Home medical kit
Educational use only
This page provides general educational information for emergency preparedness scenarios when professional medical care is unavailable. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider. Use this information at your own risk.
Most households have a box under the sink with expired aspirin, three bandages, and a broken thermometer. That is not a medical kit — it is a gesture. A functional home medical kit is a tiered, inspected, organized system that covers the problems households actually face: lacerations, burns, fever, gastrointestinal illness, dehydration, and the first minutes of trauma. Building it in tiers lets you scale capability to your training and risk profile without buying gear you cannot use.
Educational use only
This page describes home medical kit configurations for general preparedness. Kit contents should match your training level — do not stock advanced supplies you have not been trained to use. Prescription medications require a physician. Always seek professional medical care when available. See medical training for the training courses that correspond to each kit tier.
The three-tier framework
Three tiers covering three different capability levels. Each tier adds to the one below it — a Tier 2 kit contains everything in Tier 1 plus the additions listed.
| Tier | Capability | Training required | Scenario addressed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — Basic | OTC medications + wound care | Basic first aid | Everyday injuries, minor illness, 72-hour gap in pharmacy access |
| Tier 2 — Enhanced | Tier 1 + trauma capable | cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)/AED + Stop the Bleed + First Aid | Moderate emergencies, hemorrhage control, wound closure |
| Tier 3 — Advanced | Tier 2 + austere medicine | Wilderness First Aid or higher | Prolonged care, airway management, extended prescription support |
Build to the tier that matches your current training. Buying Tier 3 supplies without Tier 3 training is a waste of resources and a false security risk.
Tier 1 — Basic kit
Purpose: Treat everyday household injuries and minor illness; bridge a 72-hour gap in access to a pharmacy or urgent care. Household size: Specifications below are for a household of 4 adults, 72 hours. Container: One divided soft bag or small plastic bin, clearly labeled.
OTC medications
| Medication | Indication | Dose (adult) | Quantity to stock | Shelf life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibuprofen 200 mg tablets | Pain, fever, inflammation | 200–400 mg every 6–8 hours (max 1,200 mg/day OTC) | 100 tablets | 3–5 years from manufacture |
| Acetaminophen 500 mg tablets | Pain, fever (alternative to ibuprofen) | 500–1,000 mg every 6 hours (max 3,000 mg/day) | 100 tablets | 2–3 years from manufacture (do not use if crumbling or discolored) |
| Diphenhydramine 25 mg (Benadryl) | Allergic reactions, mild sleep support | 25–50 mg every 6 hours | 50 tablets | 3–5 years |
| Cetirizine 10 mg (Zyrtec) or loratadine 10 mg (Claritin) | Non-drowsy allergy relief | 10 mg once daily | 30 tablets | 3–5 years |
| Loperamide 2 mg (Imodium) | Diarrhea control | 2 mg after first loose stool, 2 mg after each subsequent (max 8 mg/day) | 24 tablets | 3 years |
| Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) | Nausea, indigestion, diarrhea | 30 mL or 2 tablets every 30–60 min (max 8 doses/day) | 1 bottle liquid or 48 tablets | 5 years liquid; 4 years tablets |
| Antacid (calcium carbonate or aluminum hydroxide) | Heartburn, acid reflux | Per label | 50 tablets | 3 years |
| Oral rehydration salts (ORS) packets | Dehydration from illness | 1 packet per 1 liter of clean water; drink 200–400 mL per hour | 20 packets | 5 years (sealed) |
| Hydrocortisone cream 1% | Itching, rashes, mild inflammation | Thin layer to affected area twice daily | 1 tube (30 g) | 3 years |
| Antifungal cream (clotrimazole 1% or miconazole) | Fungal skin infections | Thin layer twice daily for 2–4 weeks | 1 tube | 3 years |
Ibuprofen and aspirin interactions
Ibuprofen should be avoided in patients with kidney disease, peptic ulcer history, bleeding disorders, or those taking anticoagulants (warfarin, apixaban). Aspirin is not listed above as a general OTC pain reliever because of Reye's syndrome risk in children under 18 and GI bleeding risk. Include aspirin only for suspected acute coronary syndrome (325 mg chewable) as a dedicated item with a separate protocol note in the kit.
