Prep

First aid kit checklist

What to keep in a home first aid kit, with quantities. Tick off what you have, then print the list of what's missing. Nothing leaves this browser.

This is a list of what to keep, not medical advice. It has no doses on purpose: ask your pharmacist which medicines suit each person. In an emergency, call 999. If you're worried about someone's health, call NHS 111.

Who's it for?

Adults
2
Children
0

Saved in this browser for the other tools.

Your first aid kit

Quantities cover up to four people. For five or more, we double the plasters, dressings, wipes and gloves. That's our rule of thumb, not an official figure.

Check it again every 6 months.

Plasters and dressings

Cleaning and protection

Tools

Burns

The NHS says to cool a burn under cool running water for 20 minutes, then cover it with cling film. It says not to put creams, oils or butter on a burn.

Medicines

We don't give doses. Ask your pharmacist what suits each person, follow the label, and keep medicines away from children.

What to leave out

St John Ambulance says to avoid these in a first aid kit.

  • Anything past its expiry date.
  • Homemade remedies.
  • Food and drink.
  • Strong medicines not approved for general use.

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

This list starts from the first-aid kit in the Prep app. We checked it against St John Ambulance, which says there's no legally required list of supplies for a first aid kit, and that at a minimum it should include a leaflet on first aid, sterile plasters, disposable gloves, wound dressings, bandages, safety pins and sterile eye pads. We added the items that were missing.

We added cling film because of the NHS advice on burns: cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes, then lay cling film over it. The NHS says not to put creams, oils or butter on a burn, and it doesn't list burn gel, so we've marked that as optional.

Quantities cover up to four people. For a larger household we double the items that get used up. That's our rule of thumb, not an official figure.

Keep the kit in a clean, waterproof box, somewhere adults can reach and children can't. St John Ambulance says it's worth keeping an extra kit upstairs and another in the garage, especially with children at home. If you want a kit for the car or a bag, the same list works in a smaller size.

Common questions

What should be in a first aid kit at home?

St John Ambulance's minimum is a first aid leaflet, sterile plasters, disposable gloves, wound dressings, bandages, safety pins and sterile eye pads. Scissors, tweezers, antiseptic wipes and a thermometer are also useful.

What medicines should I keep in a first aid kit?

That depends on who's at home, so ask your pharmacist. Painkillers and antihistamines are on our list, but what's right varies with age, pregnancy and other medicines.

Should I keep burn gel in a first aid kit?

It's optional. The NHS says to cool a burn under cool running water for 20 minutes and cover it with cling film, and not to use creams, oils or butter. Ask your pharmacist if you want to keep a gel.

How often should I check a first aid kit?

St John Ambulance says to check expiry dates regularly and replace what you've used. Twice a year is a good habit, and it fits with Be Ready's six-monthly check.

Is a first aid kit required by law at home?

We know of no law that requires one at home. St John Ambulance says UK law requires workplaces to provide a suitable kit, and that there's no legally required list of supplies.

Sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.

Next