What should be in a home first-aid kit?

Short answer. For a family of four, the American Red Cross lists 25 adhesive bandages, 2 compress dressings, 10 sterile gauze pads, 2 roller and 2 triangular bandages, tape, antiseptic wipes, 2 pairs of non-latex gloves, a cold compress, an emergency blanket, a breathing barrier, a thermometer and tweezers ¹. Add personal medicines ¹ and replace anything that expires at least once a year ³.

What does an official first-aid kit list contain?

Of the official pages compared here, the American Red Cross is the only one that gives quantities, sized for a family of four ¹. Ready.gov, the U.S. government's preparedness site, lists a first-aid kit among the recommended basic supplies ² without itemizing it.

The Red Cross also says to add personal items such as medications, emergency phone numbers, and other items your health-care provider may suggest ¹. That last point matters: the medicines on any list are general items, and whether one suits a given person is a question for a doctor or pharmacist, not for a checklist.

Which medicines do agencies say to keep?

Agencies separate two things: everyday non-prescription medicines and the prescription medicines a household depends on.

For non-prescription medicines, Ready.gov lists pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids and laxatives ². Canada says the first-aid kit should include "the basics like bandages, antiseptic wipes, protective gloves, pain relievers, and face masks" ³. Germany's BBK goes further for its Hausapotheke (home medicine cabinet): painkillers, fever reducers, decongestant nose drops or spray, cold remedies, remedies for diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, electrolytes to replace lost fluids, burn and wound ointment, skin and wound disinfectant, and remedies for sunburn and insect bites ⁵.

For prescription medicines, Ready.gov notes that about half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day ². Canada warns that prescriptions may be hard to get during an emergency, or for a while after one ³. How much to keep is where agencies differ most (see the comparison below).

How much prescription medicine should you keep at home?

The official figures range from several days to a month:

• United Kingdom: enough "to keep you going for several days" ⁴.
• Canada: "If possible, include enough medication to last a couple of weeks" ³.
• Sweden: a full month's supply of prescription medicines for long-term treatment, such as for high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, COPD, diabetes or kidney disease, a recommendation the agency attributes to the National Board of Health and Welfare ⁶. The same page says that a household that already has a month's supply should not refill extra doses ⁶.
• United States: Ready.gov lists prescription medications but gives no number of days ².

Sweden's recommendation concerns medicines prescribed by healthcare professionals ⁶, so a larger reserve is a question for your prescriber and pharmacist; none of these pages tells people to change their dose or treatment.

How often should you check the kit and its expiry dates?

Every agency that addresses upkeep says to check the kit; Canada and Ready.gov give a yearly interval.

• The Red Cross says to check the kit regularly, check expiration dates, and replace any used or out-of-date contents ¹.
• Ready.gov says to replace expired items as needed and to rethink your needs every year as your family changes ².
• Canada says to replace items that might expire, "like food, water, batteries and medications," at least once a year ³.
• Germany's BBK says to check the home medicine cabinet from time to time, because many households build up old or expired medicines, and to restock before supplies run out ⁵.
• Sweden advises a rotation routine so that the oldest medicines are used first ⁶.

Put together, these pages point to one yearly check of the whole kit ²³, replacing anything used or past its date ¹.

Why do expiry dates matter?

The FDA has required expiration dates on prescription and over-the-counter medicines since 1979 ⁷. It states that once the date has passed there is no guarantee the medicine will be safe and effective, that expired products can lose strength or change chemically, and that sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections ⁷. Its advice is plain: if your medicine has expired, do not use it ⁷. The BBK gives the same warning: expired medicines can lose effectiveness and may become dangerous ⁵.

For disposal, the FDA says to follow any instructions on the label first, and names drug take-back locations or prepaid mail-back envelopes as the preferred options ⁷. Rules differ by country: the BBK says expired medicines can go in household waste in Germany ⁵. Follow your own country's instructions.

Where should the kit be stored?

Not in the bathroom. Both the FDA and the BBK say so. The FDA advises a cool, dry place for most medicines, away from damp areas such as bathroom cabinets, hot appliances and sinks, and out of children's reach ⁷. The BBK recommends a dry room that is not heavily heated, with the kit in a lockable cabinet or hung high, out of children's reach ⁵. Some medicines need refrigeration; the label decides ⁷.

The Red Cross recommends keeping a first-aid kit at home and in the car, and knowing where the kits are at work ¹. The UK campaign also suggests a kit in the car ⁴.

What official agencies recommend

The three itemized lists (Red Cross, UK and BBK) all name dressings, adhesive bandages or plasters, gloves, antiseptic, tweezers and a thermometer ¹⁴⁵. The pages differ on medicines and on how long a reserve should last.

Frequently asked questions

Is a bought first-aid kit enough?

The Red Cross says you can buy a kit or build your own, but either way it should contain all the items you may need, plus personal items such as medications and emergency phone numbers ¹. Compare a ready-made kit with the itemized list above and fill the gaps.

How many bandages does a family need?

The Red Cross figure for a family of four is 25 adhesive bandages in assorted sizes, along with 10 sterile gauze pads and 2 compress dressings ¹. It does not publish quantities for other household sizes.

Can I keep using medicine after its expiry date?

The FDA says no: once the date has passed there is no guarantee of safety or effectiveness, and expired medicine should not be used ⁷. Take expired medicines to a take-back point where one exists ⁷, or follow your country's disposal rules ⁵.

Is the bathroom cabinet a good place for the kit?

No. The FDA advises against damp places such as bathroom cabinets ⁷, and the BBK says the bathroom is the wrong place for a home medicine cabinet ⁵.

Should a first-aid kit include instructions?

Yes. The Red Cross list ends with emergency first-aid instructions ¹.

Next step: check your kit

Official lists differ by country on medicines and on how long a reserve should last ³⁴⁶. Start from what your own emergency agency lists, then let the Phaenyx plan count it for your household. Build your Phaenyx plan.

Sources

1. American Red Cross — Make a First Aid Kit — https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/anatomy-of-a-first-aid-kit.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Ready.gov (FEMA) — Build A Kit — https://www.ready.gov/kit (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Government of Canada — Emergency kits — https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/emergency-kits.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. UK Government — Get prepared for emergencies — https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. BBK (Germany) — Im Notfall schnell einsatzbereit: Die Hausapotheke — https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Warnung-Vorsorge/Vorsorge/So-koennen-Sie-sich-vorbereiten/Hausapotheke/hausapotheke_node.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
6. MCF (Sweden) — One month's supply of medicines at home — https://www.mcf.se/en/advice-for-individuals/home-preparedness--prepping-for-at-least-a-week/one-months-supply-of-medicines-at-home/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
7. U.S. FDA — Don't Be Tempted to Use Expired Medicines — https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicines (accessed 2026-10-20)