First aid
What is in our first aid kit, and what to add
The contents card item by item, the Red Cross family list beside it, and the five things to add.
First aid
Where to keep a first aid kit
A kit helps only if you can reach it. Here is where to keep one at home, in the car, on the trail and in the sports bag, and how to check it.
Contents
How many first aid kits does a family need?
At least 2: one at home and one in each car. The Red Cross gives the same advice in one line.
Keep a first aid kit in your home and in your car.
Most families end up with more. A soccer bag, a daypack and a camper each pick up a kit of their own, because nobody wants to move the car kit every Saturday. That is where case colors earn their keep: one color per place, and nobody grabs the wrong one.
Where should a first aid kit go at home?
In 1 spot that every adult and older child knows, at hand height and away from the bathroom steam. A kitchen drawer or a hall closet shelf works well.
The kitchen sees the most small cuts and burns, which makes a drawer there a good home. Keep the kit closed so packets stay dry, and do not lock it in a cabinet that a babysitter cannot open.
Where should the kit ride in a car?
In the glove box or a seat-back pocket, within reach of 1 person sitting in the car. The trunk is the last place to look when the luggage is on top of it.
Our kit weighs under a pound and fits a glove compartment. A black case stays low-key in a door pocket. A bright red or yellow one is easier to find in a crowded trunk if that is the only space you have.
Great! perfect easy and cheap cr first aid kit that has everything I need. Water resistant which is good, small and compact so fits in my car easily and super light which is also great when packing it with me to sports events. Everything in the kit was labeled and I knew exactly what everything was. WOULD BUY AGAIN!!
What about hiking, camping and boating?
Pack the kit near the top of the bag, not under 3 days of food. On a boat, keep it in a dry bag or a hatch you can open while afloat.
Some kits are designed for specific activities, such as hiking, camping or boating.
Our zip case is water-resistant, which helps against rain and spray. It is not a dry bag, so on the water give it one. A bright case color helps in a dim tent at night, when you are looking for it by headlamp.
Is a first aid kit worth having in a sports bag?
Yes, for scrapes and bumps at practice: the kit carries 215 strips and an instant ice pack. A team bag can keep one kit for the whole season.
Great kit to have around for outdoor activities, especially with kids who seem to always need a band aid.
Where each kit lives
| Place | Where in it | Color idea | Check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Kitchen drawer or hall closet | Red or green | Every 3 months |
| Car | Glove box or seat-back pocket | Black or red | With the spare tire |
| Daypack | Top pocket | Orange or yellow | Before each trip |
| Sports bag | Side pocket | Pink, purple or blue | Start of each season |
| Workshop or garage | By the door, at eye level | Yellow | Every 3 months |
How do you keep several kits stocked?
Give each kit the same 4-step check on the same day. Since every AMORNING case color carries the same contents card, one shopping list restocks them all.
Check the kit regularly.
- 1Bring every kit to the kitchen table on the first weekend of the season.
- 2Lay out the contents of each and count the strips and wipes.
- 3Replace what was used and anything past its date.
- 4Put each kit back in its own place and color.
This guide is not medical advice
A first aid kit holds supplies for small injuries. For a serious injury, call 911.
Sources
- American Red Cross, Make a First Aid Kit, read October 20, 2026
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