1st Aid Kit Checklist: 20 Essential Items in Your First Aid Kit  

Does the average first aid kit really cover everything that you need? They might have the basics for the most important emergencies you face–or they might not. You should run any kit you’re planning to buy through this 1st aid checklist, which includes 20 essential items you probably need in your kit. Remember, you can buy a basic kit and then supplement it with anything that you think is missing that you feel like you might need. 

1. Gauze Bandages and/or Pads 

Dressing more serious wounds than small cuts requires gauze specifically. Have a lot on hand, so you can dress multiple wounds. 

2. Surgical Tape 

The tape is useful to hold gauze and other things in place. 

3. Latex-Free Self-Adherent Wraps 

You probably most commonly know this product as a soft brown roll or material ideal for sprains and other issues.  

4. Liquid Bandage 

An excellent option to have for minor cuts that are hard to apply a bandage to. 

5. Triangular Bandages 

Most commonly used as an arm sling for breaks, but it is useful for other things too. 

6. Basic Bandages 

More for comfort than they are for wound dressing, basic bandages are essential to comfort children and adults alike for minor scrapes. 

7. Cold and Hot Packs 

Applying heat or cool is important. You can have a pack for each or one that can do both. 

8. Burn Dressings 

Burns are painful and can be hard to deal with. Burn dressing helps a lot and is available in cream or pad form. 

9. Small Scissors 

A small pair of scissors will let you cut up other materials, including the tape. 

10. Splints 

You have various options, including wooden and wire splints. It can also be a good idea to have dedicated finger splints. 

11. Emergency Blanket 

These help people who are cold heat up faster by retaining their body heat.

12. Sterile Eye Dressing

Eye injuries are often not considered in basic kits, adding a sterile dressing is wise. 

13. Thermometer 

Ideally a digital thermometer. 

14. Safety Pins 

These can help dressings stay in place. 

15. Painkillers 

Painkillers are especially important and you should ensure that you have painkillers that are safe to give to infants and young children. 

16. Antihistamine Cream 

This can help with allergic reactions on the skin. If you need other allergy medicine, be sure to add some to the kit too. 

17. Sterile Gloves 

An absolute must for sanitary reasons, you need to have at least one pair of sterile, disposal gloves and ideally more. 

18. Disinfectant Wipes or Wash 

You’ll need to clean wounds before you dress them. 

19. Tweezers 

Remove splinters and more. 

20. First Aid Pocket Guide from St. John Ambulance 

It’s smart to have sound knowledge at your fingertips. 

You can get your basic first aid kit and other useful items from CanGard. Start your order today. 

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