Use this guide when you have no first-aid kit, or yours is scattered around the house or out of date. A pharmacist can advise on suitable medicines for your household; this guide covers general supplies and does not give medical treatment advice.
Step by step
Choose a container
Use a sturdy, waterproof box with a lid that closes securely, clearly labelled First aid. Store it somewhere cool and dry, out of reach of children but easy for adults to grab. Avoid bathrooms, where damp can spoil supplies.
Stock the basics
Include assorted plasters, sterile gauze dressings, bandages, a triangular bandage, medical tape, disposable gloves, scissors, tweezers and saline or sterile wipes for cleaning wounds. Add a digital thermometer and an instant ice pack. Pre-assembled kits are fine as a starting point if you check the contents.
Add suitable medicines
Ask a pharmacist which basic medicines are suitable for your household, such as pain relief or antihistamines, especially if there are children or anyone with health conditions. Keep medicines in original packaging with the leaflet so instructions and dose information are available. Store any medicines out of children's reach, ideally in a locked or high cupboard.
Include key information
Add a card with emergency numbers: 999 for emergencies, NHS 111 for urgent advice, your GP and your nearest pharmacy. Include a list of each person's medicines and allergies, and keep a copy on your phone. A simple first-aid leaflet is useful for quick reference.
Make a car and travel kit
Put a smaller kit in the car and in a bag for days out or holidays. Include plasters, dressings, gloves, wipes and any personal medicines people need. Check car kits more often, as heat and cold can damage contents.
Check it regularly
Set a reminder every six months to check expiry dates and replace anything used, damaged or out of date. Return out-of-date medicines to a pharmacy for safe disposal rather than putting them in the bin. Show everyone at home where the kit is.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Sturdy, labelled container
- Plasters, dressings and bandages
- Gloves, scissors and tweezers
- Thermometer and ice pack
- Pharmacist-advised medicines in original packaging
- Emergency numbers card
- Medicines and allergies list
- Six-monthly check reminder set
Practical tips
- Consider a first-aid course from a recognised training provider, as knowing what to do matters more than what is in the box.
- Replace items straight after use by keeping a shopping note inside the lid.
- Keep any prescribed emergency medicines, such as adrenaline auto-injectors, with the person, not in the kit.
Common problems
Someone has a wound that will not stop bleeding.
Press firmly on the wound with a clean dressing and keep pressing. Call 999 if bleeding is severe or does not stop, or if the person feels faint. For smaller wounds that may need stitches, contact NHS 111 or go to an urgent treatment centre.
A child has swallowed something from the medicine cabinet.
Call NHS 111 straight away, or 999 if they are drowsy, having trouble breathing or unconscious. Keep the packet to show what was taken. Afterwards, move all medicines to a locked or high cupboard.
I am not sure whether a burn needs medical attention.
Cool the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes and cover it loosely with cling film. Call 999 or go to A&E for large or deep burns, burns to the face, hands, feet or genitals, or if the person is a young child or very unwell. For other burns, NHS 111 can advise.