First aid kits can be as simple or as complex as you need. Instead of creating one huge first-aid kit that you need to lumber around everywhere you go, create multiple kits for different scenarios.
For example, items you would need if you were stranded in your car wouldn’t be exactly the same as what you’d need for a weeklong camping trip in the desert!
Preparation is a must for everyone, especially parents! If you carry a first aid pouch with you, you’ll be ready to handle most travel emergencies.
Make your own first aid kits using the tips and lists below as a guide.:
1. Create a list – Is the kit for traveling? If it is, what destinations do you need a first aid kit for? Do you have smaller children in your family? You can use these questions to help you come up with a list of specific items for your family.
2. Use a clear packing cube – In an emergency, the last thing you need is to panic when you can’t find what you need! Organize your first aid supplies in a clear packing cube. Instantly find what you need and feel organized before you leave the house.
3. Use pill pouches – Leave the bottle of Advil behind. Use resealable pill pouches or baggies you can label with the medicine’s name, expiration date and dispensing information.
4. Purchase travel-size items – Invest in portable-size items when building your DIY first aid kit for travel. If you’d prefer bottles instead of pill pouches, medicines are usually available in travel-size bottles. Bandages, gauze pads, and ointments are also available in smaller sizes.
Quick tip: If you’ve bought First Aid Kits in the past, you probably have some leftover items. You likely have bandages and Advil lying around the house as well. Before you go shopping, gather all these items together. You might already have everything you need for your kit!
5. List of Emergency Contacts – An emergency health contact list should be included in every DIY first aid kit. Include your kids’ pediatrician’s number and/or email, as well as information for major hospital or clinics in the areas you frequent. If you own pets, include their veterinarian’s contact information on this list too.
Items to include
Medicines
- ⬥ Headache Relief
- ⬥ Pain relief and/or Anti-Inflammatory
- ⬥ Decongestant and cough relief
- ⬥ Allergy Relief
- ⬥ Sore Throat Lozenges
- ⬥ Anti-Diarrheal
- ⬥ Antacids
- ⬥ Electrolytes for dehydration
Wound care
- ⬥ Polysporin or neomycin
- ⬥ Iodine Ointment (antibiotic)
- ⬥ Bandages / Band Aids
- ⬥ Alcohol Swabs
- ⬥ Gauze Pad & Medical Tape
- ⬥ Blister Pad / Moleskin
- ⬥ Non-Latex Gloves
- ⬥ Butterfly Closure Bandage
- ⬥ Burn Pad / Second Skin
Other items
- ⬥ Tweezers
- ⬥ After Bite Ointment
- ⬥ Safety Pins
- ⬥ Thermometer
- ⬥ Hand Sanitizer
- ⬥ Alcohol Spray
- ⬥ Eye Drops
- ⬥ Anti-Fungal Cream
- ⬥ Dental Pain Relief
First aid pack for babies and kids
Kid-friendly medicines
- ⬥ Antihistamine
- ⬥ Chewable nausea medication
- ⬥ Baby Gas Drops and/or Gripe Water
- ⬥ Teething Relief
Wound Care
- ⬥ Cold Compress Ice Pack
- ⬥ Saline Solution
- ⬥ Colorful Band Aids / Bandages
- ⬥ Knee and Elbow Bandages
Other items
- ⬥ Burn Gel
- ⬥ Bug Spray
- ⬥ Water Bottle
- ⬥ Bulb Syringe
- ⬥ Calamine Cream
- ⬥ Diaper rash cream
- ⬥ Medicine Dropper
Camping First Aid Kit
Are you getting back to camping and need some kits to build for your camper or RV?
Medicines
- ⬥ Electrolyte Pills
- ⬥ Water Purification Tablets
- ⬥ Wound Care
- ⬥ Hydrocortisone Cream
- ⬥ Burn Gel
- ⬥ Wound Seal Glue
- ⬥ Tweezers / Scissors
- ⬥ Hemostatic Dressing (to stop major blood loss, choose gauzes with kaolin to induce clotting)
- ⬥ Triangular Bandage (provides support)
- ⬥ Snake bite kit (know what types of snakes are in the area before you go)
Other Essentials for Camping
- ⬥ Duct Tape – use to repair tears in backpack, shoes, etc.
- ⬥ Space Blanket – Keep warm and protect from getting soaked
- ⬥ EpiPen – If necessary
- ⬥ Beacon Locator
- ⬥ Whistles (one for each family member) – Choose a loud one that comes with a lanyard
- ⬥ Magnifying Glass
- ⬥ Mirror (doubles as a signaling device)
- ⬥ Purification tablet/water filter and bottle
Car Emergency Kit:
- ⬥ Drop and water resistant flashlight (with extra batteries)
- ⬥ Jump cables and starter
- ⬥ Emergency flares/roadside reflectors
- ⬥ Tow straps
- ⬥ Car Emergency Escape Tool
- ⬥ Fire Extinguisher
- ⬥ Tire Changing Tools
Winter Essentials
- ⬥ Emergency beacon light (helps in situations of low visibility)
- ⬥ Blankets
- ⬥ Foldable Shovel – (to remove ice or snow around your vehicle)
- ⬥ Ice Scraper
- ⬥ Cat Litter / Sand – (added weight helps with traction and can be used to help extricate your vehicle when stuck in deep snow)
Other items
- ⬥ Fluids (oil and coolants) for older cars
- ⬥ Multipurpose tool – (knife, screwdriver, pliers, scissors, etc)
- ⬥ Safety vest
- ⬥ Bottles of water
- ⬥ Energy dense dried foods (eg. dried fruit and/or granola bars)
For more tips on emergency preparedness.
Practical Emergency Preparedness Tips for General Home Safety
