Accidents can happen at any time, and when they do, being ready to respond to them can sometimes spell the difference to quick treatment or a more complicated situation, which is why every home should have a first-aid kit in order for medical care to be given as quickly as possible.

Being prepared starts with having the right supplies in a part of your home that you can easily access, as well as knowing how to use them to handle and treat minor injuries.

Why Make a First Aid Kit?

While there are many pre-made first aid kits you can easily buy, there’s a good chance they won’t have everything you need for your emergencies at home. But you can easily supplement what your first-aid kit is missing by heading to the local pharmacy.

To start, these are the primary items you will need when building your first-aid kit:

• Antibiotic ointment
• Plasters/Band-Aids
• Sterile dressings/dressing pads
• Latex gloves
• Thermometer
• Eye wash
• Bandages

Other miscellaneous items that would be great to have in your first-aid kit include the following:

• A list of family members’ drug allergies or conditions
• Phone numbers of physicians
• Safety pins
• Tweezers/scissors
• Cotton/cotton balls

Medicines

Another important part of the first-aid kit is the over-the-counter medications. While you don’t always need to travel far to get to the nearest pharmacy, it’s still good to have something in your medicine cabinet or first-aid kit for when you have a fever or a really bad headache.

If you plan on adding medicines to your first-aid kit, get started with the following:

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Aloe vera gel
• Antacids

The following medicines listed can easily be bought at the nearest pharmacy. Even if no one in your home is experiencing any problems, having these in handy in your first-aid kit can do a lot in terms of preparedness.

However, if you’re unsure about any emergencies or those that are life-threatening, it’s crucial that you call the emergency number for medical emergencies. Having the emergency number written down also helps.

Containers

Pretty much any container will do when you’re making your own first-aid kit. You can choose a plastic container with a snap-top lid, a standard first aid kit with handles, or even a small backpack at home.

What is important is that you label your containers clearly so everyone will know that these containers are dedicated for your first-aid kits and medications.

Placement

Every home should have their first-aid kit placed in an area that’s out of reach for small children while being easily accessible to adults. A central location in the house that gets high traffic would be a good idea for this.