Medications can also come in handy during an emergency. It’s a good idea to choose a kit that includes OTC meds like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat pain and relieve fevers. You may also want loperamide for acute diarrhea or diphenhydramine for minor allergic reactions. “If the allergic reaction is causing difficulty breathing or throat swelling, call 911 and administer an EpiPen if the patient has one,” Dr. San Miguel says. Buying an empty first-aid container case (or indeed, a cheap make-up/toiletries bag or lunch box that you can label) and filling it yourself means you can adapt it to your needs and lifestyle, and avoid paying for unnecessary extras. According to Dr. Cutler, you should keep your immediate surroundings in mind when evaluating the items contained in a first aid kit. Antihistamines Active ingredient chlorphenamine maleate is generally thought to be better for stings and bites than one-a-day formulations such as loratadine or cetirizine dihydrochloride. For topical relief, one of our pharmacists recommended a mild steroid cream (hydrocortisone) over topical antihistamine cream.

When purchasing a first aid kit, make sure it has the essentials like bandages and cleaning supplies. Antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment clean and disinfect, while bandages help protect the affected area from dirt and debris. Some kits contain tweezers, face shields, and over-the-counter pain medications like aspirin. Assistant professor of emergency medicine Dr. Christopher E. San Miguel recommends finding a kit with gloves, which can prevent the transmission of certain diseases when treating victims who are bleeding. Accurately and safely cut clothing, bandages, tape, and dressings with reduced risk of puncturing the casualty’s skin. Conforming bandages It's worth taking some first-aid essentials on your travels, to avoid the hassle of finding and navigating a pharmacy for minor ailments when you're somewhere unfamiliar. The Verywell Health team tested 15 first aid kits in the Verywell Testing Lab. Following our detailed methodology, each test was designed to evaluate and compare the kits for ease of use, organization, quality of the products and carrying case, and overall value.Make sure it's easily identifiable as a first aid kit, and keep it out of the reach of small children. First-aid kit essentials: what you need Highly absorbent dressing pad designed to soak up bodily fluids efficiently and produce a padded layer to protect a wound area, aiding the healing process. Sterile wound dressings While they might come in a handy storage bag or box, shop-bought first-aid kits often contain supplies you're never likely to need, and not enough of the ones you do. Dr. San Miguel recommends throwing on a pair of gloves “any time you are dealing with blood or another bodily fluid” to lower the risk of transmission of certain diseases. and below: We don’t recommend first aid kits with this rating; you won’t find any on our list. How We Tested the First Aid Kits

While a foil blanket might be useful if you're outdoor adventuring, it's unlikely to be needed in the home, where other things can keep you warm. Antiseptic wipes or alcohol pads decrease the risk of germs and bacteria getting into cuts, scrapes, and burns. After using antiseptic or alcohol to clean the wound, apply an antibacterial ointment to prevent infection, Dr. San Miguel explains. NHS advice is to cool minor burns with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes then covering with a layer of clingfilm, or you could use a dry dressing.

The following items are the basic contents of a first aid kit, with explanations of what to use when:

You won't usually find hydrocortisone cream (mild steroid cream), antihistamines, tweezers (for getting out splinters) and pain relief medication. Cover and protect a wound area with a hypoallergenic adhesive dressing that will absorb blood and shield open skin from contamination. Sterile saline wipes

painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen Cooling gel A gel such as aloe vera gel can help to cool sunburned skin, instead of splashing out for a dedicated aftersun lotion. If you need to rinse out your eye, run fresh, clean water run over the eyeball for at least 20 minutes (you might, however, find an eye bath handy for this). Firstaid.co.uk opening hours are between 8.30am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday, and our sales team will be happy to deal with any queries you might have during these times.Think about where you're going and what type of holiday you are having, as this will determine the kit that's most useful to have to hand. Useful summer beach holiday extras include:

Suitable for securing a splint in place or an arm sling for an injured limb. Low-adherent sterile pads It may also be useful to keep a basic first aid manual or instruction booklet with your first aid kit. Hold dressings over wounds safely and comfortably with this lightweight high-stretch bandage. Microporous tape David Cutler, MD, family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California An emergency physician from our Medical Expert Board reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy surrounding what to look for in first aid kits, when first aid should be applied, and where kits should be stored.You can find two main types of bandages in most first aid kits: elastic and adhesive. Elastic bandages can be wrapped around small and large wounds “to create a dressing that will hold itself in place,” Dr. San Miguel says. “These can also be wrapped around injured body parts (like a sprained ankle) to help minimize swelling.” The HSE Economy Workplace First Aid Kit (1-10 Person) is a great value first aid kit that comes in a hard case containing all the items you need in case of a workplace accident. to 4.7 stars: These first aid kits are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them.