First aid kit


A first-aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment used to provide immediate medical care, known as first aid, for minor injuries and emergencies until professional treatment becomes available. Kits are assembled for a wide range of settings, and their contents vary according to anticipated risks, the training level of users, local regulations, and applicable standards. Personal or household kits usually contain only a limited range of basic supplies, while in many countries employers are legally required to maintain workplace kits that conform to national specifications, such as the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 standard in the United States or DIN 13164:2022 for motor vehicle kits in Germany.
First aid equipment is generally identified by the ISO 7010 "first aid" symbol, while the red cross emblem is legally protected under the Geneva Conventions and reserved for humanitarian and military medical services. Proper maintenance of a kit involves regular inspection and the replacement of used or expired items.
The contents of a first-aid box vary depending on its intended use, local medical practices, and regulatory requirements, but most kits include a combination of medical supplies, basic medications, and protective equipment. Common items found in household and travel first aid boxes include adhesive bandages, sterile gauze pads, adhesive tape, antiseptic solutions, cotton wool, scissors, tweezers, disposable gloves, and wound dressings. Many kits also contain medications for immediate symptom relief, such as analgesics, antihistamines, antacids, and topical creams for burns, rashes, or minor skin infections.
Specialized first-aid boxes may include additional items tailored to specific environments. For example, vehicle first-aid kits often include reflective safety vests and emergency blankets, while workplace or industrial kits may contain eye wash solutions, burn dressings, and trauma supplies. Kits designed for schools, sports facilities, or outdoor activities are similarly adapted to address the most common injuries associated with those settings.

Importance in emergency preparedness

First-aid boxes play a crucial role in emergency preparedness by enabling rapid response to injuries and sudden medical conditions. Immediate first aid can help prevent complications, reduce the severity of injuries, and improve outcomes while awaiting professional medical assistance. Public health organizations and emergency response agencies commonly recommend that first-aid boxes be readily accessible in homes, vehicles, workplaces, and public spaces, and that users receive basic first-aid training to ensure effective use of the contents.

Storage, maintenance, and inspection

Proper storage and maintenance are essential to ensure the effectiveness of a first-aid box. Kits should be kept in a clean, dry, and easily accessible location, clearly marked with a recognized first-aid symbol. Regular inspection is recommended to identify missing, damaged, or expired items, particularly medications and sterile supplies. Replacing used or outdated components helps maintain readiness and ensures compliance with safety standards and organizational policies.

Regional and cultural variations

The composition of first-aid boxes may differ across regions due to variations in healthcare systems, climate, injury patterns, and legal frameworks. In some countries, first-aid boxes commonly include prescription-free medicines that are widely used for digestive issues, fagallergic reactions, or minor infections, while in others, regulations restrict kits to non-medicated supplies. Cultural practices and local health recommendations may also influence the selection of items included in a first-aid box.

Contents

First aid kits intended for personal or household use typically contain a limited range of basic supplies for treating minor injuries or emergencies, such as adhesive bandages, sterile gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, simple analgesics, and emergency blankets. Most of these basic supplies are readily available through general retail outlets such as pharmacies.
By contrast, workplace first aid kits are subject to minimum performance specifications under standards such as ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 in the United States, which classify kits by anticipated hazards and container durability, while the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations impose additional requirements in certain industries. In Europe, motor vehicle first aid kits in Germany must comply with DIN 13164, which specifies a standard set of supplies required for passenger cars. In Canada, workplace first aid is regulated at both the federal and provincial levels. The federal Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations specify the types and minimum contents of workplace first aid kits, including supplies such as a resuscitation mask with a one-way valve. Several provinces impose additional rules; for example, Nova Scotia requires vehicles used to transport employees to be equipped with a Type 2 first aid kit.

Core items

Basic items on a first aid kit consists of:
Trauma injuries, such as bleeding, bone fractures or burns, are usually the main focus of most first aid kits, with items such as bandages and dressings being found in the vast majority of all kits.
  • Adhesive bandages - can include ones shaped for particular body parts, such as knuckles
  • *Moleskin – for blister treatment and prevention
  • Dressings
  • *Sterile eye pads
  • *Sterile gauze pads
  • *Sterile non-adherent pads, containing a non-stick teflon layer
  • *Petrolatum gauze pads, used as an occlusive dressing for sucking chest wounds, as well as a non-stick dressing
  • Bandages
  • *Gauze roller bandages – absorbent, breathable, and often elastic
  • *Elastic bandages – used for sprains, and pressure bandages
  • *Adhesive, elastic roller bandages – very effective pressure bandages and durable, waterproof bandaging
  • *Triangular bandages – used as slings, tourniquets, to tie splints, and many other uses
  • Butterfly closure strips – used like stitches to close wounds, usually only included for higher level response as can seal in infection in uncleaned wounds.
  • Saline – used for cleaning wounds or washing out foreign bodies from eyes
  • Soap – used with water to clean superficial wounds once bleeding is stopped
  • Antiseptic wipes or sprays for reducing the risk of infection in abrasions or around wounds. Dirty wounds must be cleaned for antiseptics to be effective.
  • Burn dressing, which is usually a sterile pad soaked in a cooling gel
  • Adhesive tape, hypoallergenic
  • Hemostatic agents may be included in first aid kits, especially military, combat or tactical kits, to promote clotting for severe bleeding.

