The 7 Best Basic First Aid Kits: What’re essential items?

A basic first aid kit should include the following items:

• Antiseptic wipes
• Plasters in various sizes
• Sterile dressings
• Crepe bandages
• Safety pins
• Medical tape
• Medical scissors and tweezers
• Disposable gloves
• First-aid manual

Additionally, some kits may include a thermometer, foil blanket, pain relievers, or eye wash.

Best Overall: Surviveware Small ($49.99 on Amazon)

• Special Feature: Camping
• Number of Pieces: 98
• Recommended Uses For Product: Emergencies
• Included Components: ‎CPR kit, Wound Closure Strips, First Aid Guide, Burn Ointment

The Surviveware Small kit offers a reliable selection of quality supplies in a tough, waterproof case with secure, watertight zippers. Compact yet adequately stocked, this basic first aid kit includes essentials to handle a range of minor and serious injuries. Its high-quality tools, such as hospital-grade forceps, trauma shears, and Ace bandages, add great value. We also appreciate that gloves and a CPR mask are included in this small, travel-friendly kit.

However, we found that the kit lacks over-the-counter medications, so you may want to add those if desired. We also supplemented ours with additional tape and gloves, as these essentials were limited in the kit. Fortunately, there’s room to add more items based on the specific requirements of your trip.

Best for Outdoors: Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker ($29.95 on Amazon)

• Special Feature: Portable, Waterproof, Lightweight, Compact
• Age Range (Description): Adult
• Recommended Uses For Product: Emergencies
• Included Components: ‎Bandage, Adhesive Tape, Shears, First Aid Guide

For those seeking excellent value, the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker is a great choice. About the size of a postcard, this compact kit can easily fit into the smallest daypacks. At just ten ounces, it’s lightweight, and you can make it even lighter by removing the first aid booklet. We love taking this basic first aid kit on mountain biking trips, day hikes, and multi-pitch rock climbs thanks to its minimal weight. It’s our top pick for short trips and provides an impressive selection of essentials for its price.

Although we highly recommend it for its value and portability, keep in mind that it doesn’t offer all the components of larger kits. It lacks additional personal protection gear, such as extra nitrile gloves and a CPR mask, making it less versatile for certain emergencies. The quantities in this basic first aid kit are purposefully limited to reduce weight, so it’s better suited for one or two people rather than larger groups. Despite its minimalism, it’s hard to find a more versatile, compact first aid kit for its size and price.

Best Compact: Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 ($33.95 on Amazon)

• Special Feature: Portable, Waterproof, Lightweight
• Number of Pieces: 1
• Recommended Uses For Product: Camping
• Included Components: ‎‎Ultralight Watertight .7 First Aid Kit

The Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 is incredibly compact and lightweight, making it ideal for stashing in your bag and forgetting about until it’s needed. This small kit covers the essentials with high-quality items, and the watertight case is perfect for adventures involving water crossings or protection from leaks in your bag. It’s well-suited for quick outdoor excursions and also works as a reliable addition to your car or work bag.

Due to its limited contents, this basic first aid kit isn’t ideal for extended trips or home use. For larger journeys or household needs, a more comprehensive kit like the Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose is recommended. While you may need to frequently restock items from a larger supply, the durable, watertight case makes this a great backup kit to keep in a bag. Overall, it’s an excellent just-in-case option for easy access when you’re on the go.

Top-Rated on Amazon: Surviveware 238 Pcs Comprehensive Premium Survival First Aid Kit ($89.99 on Amazon)

• Special Feature: Camping
• Number of Pieces: 238
• Recommended Uses For Product: Emergency
• Product Dimensions: ‎‎10 x 7.5 x 5 inches; 3.37 Pounds

Housed in a bright, eye-catching red bag, this portable and lightweight first aid kit is easy to spot when needed. With 238 items, this basic first aid kit is ready to open quickly under pressure thanks to an easy-open zipper and clear compartments for fast access. Essential supplies like sturdy metal medical scissors, safety pins, bandages, plasters, and butterfly closure strips are included, ensuring you’re prepared for accidents whether at home, in the office, camping, or during sports activities.

Best for Home: Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose ($16.41 on Amazon)

• Material: Plastic
• Number of Pieces: 160
• Recommended Uses For Product: Emergency
• Product Dimensions: ‎‎9.8 x 9.81 x 7 inches; 1.19 Pounds

The Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose kit is my go-to for a reliable home option. It provides a solid stock of essentials like assorted Band-Aids, Neosporin, medical tape, Tylenol, and Benadryl anti-itch cream, making it ideal for families or anyone needing a quick fix for minor injuries. This basic first aid kit can also serve as a good main supply to refill smaller travel kits or as an office standby with its broad coverage of basics.

However, the case could use an upgrade, as it feels rather flimsy, with two plastic latches that may wear out faster than expected. The plastic insert holding supplies also seem disposable, and the bandages lack diversity in skin tones, with no OurTone options. Despite these packaging issues, the first-aid items inside are of high quality, making this kit a strong choice for home use.

