First Aid · Kits & Medications
Three kit configurations — personal, home, and group — plus a clear guide to the over-the-counter medications that belong in every prepared household. What to stock, how to store it, and what to skip.
Over-the-counter medications
Keeping OTC medications on hand is straightforward. Knowing which to reach for — and why — is the part most households skip.
Pain & Fever
Brand names: Tylenol and generics
Reduces fever and relieves pain
Does not reduce inflammation — not useful for swollen sprains
Generally easier on the stomach — can be taken without food
Safe for most people including those with stomach sensitivity
Do not exceed the recommended dose. Liver damage can occur from overdose — including accidental overdose when combined with other products containing acetaminophen.
Best for: Headaches, sore throat, fever, general aches and pains, and situations where an empty stomach is a factor.
Pain, Fever & Inflammation
Brand names: Advil, Motrin, and generics
Reduces fever, relieves pain, and reduces inflammation
More effective for sprains, swelling, and muscle injuries than acetaminophen
Take with food or milk to reduce stomach irritation
Avoid or use with caution if you have stomach ulcers, kidney problems, heart conditions, or are taking blood thinners. Check with a pharmacist or doctor if unsure.
Not recommended for children under 6 months without medical guidance.
Best for: Sprains, swelling, dental pain, menstrual cramps, and injuries with an inflammatory component.
On using both
Acetaminophen and ibuprofen work by different mechanisms, and some clinicians do use them together for pain management. However, taking both at full doses simultaneously without medical guidance increases the risk of side effects. If you are considering alternating or combining them, ask a pharmacist first — it takes thirty seconds and costs nothing.
The rest of the medicine shelf
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and loratadine (Claritin) treat mild allergic reactions, hives, and itching. Diphenhydramine causes drowsiness — useful at night, a hazard when driving. Loratadine is non-drowsy and suitable for daytime use.
Note: Antihistamines are for mild allergic reactions. They are not a substitute for epinephrine in a severe reaction. If someone is having trouble breathing, call 911.
A mild topical steroid that reduces redness, itching, and inflammation from insect bites, contact dermatitis, and minor rashes including poison ivy reactions. Apply a thin layer; do not use on broken skin or the face for extended periods without medical advice.
Caution: Some people are sensitive to topical products. Ask before applying to another person's skin.
Triple antibiotic ointment (or petroleum jelly as an alternative) applied thinly to a cleaned wound helps prevent infection and keeps the dressing from sticking. Use only if the person is not allergic to its components — neomycin in particular causes contact allergies in some people.
Alternative: Plain petroleum jelly (Vaseline) keeps wounds moist and covered without the allergy risk.
Pre-mixed packets (such as DripDrop or Pedialyte powder) replace both water and electrolytes lost during heavy sweating, illness, or heat exposure. Plain water alone doesn't replace sodium and potassium — in cases of significant fluid loss, rehydration salts are more effective than water by itself.
Cost: $8–$15 per box of packets. Worth having in the kit and in a hike bag.
Calcium carbonate antacids (Tums, Rolaids) manage heartburn and upset stomach. Loperamide (Imodium) can manage diarrhea for short periods — useful during travel or disruption. Neither replaces medical care if symptoms are severe or persist.
Note: Do not give loperamide to children under 2 without medical guidance.
Sterile saline solution for flushing foreign particles, dust, or mild irritants from the eye. A small squeeze bottle is far easier to use than a running tap in most field situations. Also useful for rinsing wounds when clean running water isn't immediately available.
Not for: Chemical splashes — those require continuous flushing with a large volume of water for 15–20 minutes.
Storage & expiration
Heat, light, and humidity are the enemies of medication. The bathroom medicine cabinet — hot from showers, light from the window, humid from steam — is one of the worst storage environments available. Medications degrade faster there than almost anywhere else in the house.
Store medications in a cool, dry, dark location: a bedroom dresser drawer, a hall closet shelf, or a dedicated storage bin away from the stove, sink, and any exterior wall that heats up in summer. A small, labeled plastic bin works well.
Check expiration dates annually
A good prompt: when you change smoke detector batteries in the fall, check your medication supplies at the same time. Expired medications may lose potency or, in some cases, become harmful.
Keep original packaging when possible
The label has the expiration date, dosing instructions, and active ingredients — information you'll want in a stressful moment. If space is tight, write the expiration date directly on the bottle with a marker.
Lock or secure medications if children are present
Child-resistant packaging reduces risk but is not childproof. If young children are in the household, store medications in a location they cannot reach or access.
Dispose of expired medications properly
Most pharmacies have medication take-back programs. Do not flush most medications down the toilet or throw them loose in the trash — check the label or the FDA's disposal guidance for specific instructions.
What to skip
Hydrogen peroxide for wound cleaning
Damages healthy tissue and slows healing. Clean wounds with mild soap and clean running water instead.
Rubbing alcohol on open wounds
Same issue — kills bacteria but also damages the tissue you're trying to heal. Use antiseptic wipes only on intact skin around a wound.
Burn sprays with benzocaine
Can cause allergic reactions in some people and may mask symptoms that indicate a more serious burn requiring medical care.
Aspirin for children and teenagers
Associated with Reye's syndrome in minors with viral illnesses. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen (per age guidelines) instead.
