A Good First-Aid Kit
A first-aid kit should prepare you for almost any health emergency, from poison ivy to a blood-spurting cut. Here’s what you need.
The Council on Family Health, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, recommends the items listed below. Be sure to keep them in a waterproof box in an easy-to-find location.
- sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
- butterfly bandages and narrow adhesive strips
- sterile gauze pads, 5 and 10 centimeters
- emergency phone numbers (doctor, pharmacist, and poison control)
- cotton swabs
- a thermometer
- anti-itch cream
- antiseptic ointment, spray, or towelettes
- antibiotic ointment
- bottled water
- face mask
- latex gloves
- clean towel
- chemical ice packs
- eyedrops
- a first-aid handbook
- a roll of absorbent cotton
- hypoallergenic adhesive tape
- at least three sterile roller bandages, 5 and 7 centimeters
