my own?
Yes. Pre-made kits from a trusted supplier can cover the basics well. Just check the contents list against your household’s needs and add anything missing, like specific allergy medication.
Do I need to know CPR to have a useful first-aid kit?
No, a kit is useful on its own for minor injuries. That said, taking a basic first-aid and CPR course through a group like the Red Cross can make a real difference in a bigger emergency, since supplies alone don’t replace hands-on training.
What’s the single most important thing to check regularly?
Expiration dates. Expired ointments and medications lose effectiveness, and using out-of-date supplies during a real injury isn’t ideal. A twice-a-year check keeps this simple.
Educational Disclaimer
This article is for general education only and is not medical advice. It does not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatment, or replace guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Always follow instructions from a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency responder for your specific situation, and call 911 or your local emergency number for any serious or life-threatening injury.