It’s important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home so you can deal with minor accidents and injuries.

Your first aid kit should be locked and kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.

Many people also keep a small first aid kit in their car for emergencies.

Your basic first aid kit

A basic first aid kit may contain:

plasters in a variety of different sizes and shapes

small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings

at least two sterile eye dressings

triangular bandages

crêpe rolled bandages

safety pins

disposable sterile gloves

tweezers

scissors

alcohol-free cleansing wipes

sticky tape

thermometer (preferably digital)

skin rash cream, such as hydrocortisone or calendula

cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings

antiseptic cream

painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen

cough medicine

antihistamine tablets

distilled water for cleaning wounds

eye wash and eye bath

It may also be useful to keep a basic first aid manual or instruction booklet with your first aid kit.

Medicines should be checked regularly to make sure they are within their use-by dates.

Summary

It’s important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home so you can deal with minor accidents and injuries. Your first aid kit should be locked and kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.