What to have in the first aid kit at home, at work and in the vehicle

By Cristiano Antonino On Apr 30, 2023

The first aid kit contains a range of medical supplies and other equipment used to administer first aid to an injured person during an emergency situation

It is essential to keep a first aid kit readily available in the home, cottage, car, boat, workplace and recreational area so that minor accidents and injuries can be dealt with.

A well-stocked first aid kit is a useful thing to have.

First-aid kit at home:

The first aid kit at home should contain the following:

Sterile gauze pads (dressings) in small and large squares to place over wounds
Adhesive tape
Roll and triangular bandages to hold dressings in place or to wrap around the arm
Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
cold pack
Scissors
Tweezers
Safety pins
Instant ice packs
Non-latex disposable gloves, such as surgical or test gloves
Torch, with extra batteries in a separate bag
Antiseptic wipes or soap
Pencil and pad
Emergency blanket
Eye patches
Thermometer
Epinephrine auto-injector
Other items you may also have in your emergency first aid kit at home:
Respiratory barrier devices, such as a pocket mask or visor
emergency telephone or coins
Emergency telephone numbers, the local poison control centre and personal physicians
Home and office phone numbers for family, friends or neighbours who can help.

Emergency first aid for the workplace:

Emergency first aid in the workplace is also essential if a fatal disaster occurs during working hours.

For example, the office could be structurally damaged and electricity could be out for a couple of days.

There could also be injuries such as cuts and strains that require medical attention when emergency assistance is not available.

The emergency supply kit for the workplace should contain the following:

Four litres of water per person per day (use sealed, unbreakable containers and replace the supply every six months)
Packaged or canned food that does not go bad and a can opener (replace food once a year)
Walking shoes, rainwear and a change of clothes
Blankets or sleeping bags
A first-aid kit and prescription drugs (check medicines every six months to ensure they have not passed their expiry date)
Toilet paper and other personal supplies
An extra pair of glasses
Battery-powered radio and torch, along with extra batteries
Spare money
An extra set of car keys
A list of your family doctors
Important family information such as a list of any medical conditions or medical devices, such as pacemakers
Photocopies of all necessary identification documents for you and your family, including health card numbers
Special items for infants, the elderly or disabled
Mobile phone and contact information for family and friends
In some cases, personal protective equipment may be required for employees as part of a safety programme.

Keep emergency supplies in a backpack or duffel bag so you can take them with you if you have to evacuate the area.

Emergency first aid kit for cars/vehicles:

Having first aid equipment for your car is one of the best ways to prepare yourself and your family for any emergency you may encounter.

Whether you’re simply driving to and from work, going out to run your daily errands or embarking on an exciting family road trip, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for anything that might happen along the way.

The car/vehicle emergency first aid kit should contain the following:

Battery-powered radio and torch, with extra batteries
A blanket
Booster cables
A fire extinguisher
Bottled water and energy-dense food that does not go bad (replace water every six months and food once a year)
Maps of the area
A shovel
Rockets
A tyre repair kit and a pump
Matches and a ‘survival’ candle in the deep can burn for many hours

Contents of travel first-aid kits

Travel first aid supplies need to be more comprehensive because a drugstore may or may not be accessible in your area.

In addition to basic medical items, the travel first aid kit should contain items to help relieve common symptoms of allergies and viral respiratory infections.

Here are the basic first aid items you need when travelling: