Make finding first aid items easier

Currently, my family has band-aids in the kitchen, various ointments throughout the house, and no central place for all things first-aid related. Our first-aid supplies are not organized at all. We don’t have a kit and we don’t even have a proper box for storage.

I think that it’s a good idea not to wait until you have a cut or scrap to organize your first-aid kit (which is what has happened recently to me). Organize it now and save yourself a lot of frustration when you really need to find a band-aid or some hydrogen peroxide.

You can opt for the pre-packaged solution or you can simply gather all of your supplies and place them into a childproof cabinet or storage space. Regardless of what you decide, make sure all of your supplies are in good condition and be sure to check the expiration dates. A couple months ago, Unclutterer featured a post on clearing clutter from your medicine chest. That post can give you pointers on what to keep, what to throw away, and how to properly dispose of old medications. (Erin wanted me to remind you NOT to flush old medications down the toilet!)

Once you have all of your items ready, make sure to store the first-aid kit in an area where it is easy for adults to access but out of reach of children. Don’t store it in a place where it’s too difficult for you to get to it. When you have a cut or burn you will want semi-easy access to your kit.

Posted by Matt on Sep 11, 2007 | Comments

11 comments posted

  1. Posted by Karen - 09/11/2007

    If you don’t have too much stuff, you can use a “school supply box” as a first aid kit. (They are just about the right size to stash in your bathroom or kitchen, and are usually on sale this time of year.) I have two, one that contains various sizes and shapes of bandaids (so I don’t have to look through several boxes to find ones for knuckles or fingertips) and another one with other first aid items.

    I looked at some of the commercial first aid kits, but I found they had some items I didn’t need and didn’t have some that I did – I preferred to assemble my own.

  2. Posted by Andamom - 09/11/2007

    The Red Cross has created a list on what to keep in a first aid kit: http://www.redcross.org/servic.....fakit.html

  3. Posted by jgodsey - 09/11/2007

    For 20 years I have been using the same Indiana Jones lunch box to keep all my 1st aid supplies contained. 8)

  4. Posted by Brian - 09/11/2007

    I can see the advantages of assembling your own first aid kit, but the convenience of buying a commercial one is appealing too. Anyone know if there’s a cost advantage to either method?

  5. Posted by Barbara - 09/11/2007

    We keep all of our medicines and first aid items in a largish tackle box. Everything is in one place and it moves easily to the car for camping trips.

  6. Posted by SpiKe - 09/11/2007

    All my first aid items are in a food box in a cupboard in my kitchen all mixed up with painkillers, cough medicine, vitamins etc. It would work fine if I didn’t have so much stuff. The problem is if I am out and about and get an headache, I end up having to buy a new packet of painkillers which ultimately get chucked in that cupboard when I get home. I need to get into the habit of carrying a pack around with me really :)

    SpiKe
    Organize IT

  7. Posted by JenK - 09/11/2007

    We have a two-story home. I ended up putting the larger aid kit in the downstairs half-bath (along with a variety of pain relievers & Tums) and a smaller one upstairs (along with cough/cold meds, melatonin, and our preferred pain relievers). I resisted this for a while, but I don’t want to have to go downstairs for a cough drop when a cold is keeping me up at night. Or to have to go upstairs for neosporin and a band-aid after cutting my thumb in the kitchen.

  8. Posted by AGT - 09/11/2007

    The Red Cross Chapters have a great selection of first aid kits, from a personal size, to more elaborates ones suitable for a Scout troop on a long backwoods adventure. at redcross.org there are a handful for sale, along with some handsome “vintage” style kits.

  9. Posted by Trish - 09/12/2007

    I bought one of those little wooden chests of drawers from Ikea (three drawers across, three drawers down). I have written the following on the drawers:

    sore head (tylenol etc)
    sore tummy (antacids etc)
    sore throat (lozenges)
    coughs and sniffles (cold medicine)
    hayfever (antihistamine)
    bandaids
    thermometer
    bites & scratches (ointments and antiseptic creams)
    something in my eye (saline and eye bath)

    This takes care of just about everything we ever need, and makes it easy for everyone to find what they want. There’s another box next to it with dressings and bandages, and another box with bottles of cough syrup and the kids’ medicines.

    The drawers are great because you can remove whichever one you want entirely and fish around for the right kind of pain relief, or whatever.

  10. Posted by brenda - 09/19/2007

    I find it easier having 3 kids of my own and providing childcare to have four small packs of first aid items (3-4 bandaids, ointment,antiseptic wipes and 3 suckers)that I keep around. One in the garage for bike accidents or mishaps with tools. One downstairs simply for convenience. One in my kitchen pantry(which is nearest the backyard too) and one in my car. I use a small plastic pencil case for each one. I keep all other medicines in a locked wooden trunk that is in my living room.

  11. Posted by Karen the Californian - 09/15/2008

    Trish — your idea sounds cute, but I’d like to know, which Ikea chest of drawers did you use? Are the drawers big enough to hold bottles of Robitussin and Tums? I’d love to see a photo!

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