Why Every Home Needs More Than a Box of Band-Aids

Did you know most accidents happen at home? From kitchen cuts to kids’ bumps and bruises, being prepared matters. Safety isn’t just for camping trips — every home should be stocked for both daily mishaps and real emergencies. At House Sold, we believe a home isn’t truly move-in ready until it’s equipped to protect the people inside.

The 3 Types of Home First Aid Kits (and Why You Need All Three)

Not all first aid kits are created equal. To be truly prepared, every home should have three types of kits, each serving a different purpose:

1. Everyday Use Kit

For life’s little accidents—cuts, bug bites, burns, and blisters—this kit should be easy to grab and fully stocked. Keep one in the kitchen, bathroom, or garage where most mishaps happen.

2. Illness & General Health Kit

When sickness hits, you don’t want to dig through drawers. This kit includes a thermometer, pain relievers, cold meds, and electrolyte packets. It’s your go-to during flu season, late-night fevers, or upset stomachs.

3. Emergency Trauma Kit

For serious injuries when seconds count, this kit is a must. It includes bleeding control tools like tourniquets and gauze, plus trauma shears and chest seals. Keep it clearly marked and ready—911 might not always arrive in time.

Having all three on hand ensures you’re ready for anything from a scraped knee to a life-threatening emergency.

What Should Be in Each Kit

Once you know which kits you need, the next step is knowing what to put in them. Here’s a simple breakdown:

🩹 Everyday Use Kit Essentials

Perfect for small injuries and daily mishaps.

• Adhesive bandages (various sizes)

• Tweezers, antiseptic wipes, burn cream

• Hydrocortisone and antibiotic ointment

• Finger splint, medical tape

🤒 Illness & General Health Kit

Be ready for sick days and seasonal bugs.

• Digital thermometer

• Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin

• Anti-diarrheal, antacids, electrolyte powder

• Cold packs, rehydration packets, lozenges

🚨 Trauma Kit (Stop-the-Bleed Ready)

For serious injuries where every second counts.

• Tourniquet (CAT or SOFTT-W recommended)

• Pressure dressing, hemostatic gauze

• Chest seals (e.g., HyFin)

• Trauma shears, nitrile gloves, CPR mask

• Emergency thermal blanket

• Sharpie (to mark tourniquet time)

Stocking each kit properly means you won’t be scrambling when it matters most.

Where to Store Them

Having the right first aid kits is only helpful if you can grab them quickly when needed. Here’s where to keep each one:

• Everyday Use Kit → Kitchen drawer

  Quick access for cuts, burns, or splinters where they’re most likely to happen.

• Illness & General Health Kit → Bathroom cabinet

  Central location for when someone’s not feeling well or wakes up with a fever.

• Trauma Kit → Garage, pantry, or safe room

  Keep it clearly labeled and easy to reach. This kit is for emergencies, so location matters.

Pro Tip: Keep an extra trauma kit in your car or bug-out bag. Emergencies don’t wait for you to be at home.

How to Keep It Stocked (and When to Replace)

A first aid kit is only as good as what’s inside — and whether it’s up to date. Stay ready with a few simple habits:

• Do a yearly check using a printed checklist to catch expired meds or missing items.

• Adopt a use-and-replace policy — anytime you use a bandage or medication, replace it right away.

• Keep an inventory sheet in the kit, or add a QR code linked to a digital checklist for easy reordering.

Quick maintenance now saves critical minutes later.

Bonus Download: First Aid Kit Checklist PDF

Home_First_Aid_Kit_Checklist_20250804.docx

Download DOCX • 38KB

Home First Aid Kit Checklist

✅ Everyday Use Kit (Kitchen, Bathroom, Garage)

• ☐ Adhesive bandages – assorted sizes

• ☐ Antiseptic wipes

• ☐ Burn cream or gel (e.g., Dimora Hydrogel, RHINO RESCUE Burn Dressing)

• ☐ Hydrocortisone cream (e.g., CareAll 1%)

• ☐ Triple antibiotic ointment (e.g., CareAll Triple Antibiotic)

• ☐ Finger splints (e.g., BBTO Metal Padded)

• ☐ Medical tape (paper and sports tape)

• ☐ Tweezers (e.g., Yougai kit)

• ☐ Alcohol wipes (e.g., Care Touch)

• ☐ Povidone iodine swabs

• ☐ Insect sting relief (e.g., Sting-kill swabs)

• ☐ Eyewash solution (e.g., Medi-First)

• ☐ Sunscreen (e.g., Coppertone SPF 50)

• ☐ After sun gel (e.g., Solimo Aloe)

• ☐ Cold packs (instant)

• ☐ Compact mirror

• ☐ Antiseptic gauze balls or cotton swabs

✅ Illness & General Health Kit (Bathroom Cabinet)

• ☐ Digital thermometer

• ☐ Ibuprofen (e.g., Amazon Basic Care 200 mg)

• ☐ Acetaminophen (e.g., Extra Strength 500 mg)

• ☐ Aspirin (low-dose or full-strength)

• ☐ Anti-diarrheal (e.g., Loperamide)

• ☐ Antacids (e.g., Rugby Peppermint)

• ☐ Electrolyte tablets or powder (e.g., Nuun)

• ☐ Cold/flu medicine (capsules or packets)

• ☐ Cough drops or lozenges

• ☐ Motion sickness relief (e.g., Dramamine)

• ☐ Quick-dry towels

• ☐ Field notebook (for recording symptoms or dates)

✅ Emergency Trauma Kit (Garage, Safe Room, or Vehicle)

• ☐ Tourniquet (e.g., CAT Gen 7)

• ☐ Hemostatic gauze (e.g., QuikClot)

• ☐ Compressed gauze (e.g., RHINO RESCUE)

• ☐ Pressure dressing (e.g., Israeli-style bandage)

• ☐ Trauma shears (e.g., MEUUT)

• ☐ Chest seals (e.g., HyFin or similar)

• ☐ Nitrile gloves (e.g., Inspire Heavy Duty)

• ☐ CPR mask or face shield

• ☐ Emergency thermal blankets (e.g., Arcturus, SecuCaptain)

• ☐ Sharpie permanent marker

• ☐ SAM splint (rolled 36")

• ☐ Triangular bandage (e.g., Primacare)

• ☐ Elastic bandages (e.g., FRESINIDER wrap)

• ☐ Gauze rolls and gauze pads (e.g., Amazon Basic, Gauze Care)

• ☐ Paracord (e.g., Atwood Rope 550)

• ☐ Flashlights or glow sticks (e.g., Victoper, Glow Mind)

• ☐ Survival poncho (e.g., PREPARED4X)

• ☐ Knife (e.g., Smith & Wesson folding knife)

• ☐ Fire starter or waterproof matches (e.g., bayite, PinbWD)

• ☐ Water purification tablets or filters (e.g., Potable Aqua, Membrane Solutions)

• ☐ Snake bite/venom extractor kit

• ☐ Insect repellent (e.g., Repel 40% DEET)

• ☐ Duct tape (e.g., Amazon Basics)

• ☐ Ziplock bags (various sizes)