    Personal protective equipment

The use of personal protective equipment or PPE will vary by the kit, depending on its use and anticipated risk of infection. The adjuncts to artificial respiration are covered above, but other common infection control PPE includes:
  • Gloves which are single-use and disposable to prevent cross infection
  • Goggles or other eye protection
  • Surgical mask or N95 mask to reduce the possibility of airborne infection transmission
  • Apron

    Instruments and equipment

  • Trauma shears for cutting clothing and general use
  • Scissors are less useful but often included
  • Tweezers, for removing splinters, amongst others.
  • Lighter for sanitizing tweezers or pliers etc.
  • Alcohol pads for sanitizing equipment, or unbroken skin. This is sometimes used to debride wounds, however some training authorities advise against this as it may kill cells which bacteria can then feed on
  • Irrigation syringe – with catheter tip for cleaning wounds with sterile water, saline solution, or a weak iodine solution. The stream of liquid flushes out particles of dirt and debris.
  • Torch
  • Instant-acting chemical cold packs
  • Alcohol rub or antiseptic hand wipes
  • Thermometer
  • Space blanket
  • Penlight
  • Cotton swab
  • Cotton wool, for applying antiseptic lotions.
  • Safety pins, for pinning bandages.

    Medication

  • Aspirin primarily used for central medical chest pain as an anti-platelet
  • Epinephrine autoinjector – often included in kits for wilderness use and in places such as summer camps, to temporarily reduce airway swelling in the event of anaphylactic shock. Note that epinephrine does not treat the anaphylactic shock itself; it only opens the airway to prevent suffocation and allow time for other treatments to be used or help to arrive. The effects of epinephrine are short-lived, and swelling of the throat may return, requiring the use of additional epipens until other drugs can take effect, or more advanced airway methods can be established.
  • Diphenhydramine – Used to treat or prevent anaphylactic shock. Best administered as soon as symptoms appear when impending anaphylactic shock is suspected. Once the airway is restricted, oral drugs can no longer be administered until the airway is clear again, such as after the administration of an epipen. A common recommendation for adults is to take two 25mg pills. Non-solid forms of the drug, such as liquid or dissolving strips, may be absorbed more rapidly than tablets or capsules, and therefore more effective in an emergency.
  • Paracetamol is one of the most common pain-killing medications, as either tablet or syrup.
  • Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen or other NSAIDs can be used as part of treating pain from injuries such as sprains, strains and bone fractures.
  • Codeine is both a painkiller and anti-diarrheal.
  • Anti diarrhea medication such as loperamide – especially important in remote or third world locations where dehydration caused by diarrhea is a leading killer of children
  • Oral rehydration salts
  • Antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine
  • Poison treatments
  • *Absorption, such as activated charcoal, Enterosgel and Atoxyl.
  • *Emetics to induce vomiting, such as syrup of ipecac although first aid manuals now advise against inducing vomiting.
  • Smelling salts
Topical medications
  • Antiseptics / disinfectants
  • *Antiseptic fluid, moist wipe or spray – For cleaning and disinfecting a wound. Typically benzalkonium chloride, which disinfects wounds with minimal stinging or harm to exposed tissue. Can also be used as an antibacterial hand wipe for the person providing aid.
  • **Povidone iodine is an antiseptic in the form of liquid, swabstick, or towelette. Can be used in a weak dilution of clean water to prepare an irrigation solution for cleaning a wound.
  • ** Hydrogen peroxide is often included in home first aid kits, but is a poor choice for disinfecting wounds- it kills cells and delays healing
  • *Alcohol pads – sometimes included for disinfecting instruments or unbroken skin, or cleaning skin prior to applying an adhesive bandage. Alcohol should not be used on an open wound, as it kills skin cells and delays healing.
  • *Medicated antiseptic ointments- for preventing infection in a minor wound, after it is cleaned. Not typically used on wounds that are bleeding heavily. Ointments typically contain one, two, or all three of the following antibacterial ingredients neomycin, polymyxin B sulfate or bacitracin zinc.
  • Burn gel – a water-based gel that acts as a cooling agent and often includes a mild anaesthetic such as lidocaine and, sometimes, an antiseptic such as tea tree oil
  • Anti-itch ointment
  • *Hydrocortisone cream or injection
  • *antihistamine cream containing diphenhydramine
  • *Calamine lotion, for skin inflammations.
  • Anti-fungal cream
  • Tincture of benzoin – often in the form of an individually sealed swabstick or ampule, protects the skin and aids the adhesion of adhesive bandages, such as moleskin, Band-Aids, or wound closure strips. Benzoin swabsticks are very prone to leaking and making a mess when kept in portable first aid kits; ampules are a more durable option. If swabsticks are used, it is advisable to keep them in a sealed zip lock bag.