Consider having the following items in your home first-aid kit.

Bandages and dressings:

• Butterfly bandages.
• Adhesive bandages (such as Band-Aid brand or similar); assorted sizes.
• Adhesive tape such as rolled cloth, paper or silk (hypoallergenic), 1 inch x 10 yards (9.1 meters).
• Sterile gauze pads (packets of two to five), 3 x 3 or 4 x 4 inch.
• Sterile gauze (trauma) pads, packets of two to five 5 x 9 or 8 x 10 inch.
• Nonstick sterile bandages (Telfa or Metalline), assorted sizes.
• Rolled conforming gauze (C-wrap or Elastomull).
• Elastic bandage (Ace bandage) for wrapping wrist, ankle, knee, and elbow injuries -- 2, 3, and 4 inch widths.
• Sterile cotton balls, eye patches, and gauze pads (4 x 4- and 2 x 2- inch pads).
• Molefoam 4 1/8 x 3 3/8 inch.
• Moleskin Plus 4 1/8 x 3 3/8 inch.
• Aquaphor moist nonadherent (petrolatum-impregnated) dressing -- 3 x 3 inch.
• Tegaderm transparent wound dressing.
• Tincture of benzoin -- bottle or swabsticks.
• Benzalkonium chloride 1:750 solution (Zephiran).
• Povidone iodine 10% solution (Betadine) -- bottle or swabsticks.

Splinting and sling material:

• Cravat cloth (triangular bandage) for wrapping injuries and making an arm sling, 5 feet at the base and 3 feet on the other two sides.
• Elastic bandage (Ace bandage) for wrapping wrist, ankle, knee, and elbow injuries -- 2, 3, and 4 inch widths.
• Aluminum finger splints.

Equipment:

• Scissors with rounded or blunt-tipped edges.
• Tweezers, to remove ticks and small splinters.
• Safety razor.
• Latex surgical gloves -- if allergic to latex, use hypoallergenic non-latex synthetic gloves.
• Liquid soap.
• Sterile cotton-tipped swabs or applicators.
• Disposable, instant ice bags for icing injuries.
• Paper cups.
• Space blanket.
• Thermometer.
• CPR mouth barrier or pocket mask, such as a Microshield X-L Mouth Barrier.
• Paramedic or EMT shears (scissors) or bandage scissors.
• Rolled duct tape 3 inch x 1 yard (91 centimeters).
• Braided nylon cord 1/8 to 1/4-inch diameter, minimum 10 feet (3 meters) in length.
• Blue "baby bulb" or "turkey baster" suction device.
• Water bottle, such as Nalgene 1/2 to 1 liter.
• Oral Rehydration Salts or Cera Lyte 70 oral rehydration salts.

Eye medications and dressings:

• Prepackaged individual sterile oval eye pads.
• Prepackaged eye bandages (Coverlet Eye Occlusor).
• Metal or plastic eye shield.
• Sterile eyewash, such as Collyrium 1 ounce (30 milliliters) or contact lens saline solution.

Medication:

• Ipecac syrup to induce vomiting. Use only as directed by the Poison Control Center.
• Acetaminophen -- 325 milligram tablets.
• Buffered aspirin for headaches, fever, and pain 325 milligram tablets. (Avoid giving aspirin to young children -- use acetaminophen instead.)
• Ibuprofen 200 milligram tablets.
• Antacid.
• Loperamide (Imodium AD) 2 milligram caplets.
• Glutose (liquid glucose) paste tube.

Allergy kit:

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 25 milligram capsules.
• Allergy kit with injectable epinephrine (EpiPen 0.3 milligrams; and EpiPen Jr. 0.15 milligrams).

Topical skin preparations:

• Antiseptic solution, such as hydrogen peroxide or wipes, to clean a superficial wound.
• Antibiotic ointment, such as bacitracin, polysporin, or mupirocin, for cuts and scrapes.
• Calamine lotion for stings or exposure to poison ivy (follow instructions on label).
• Hydrocortisone cream, ointment, or lotion (0.5% to 1%).
• Insect repellent.
• Sunscreen lotion or cream.
• Lip balm.
• Aloe vera gel.

Other:

• First-aid manual.
• Paper and pencil.
• Tissues.
• Soap.
• Safety pins.
• First-aid report form.
• Waterproof flashlight or headlamp and spare batteries.
• Change for a telephone call.

Be sure to check your kit regularly, and replace any outdated or expired items.