Home First Aid Kit: What to Keep and How to Use It

Reviewed by Dr Asma

Accidents rarely happen at a convenient time. A child falls off a bicycle, someone cuts a finger while chopping vegetables, hot tea spills on an arm, or a fever starts late at night when shops are closed. A well stocked home first aid kit lets you act quickly, keep the person comfortable and decide calmly whether a doctor is needed. This guide explains what to keep in your kit, how to store it and how to handle common minor injuries.

Choose a box and a place for it

Use a sturdy, clean box with a tight lid and mark it clearly with a red cross or the words first aid. Keep it in a cool, dry place that every adult in the house can find, such as a kitchen cupboard or a bedroom shelf, but out of the reach of young children. Avoid the bathroom, where steam and heat can spoil items. For more on safe storage, read how to store medicines at home.

What to keep in your first aid kit

Start with the basics and add items to suit your family. Most of these are available in the first aid and bandages and surgical and disposables sections.

• Dressings and bandages: Adhesive plasters in different sizes, sterile gauze pads, a roll bandage, an elastic crepe bandage for sprains, medical tape and a triangular bandage.
• Cleaning supplies: Antiseptic solution or wipes, saline for rinsing wounds, cotton wool and a hand sanitiser.
• Tools: Blunt tipped scissors, tweezers, safety pins and disposable gloves.
• Devices: A digital thermometer, a torch with spare batteries and a small notebook with emergency numbers.
• Burn and skin care: Burn dressings or gel made for burns, and a soothing cream for insect bites, chosen with your pharmacist.
• Basic medicines: A fever and pain reliever suitable for your family, oral rehydration salts, and any personal medicines your doctor has prescribed, such as an inhaler for an asthmatic family member. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what suits each age group.

How to handle common minor problems

Cuts and scrapes

Wash your hands, then press a clean cloth on the cut to stop bleeding. Rinse the wound under clean running water, clean around it with antiseptic, and cover it with a sterile dressing. Change the dressing daily. See a doctor if the cut is deep, gapes open, will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of pressure, or was caused by a dirty or rusty object, since a tetanus shot may be needed.

Burns and scalds

Cool the burn under cool, not ice cold, running water for at least ten to twenty minutes. Remove rings or tight items near the area before swelling begins. Do not apply toothpaste, butter, ghee or ice, and do not burst blisters. Cover loosely with a clean non stick dressing. Large burns, burns on the face, hands or genitals, and burns in small children need medical care. You can browse products in the burns and wound care category.

Sprains and muscle pulls

Remember rest, ice wrapped in cloth, gentle compression with a bandage and raising the limb. If the person cannot put weight on the leg, or the joint looks bent, get an X ray.

Fever

Check the temperature, dress the person lightly, and give plenty of fluids. For children, read fever in children: how to care for them and when to worry. Always follow your doctor’s advice about which medicine to use.

Diarrhoea and dehydration

Start oral rehydration solution early and keep giving fluids in small, frequent sips. Our guide on diarrhoea in children explains the steps. The dehydration and electrolytes section has rehydration options.

Nosebleed

Sit upright, lean slightly forward and pinch the soft part of the nose for ten minutes. Do not tilt the head back. If bleeding continues, seek help.

Check the kit every few months

A first aid kit is only useful if it is ready. Every three to six months, check expiry dates, replace used or damaged items, and make sure the thermometer works. Throw away expired medicines safely and keep original packaging and leaflets together with the medicines.

When to call for urgent help

Do not try to manage serious emergencies at home. Go to the nearest hospital or call for an ambulance if there is chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, unconsciousness, a suspected broken bone, a head injury with vomiting or drowsiness, a seizure, poisoning, or a severe allergic reaction with swelling of the face or throat.

Frequently asked questions

Should I put antiseptic on every cut?

Clean running water is the most important step. A mild antiseptic around the area is fine, but avoid putting harsh products directly into deep wounds.

Do I need a separate kit for the car?

A small kit with bandages, gauze, gloves and a torch is useful in the car, especially on long trips.

Can I keep antibiotics in the kit?

No. Antibiotics should only be used when prescribed. Read more in our guide on how to use antibiotics safely.

How do I teach children about first aid?

Show older children where the kit is, how to call for help and basic steps like washing a cut. Keep sharp tools away from small children.

Orders above Rs 10,000 on Medimart qualify for free delivery, so you can complete your kit and other household needs in one order.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor or pharmacist before starting or changing any treatment.