• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search magnifying glass icon
Close Search X icon
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Skd238532Sdc Mother Placing Band Aid On Son

Expect the Unexpected: Here's How to Build a Complete First-Aid Kit

May 13, 2022 |
By Mai T. Lam, MD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

Emergencies can happen when you least expect them. To help prepare for the unexpected, having a well-stocked first aid kit on hand can give you a critical advantage to first response. Mai Lam, MD, family practice and internal medicine physician at Ochsner Health Center - Driftwood compiled this list of must-haves for any full stocked first-aid kit. 

Here’s a simple way to prepare for most minor emergencies: Stash first aid kits, customized to meet your family’s needs, in your home, car and carry-on bag when traveling. Be sure to keep them current—periodically check batteries and toss expired products—and keep out of children’s reach.

Here’s an overview of the basics!

For the Family:

  • Emergency contact information
  • Flashlight
  • First aid instruction booklet
  • Personal medications
  • 2 absorbent compress dressings
  • 25 adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
  • 1 adhesive cloth tape
  • 5 antibiotic ointment packets
  • 5 antiseptic wipe packets
  • 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
  • Space blanket
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
  • Instant cold compress
  • 4 pairs nonlatex gloves
  • 4 pair of large, latex gloves
  • 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets
  • Scissors
  • 2 roller bandages
  • 10 sterile gauze pads
  • Oral thermometer (nonmercury/nonglass)
  • 2 triangular bandages
  • Tweezers
  • 6 cloth facemasks 

Additional Items for babies:

  • Acetaminophen
  • Baby nail clippers
  • Cotton balls and/or swabs
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Medicine syringe
  • Bulb suction and saline drops
  • Rectal thermometer
  • Diaper rash ointment
  • Moist towelettes
  • Diapers
  • Bottles
  • Baby formula and/or food
Tags
first aid
healthy at home

You may also be interested in:

126434057 Pregnant Woman And Daughter Touching Belly
Women's Health
June 2, 2021

Are You Pregnant with Your Second Child and Feel Exhausted?

Many mothers pregnant with their second child experience excessive fatigue.
By Benjamin J Dorton, MD
460638705 School Lunchbox
Food & Fitness
December 20, 2021

3 Healthy Ideas for Your Child’s School Lunch

Three ideas for easy lunches that are well-balanced, nutrient-rich and offer a variety of flavors and textures.
By Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD and Alexis Weilbaecher, RD, LDN
Kids at Airport
Parenting
June 20, 2022

Are We There Yet? Traveling with Children

Keep these tips in mind the next time you plan your family vacation with children in tow.
By Leslie King, MD

email envelop icon Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok

Healthy living tips, delivered weekly to your inbox.

Sign Up

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

newsletter icon

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

newsletter icon

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition
newsletter icon

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:
newsletter icon

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
magnifying glass icon
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide