What Medical Supplies Do You Need to Keep at Home?

Health Line

5 days ago

The time to prepare for an emergency is before an emergency. From medications to bandages, keeping medical supplies at home can help you prepare to stay healthy in an emergency.
Illness or injury can happen when you least expect it. Having the medical supplies you need at home can turn a potential emergency into a managed event or keep the situation safer until you can get to urgent care.
Whether you're preparing a kit for a family with children or just for yourself, there are key items and medical supplies you'll need.
Read on to learn more about essential medical supplies you need at home, how to keep your supplies organized and up-to-date, and what other emergency preparedness items you may want to consider.
What should a basic first aid kit include?
A first aid kit is your first line of care for minor injuries and health emergencies. Here's more information about home first aid and emergency kits that include medical supplies.
The American Red Cross recommends that a first aid kit for a family of four should include the following:
Wound care items:
2 pairs of large non-latex gloves
2 absorbent compress dressings, 5 x 9 inches (in)
25 adhesive bandages of various sizes, also called Band-Aids or plasters
2 triangular bandages
1 roll of adhesive cloth tape, 10 yards x 1 inch
5 sterile gauze pads, 3 x 3 in each
5 sterile gauze pads, 4 x 4 in each
5 antibiotic ointment packets, approximately 1 gram (g) per packet
2 hydrocortisone ointment packets, approximately 1 g each
5 antiseptic wipe packets
1 instant cold compress
For a suspected heart attack:
2 packets of aspirin (81 milligrams each — for adults only. Do not give children aspirin.)
General emergency supplies:
tweezers
1 emergency blanket
1 breathing barrier for CPR or rescue breathing (with a one-way valve)
oral thermometer (non-mercury, non-glass)
a hard copy of emergency first aid instructions (book, pamphlet, or printed from the internet)
These are the basic supplies to keep on hand at all times. However, you can add items based on your individual family needs and other considerations, like where you live and the more common emergencies in your region. For example, are you more likely to experience a hurricane, flooding, or earthquake? You may need additional supplies or a different storage container for your supplies.
There are many other types of first aid kits you may want to consider, such as:
car kits
office kits
kits for sporting events and venues
travel kits
kits for specific conditions and events, like hiking
kits for people with a chronic health condition
Buy a preassembled kit or make your own — which is best for you?
When it comes to building a kit of medical supplies, you have options.
Build your own first aid and emergency prep kit:
Both have advantages and disadvantages. Preparing your own kit allows you to include items specific to you, your family, and your healthcare needs, but it will likely be more labor-intensive. You will also need to find or purchase something to store your kit.
Many agencies have lists of what to include in a first aid kit and a disaster preparedness kit. They have great resources if you decide to build your own. Remember, you don't have to build it all at once. It can be an ongoing project. Start with wound care items and add more as you can afford them.
Here are resources to help you build a first aid or emergency kit:
Ready.gov printable checklist for a first aid kit
FEMA printable disaster supplies checklist
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) printable information for planning different types of first aid and emergency kits
Purchase a ready-made kit
Many businesses and online retailers sell fully stocked first aid kits, generally in easy-to-carry bags or backpacks. If you have a flexible spending account (FSA), it may reimburse you for first aid kits. Check with your plan to be sure.
You can shop local retailers in your area or online for first aid kits. You have many options, from simple wound care kits to large, first responder-style duffle bag kits.
While there is no standard or certification for what medical supplies should be in a first aid kit, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has standards for what must be in first aid kits in the workplace. You can look for a purchased kit to be OSHA compliant.
Checklists that help you build your own kit can also be helpful when you are choosing a preassembled kit.
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What essential medications do you need to keep on hand for emergencies?
It's important to keep up-to-date over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications in a secure, waterproof, and portable location and storage container. Remember to check the expiration date of all medications, use them, and replace them as necessary.
Medications to keep and stock up on include:
a 30-day supply of all prescription medications you and your family members take
OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen
items to help reduce a fever and cold and cough supplies
antidiarrheal treatments
OTC antihistamines for allergies
aspirin (for chest pain emergencies in adults only — do not give to children)
calamine lotion for skin irritations
sterile eyewash or saline solution
oral rehydration solutions or fluids with electrolytes
What other medical tools or devices do you need at home?
It's important to keep the tools you will need to monitor and assess health during an emergency in your first aid or emergency kit. Things you will need to keep in your first aid kit include:
digital thermometer so you can check a fever accurately
a blood pressure monitor, especially if someone in your home has high blood pressure
a glucose monitor (if someone in your home has diabetes or prediabetes)
a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels, which can be helpful if someone has a respiratory infection like COVID-19 or the flu
tweezers to remove debris from a wound, splinter, or tick
sharp scissors so you can cut tape, gauze, bandages, or clothing
safety pins to help secure bandages or slings
instant cold packs that do not need to be refrigerated to treat swelling, bruising, or sprains
a hot water bottle or heating pad to help relieve muscle pain
a flashlight along with extra batteries (or a crank flashlight) so you have light if you need to treat injuries during a power outage
size large nitrile or latex-free gloves to help prevent infection while treating a wound
a CPR mask or face shield so you can be safe if you must perform rescue breathing
What other items may you need in your first aid or emergency prep kit?
You may need to add additional items to your first aid or emergency prep kit to help meet your family's specific health needs. Things like:
supplies for pets or service animals, like food, medications, and a collapsible water bowl
mobility aids like canes, walkers, or manual wheelchairs, if someone in your home uses them
Inhalers or a nebulizer if someone in your family has asthma or another respiratory illness
an automated external defibrillator (AED) if someone in your family has a heart condition that puts them at risk for cardiac arrest
extra batteries for any items like flashlights and weather radios
extra charging cables for your phones
a list of phone numbers, email addresses, or social media names for family members and other important contacts, like:
doctors
veterinarian (if you have pets)
pharmacy
mental health professionals
support people
bank
physical copies of your prescriptions
How can you store your medical supplies and first aid kit?
It's important to store your first aid kit in a cool, dry area of your home. Be sure you can get to it quickly in case of an emergency. Make sure all family members know where it is, but also ensure that small children don't have access to it.
You'll need to check your kit periodically to ensure that items with expiration dates are still good and replace any that aren't. Remember to replace items you use from your kit as soon as possible.
Unless you purchase a kit in a container, you'll also need to choose a container for your medical supplies and first aid kit. It's a good idea to mark it with first-aid stickers or easy-to-read writing. You can also use boxes or bags that are easy to carry if you need to evacuate during an emergency.
Things to consider when choosing a container for your medical supplies (first aid kit) include, is it:
waterproof
crush-proof
easy to carry
in multiple containers
easily identifiable as medical supplies and first aid
Examples of suitable containers include:
backpacks
duffle-style bags
plastic bins with water-tight lids and handles
small, waterproof suitcases
Tips for maintaining your first aid and emergency preparedness kits
Once you build or purchase your first aid kit with medical supplies, you'll need to maintain it so it's ready if you ever need it. Here are a few tips for keeping your medical supplies usable and safe.
Always replace any medical supplies as soon as possible after you use them.
Choose a date every 6 months to review the contents of your kits and replace any expired or used supplies.
Keep up-to-date paper copies of all your prescriptions in case you need them for travel or to have them refilled if you are moved to an evacuation center or location.
Be sure to keep your kit in a cool, dry area — that may mean you can't keep it in your garage or a storage shed.
Takeaway
No one likes to think of emergency situations, but taking time now to collect medical supplies before you need them can help prevent something treatable from becoming a major emergency.
Many organizations have free, printable lists and resources to help you build an emergency kit or first aid kit that includes medical supplies you might need. You can also purchase ready-made first aid and emergency kits and add your personal medications or other individual medical supplies.