In our previous blog post, we started exploring the fundamentals of first aid kits. We kicked things off by looking at the primary categories of first aid kits. The major breakdown is between home first aid kits and travel first aid kits. The primary difference between these kits is that the home kit doesn’t need a lot of the items that would be in your medicine cabinet, while the travel kit needs to accommodate those types of items while still remaining compact and convenient.

Now that we have the major types of first aid kits, we can take a closer look at the essential items that any quality first aid kit ought to have. As your trusted online health store, we go out of our way to ensure that we are stocked with all the essentials to keep your first aid kit full, and everyone in your home happy and healthy. So, let’s take a look at what kinds of products you want to make sure to have in your first aid kits.

Items To Have In All Types Of Kits

We’ll start by listing items that should be in your first aid kit regardless of whether you’ll be keeping it at home or taking it on the go. All first aid kits should include the following:

1. Adhesive bandages. These are essential for all sorts of minor cuts and scrapes you might come across. Our online health store has a wide selection of adhesive bandages to choose from. If, for instance, you’re on the move a lot, a good option would be Band-Aid Sport Strip Adhesive Bandages.
2. Wrapping bandages. ACE bandages are important for sprains in elbows, ankles, knees, etc.
3. Gauze and tape. Gauze and tape serve a variety of purposes beyond what adhesive bandages can offer, including helping clean wounds. You can check out our selection of both our gauze and our tape.
4. Antiseptic and anesthetic. Antiseptics (such as Neosporin + Pain Relief First Aid Ointment) are essential for protecting wounds from infection, and anesthetics (like Americaine Benzocaine Topical Anesthetic Spray) are great for helping with the discomfort that comes from minor scrapes, skin issues, and bug bites.
5. Oral antihistamine. These are important for allergies. Check out our selection of oral antihistamines here.
6. Exam gloves. You don’t want to risk causing an infection due to unclean hands.
7. Tools. Every first aid kit calls for some essential tools that stay in the kits themselves. These types of items are too easy to take from the kit and to never show up again. These include scissors, tweezers, and safety pins.

Items For Travel Kits

The above items should fill out your home kit. Travel kits, however, call for some extra items in addition to what we discussed above. These can include:

1. Pain relief. One of the most important things to include in your travel kit is over-the-counter pain relief. This can include aspirin and ibuprofen (such as Advil).
2. Cough and flu. You want to make sure to bring medication both for coughs and fevers. These can include products that can help you get some rest, like NyQuil, or products that are specifically geared at fever reduction like Tylenol. It never hurts to have some lozenges handy as well.
3. Stomach aid. This might include medications for gas relief, indigestion relief, or general upset stomach.
4. Sunscreen. You don’t want to leave home without it. Check out our selection of sun care products.
5. Even more tools. Since you won’t have access to your home items, you should consider tools like a lighter, flashlight, thermometer, and resealable bags.
6. Your personal medications. It’s imperative that you not forget your personal medications.

Your Online Health Store

As we mentioned in our previous blog post, you can always go with ready-made first aid kits. However, there are distinct advantages to crafting your own, including personalizing the contents, catering to your level of medical knowledge or training, and saving money in the long-run.

In any case, these are some of the most essential items that you’ll want to have in any quality first aid kit. As your trusted online health store, we want to remind you that it’s always important to discuss these decisions with your physician and pharmacist. Once you and your medical professionals have decided what products are best for you, the Online Drugstore will have what you need!