How to make a well-stocked first-aid kit

When a sick child is crying or you cut your finger while cooking, you don't want to waste time wading through a cluttered drawer stuffed with loose Band-Aids, ointments and cough syrups. Assembling a basic supply of medicines and treatments in one organized place — along with instructions for how to use them — will prepare you to care for yourself and others, particularly as the coronavirus pandemic continues and flu season approaches.

That said, you don't need an entire pharmacy at your house.

“Never underestimate the value of warm soap and water, clean Band-Aids and basic medicines for pain, fever, nasal congestion and cold and flu,” said Alexei Wagner, an emergency medicine physician at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif.

We spoke with four physicians about what should be in your home kit. The contents will vary depending on your activities and lifestyle. Here are their general suggestions for creating a well-stocked home arsenal, without overbuying.

Meds to treat basic ailments

Keep a variety of medicines to treat common illnesses on hand, said John Balmes, professor of occupational and environmental medicine at the University of California at San Francisco's medical school. Some basics he suggests stocking: antacids and antidiarrheal medicines, oral antihistamines like Benadryl, hydrocortisone cream for skin reactions, laxatives, and cough medicine. Medications to treat inflammation, relieve pain and reduce fevers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, belong in your kit, too. Individually packaged doses and chewable medications are convenient when you're in a hurry.

Choose appropriate medicine

Wagner has three children under 6, so he keeps children's dosages and liquid medicines on hand. “I always have liquid acetaminophen, Benadryl and powdered Pedialyte, because dehydrated kids are usually unhappy,” he said. In addition to rehydrating kids with stomach or intestinal viruses, Pedialyte can boost liquids in children with fevers or other illnesses, he said.

Supplies for injuries

Antiseptic solution, alcohol wipes or sterile saline solution are useful to sanitize cuts and scrapes and kill germs that could cause infections, Balmes said. Saline eye wash can help flush irritants from eyes.

Balmes suggests including tools in your kit for various situations. Scissors and tweezers are helpful for cutting bandages or removing insect stingers and splinters. Cotton balls and swabs can be used to cover wounds and apply disinfectants or ointments. Non-latex disposable gloves help keep both injured areas and your hands clean. Balmes also suggests stocking padded aluminum finger splints plus duct tape; the versatile product's durability is especially useful when creating a splint or bandage from scratch, he said, but don't put duct tape directly on skin.

Treatments for cuts, burns, scrapes and bumps

Supplies that stop bleeding, such as gauze and Band-Aids in various sizes and shapes, and a tourniquet for more extreme situations, are essentials in any kit, said Eileen Bulger, chief of trauma at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and co-founder of Stop the Bleed (stopthebleed.org). “Bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death after injury,” said Bulger, who heads the hospital's Level 1 trauma center.

A tourniquet is helpful, because bleeding can progress quickly. To learn how to administer care to stanch bleeding, including how to use a tourniquet properly, Bulger's organization offers free online courses. “You shouldn't get things you're not comfortable using,” she said.

Antibiotic ointments

Even minor burns can be debilitating and require medical treatment, Bulger said, depending on where they are. And items don't have to be fancy. A bag of frozen peas works as an ice pack to prevent swelling after a fall, she said.

Include instructions for using your kit and important information in case of emergency. The most important piece of your kit isn't an object, Wagner said. Preparation and planning can make the difference between a costly emergency room visit in the middle of the night and a next-day appointment or telemedicine session covered by your insurance company.

“It's hard to make those decisions when you're worried and panicked,” he said.

Gather contact information for physicians and insurance companies, and include instructions for prescriptions and how to use lifesaving items, such as an EpiPen. Preselect trusted websites to turn to for guidance, which could include Web pages for your state and local health authorities and medical provider. Balmes also recommends keeping a first-aid manual at home and in any kit you travel with.

Get professional care if needed

Remember: Your first-aid kit does not replace trained medical care. “First aid is either for minor injuries that you don't need to go to the hospital for or for temporizing while you're trying to transport to the hospital,” Balmes said. Injuries that leave you immobilized or cause severe pain or a change in mental status are urgent and require immediate care. Balmes adds shortness of breath to that list, too, in light of the pandemic.