Best for Car: General Medi Mini First Aid Kit

• Special Feature: Camping
• Number of Pieces: 92
• Recommended Uses For Product: Emergency
• Product Dimensions: ‎‎7.09 x 4.72 x 1.57 inches; 6 ounces

This compact, high-capacity first aid pouch is designed for convenience on the go. Easily attach it to your bag with the included carabiner, so you’re prepared with essentials whether hiking, commuting or on a road trip.

The durable, tear-resistant case is water-resistant for added protection, and it holds 92 essential items, including an emergency blanket, cleaning swabs, and bandages. A mini first aid handbook is also included, providing quick guidance for handling various situations, and ensuring you’re always ready for unexpected needs.

Reliance Medical Lewis-Plast First Aid Kit Bag – 160 Piece ($16.17 on Amazon)

• Material: KLRRF111
• Number of Pieces: 160
• Recommended Uses For Product: Emergency
• Product Dimensions: ‎‎‎10.63 x 11.61 x 3.94 inches

If you’re committed to being fully prepared for any medical emergency, whether minor or severe, the Lewis-Plast 160-piece First Aid Kit is a top recommendation. This comprehensive basic first aid kit goes beyond the basics, including critical items not typically found in standard first aid kits. It features a tourniquet for more serious injuries requiring bleeding control, instant ice packs to reduce swelling, and a resuscitation shield to provide safer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Additionally, the kit includes various bandages, antiseptics, dressings, and tools designed to cover a wide range of medical needs. With this all-in-one solution, you’ll be ready to handle unexpected injuries confidently, whether you’re at home, in the car, or on an outdoor adventure.

How we tested them

First aid kits are often used for relatively minor issues, like burns, bruises, cuts, and scrapes, so we focused our testing criteria on how well each kit handled these types of situations.

There isn’t an official guideline for what every basic first aid kit should include, but ideally, the case should be the internationally recognized green color with a white cross.

Though a hard plastic case may not be as convenient to store, it provides better protection for the supplies inside and can double as a stable surface for treating injuries.

We assessed each kit’s selection of dressings and bandages, ensuring there were pins or tape to secure them, as well as quality scissors or shears for cutting dressings or clothing. All of these factors were carefully weighed against the best prices we found online for each basic first aid kit.

How to pick the best basic first aid kit?

We’ve outlined some essential factors, including kit type, size, and contents, to assist you in selecting the right basic first aid kit for your specific needs. This serves as a summary of our comprehensive First Aid Kit Buying Advice article.

First aid kits come in various sizes and are designed for different purposes, such as day trips, overnight excursions, expeditions, vehicles, or home use. The correct choice of basic first aid kit depends on the activities you plan to undertake and the environments you will be in. While the names of these kits can guide you in the right direction, it’s important to examine the contents closely. Assess whether you need basic supplies for treating minor injuries during a day outing or if you require an expedition kit with ample supplies to cater to a larger group in remote areas.

It’s also wise to consider your personal requirements and the size of your typical group when choosing a basic first aid kit. For example, if you’re in an area with a high snake population, having a snake bite kit is essential. Similarly, keeping specific medications for allergies and sensitivities can be crucial.

Finding the right balance between essential equipment and storage capacity is important. Some individuals may already have certain emergency items, while others might be starting fresh. Consider where you intend to store your kit – whether in your car, a backpack, or a medicine cabinet – and prioritize specific items like epi-pens and splints, keeping in mind how much space they will occupy.

Depending on the basic first aid kit you select, it may include a first aid manual that guides you through emergencies and addresses various medical situations. For those with limited training or medical knowledge, it’s crucial to opt for a first aid kit that comes with a comprehensive manual. This resource can direct and instruct users, especially in high-pressure situations. While it can’t substitute for formal training or medical expertise, a well-detailed manual can effectively cover a wide range of scenarios essential for an appropriate medical response.

FAQs

What first-aid kit extras might you not need?

Pre-made basic first aid kits typically include items like foil blankets, eye wash sachets, ice packs, and burn gel – products that may not be particularly useful at home or for injuries that can be easily managed in other ways.

What is the most important first aid kit?

The most crucial item in a first aid kit varies based on the specific situation and the needs of the individual receiving care. Nevertheless, sterile dressings are often regarded as the most vital component, as they effectively halt bleeding and shield wounds from infection.

What’s missing from pre-made first-aid kits?

Typically, you won’t find hydrocortisone cream (a mild steroid cream), antihistamines, tweezers (for removing splinters), or pain relief medication in standard basic first aid kits.

Pharmacist Michael Line suggests considering the addition of anti-diarrhea medication like loperamide. While rehydration salts are generally unnecessary for most people, they may be important for children or vulnerable elderly individuals who can become dehydrated more easily. In such cases, you can create a homemade rehydration solution by dissolving sugar and salt in water.