Affiliate disclosure: New World Survival earns a small commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. We only recommend gear we'd put in our own kit.
Personal kit
A personal kit handles the common problems: cuts, scrapes, blisters, minor burns, and small wounds. Pack it in a resealable plastic bag, a small pouch, or a waterproof container small enough to live in a pack, glovebox, or desk drawer.
Latex-free adhesive bandages — assorted sizes
The workhorse. A variety pack covers fingertips, knuckles, and standard cuts.
Sterile gauze pads — 2×2 and 4×4
For larger wounds, applying pressure, and cleaning around injuries.
Latex-free medical tape — small roll
Secures dressings, closes gaps, holds moleskin in place.
Moleskin or blister pads
Treat hot spots before they become blisters. Essential for any outing with walking.
Soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Wash hands before and after giving care. This step gets skipped — don't skip it.
Antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly
A thin layer over a cleaned wound. Check for allergies before applying to others.
Hydrocortisone cream (1%)
Rashes, insect bites, contact dermatitis. A small tube goes a long way.
Small scissors and tweezers
Trim dressings, cut tape, remove splinters and ticks. Both are needed.
Disposable latex-free gloves — 2 pairs
Protect you and the person you're helping. Non-negotiable when blood is present.
CPR breathing barrier or face shield
A keychain-sized barrier takes up almost no space and removes a significant barrier to helping someone in cardiac arrest.
Small flashlight or headlamp
For examining wounds in low light. A headlamp keeps hands free.
Pencil and small notebook
Note injury time, medications given, and what help has been called. Useful information for emergency responders.
Emergency contacts and personal medications
A small laminated card. Include any allergies, current medications, and the name of a personal physician.
Why latex-free matters
Some people are allergic to latex. Reactions range from itching and skin irritation to severe allergic response including difficulty breathing. Using latex-free gloves, bandages, and medical tape makes your kit safe for a broader range of people — including bystanders you might help in a public emergency.
When in doubt, latex-free is the right default. The cost difference is negligible.
Three places a personal kit should live
Your bag or pack — a small pouch that moves with you
Your vehicle's glovebox — the kit you've already forgotten to bring
Your desk or workplace — where minor injuries actually happen most often
Home, vehicle & group kit
A larger kit belongs in the home, vehicle, workshop, farm, church group, scout troop, sports team, or community meeting place — anywhere a group of people gathers regularly. It expands on the personal kit with supplies for more serious scenarios.
Bandaging
Wound care
Burns & blisters
Fractures & immobilization
Monitoring & documentation
Severe bleeding — with training
A tourniquet and hemostatic gauze are medical tools that require training to apply correctly. Consider a Stop the Bleed course ($0–$30 at many hospitals and community centers) before including these items.
Maintenance rule
A first-aid kit that has been used and not restocked is worse than no kit — it creates a false sense of preparedness. Make restocking a habit: any time you open the kit for a real use, note what you took out and replace it within a week.
Annual audit: check for expired medications, damaged packaging, opened or used supplies, and anything that has migrated out and not returned.
Every group should know
A group kit is only useful if people know it exists, know where it's stored, and know at least one person in the group who has basic training. The person carrying the kit and the person who knows CPR should not always be the same person.
Before any group outing, take two minutes to confirm: kit is present, who has it, and who the point person is for a medical situation.
Digital tools
A phone can be a useful part of your first-aid plan. Phones also fail. Batteries die. Service disappears. Apps freeze. Learn the skills first; then add these as a layer on top.
These apps and settings are worth having before you need them. They take about fifteen minutes to set up and require no ongoing maintenance.
American Red Cross First Aid App
Step-by-step guidance for over 35 common first-aid emergencies, videos, and a 911 button. Updated with current first-aid science. Available for iOS and Android. Free.
Local Emergency Alert App
Most states and counties have official apps. FEMA's app covers federal alerts. Check your state and county emergency management websites for local options.
Offline Maps
Google Maps and Maps.me both allow offline area downloads. Download the maps for areas where you spend time outdoors before you go — cellular data is not reliable in the situations where you'll need directions most.
Medical ID on Your Lock Screen
Both iPhone (Health app → Medical ID) and Android allow you to store medical information accessible from the lock screen without a passcode. Include blood type, allergies, medications, and an emergency contact. Emergency responders know to check for this.
Why phones aren't enough
Battery at 12% when the injury happens — which is most of the time
No cell service in the places where outdoor injuries happen most
Reading instructions while managing a bleeding wound is slower than having trained hands
Gloved hands on a touchscreen during an actual emergency
The printed field guide
A printed single-page reference laminated and stored in your kit is immune to dead batteries, no signal, and shaking hands. It doesn't need unlocking. It doesn't freeze.
Our Quick Reference Decision Matrix — a concise If/Then guide covering every scenario in this series — is available as a printable PDF designed to fit on one sheet.
Get the printable matrixContinue reading
Next in the guide
Supplies are only part of the picture. Knowing how to stabilize a scene and use an organized method for any situation — that's the other half.
Learn the methodOr jump ahead
CPR, cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, choking, stroke, seizures, and more. The situations where knowing what to do — and what not to do — changes the outcome.
Emergencies guide