Wound care supplies
| Item | Size/Specification | Quantity | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adhesive bandages (assorted) | Various sizes: 1"×3" (2.5×7.5 cm), knuckle, fingertip, butterfly | 50 assorted | Minor cuts and abrasions |
| Sterile gauze pads | 2"×2" (5×5 cm) and 4"×4" (10×10 cm) | 20 of each | Wound covering, debridement |
| Rolled gauze | 3" (7.5 cm) width | 6 rolls | Wound dressing, securing pads |
| Medical adhesive tape | 1" (2.5 cm) wide, hypoallergenic | 2 rolls | Securing dressings |
| Elastic bandage (ACE wrap) | 3" (7.5 cm) and 4" (10 cm) | 2 of each | Sprains, compression wrapping |
| Irrigation syringe | 20 mL, tapered tip | 2 | Wound flushing |
| Saline solution (0.9%) or sterile water | Single-use 100 mL pods or 500 mL bottle | 6 pods or 1 bottle | Wound irrigation, eye wash |
| Antiseptic solution (povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine) | 4 oz (120 mL) bottle | 1 | Wound surface disinfection |
| Tweezers, pointed-tip | Stainless steel | 1 | Splinter and debris removal |
| Trauma shears | 7" (18 cm), blunt tip | 1 | Cutting clothing or bandages |
| Nitrile gloves | Size M and L | 10 pairs each | Universal precautions |
| Digital thermometer | Oral/axillary | 1 | Fever assessment |
| Penlight or headlamp | Small, reliable battery | 1 | Assessment illumination |
| Emergency space blanket | 52"×84" (130×210 cm), aluminized | 4 | Hypothermia prevention |
| Hand sanitizer (≥60% alcohol) | 8 oz (240 mL) | 1 | Hand hygiene when water unavailable |
Tier 2 — Enhanced kit
Purpose: Manage moderate emergencies including significant hemorrhage, wound closure, and patient stabilization pending evacuation or professional care. Training required: CPR/AED + Stop the Bleed + Basic First Aid minimum. Added to Tier 1 — do not replace.
Trauma additions
| Item | Specification | Quantity | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourniquet | Commercial, windlass-type (CAT or SOFTT-W specifications) | 2 | Life-threatening extremity hemorrhage |
| Hemostatic gauze | 3" (7.5 cm) Z-fold, kaolin or chitosan-based | 2 packages | Junctional or wound-packed hemorrhage |
| Pressure dressing | Commercial elastic bandage dressing, 4" (10 cm) or 6" (15 cm) | 2 | Extremity wound compression |
| Wound closure strips (Steri-Strips) | 1/4"×3" (0.6×7.5 cm) and 1/2"×4" (1.3×10 cm) | 20 each | Laceration closure after irrigation |
| Skin stapler | Single-use, 35 staples | 1 | Scalp and linear laceration closure (trained providers) |
| Skin staple remover | Single-use | 1 | Staple removal after healing |
| Tissue adhesive (2-octyl cyanoacrylate) | 0.5 mL unit-dose ampule | 4 | Short laceration closure where tension is low |
| Non-adherent wound dressing | 3"×4" (7.5×10 cm) | 10 | Covering sutured or stapled wounds, burns |
| Burn dressing (hydrogel or non-adherent) | 4"×4" (10×10 cm) | 6 | Partial-thickness burn care |
| SAM splint | 36" (91 cm), aluminum core | 4 | Extremity fracture immobilization |
| Cervical collar | Adjustable or multi-size set | 1 | Suspected cervical spine injury |
| Penile tourniquet / abdominal wound dressing | Junctional tourniquet or abdominal pad 12"×12" (30×30 cm) | 1 | Truncal or junctional wound management |
| Permanent marker (Sharpie) | Black, fine and broad tip | 2 | Tourniquet time notation, patient marking |
Additional medications
| Medication | Indication | Dose (adult) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspirin 325 mg, chewable | Suspected acute coronary syndrome | 325 mg chewed (not swallowed whole) | Single-use protocol item — document use and timing |
| Epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) | Severe allergic reaction/anaphylaxis | 0.3 mg IM into outer thigh | Prescription required; household member with allergy history should always have this |
| Glucose gel or tablets | Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) | 15–20 g of glucose (3–4 glucose tablets or 1 tube gel) | For known diabetics; reassess 15 minutes after dosing |
Field note
Wound closure strips (Steri-Strips) are the most useful wound closure tool in a Tier 2 kit for a non-medically trained household. Tissue adhesive works well on short, low-tension lacerations — the scalp is a classic use case. Skin staplers work well on scalp and back, but require practice to align properly and are not forgiving on curved surfaces. Suturing is not listed here because sutured wounds require irrigation skill, suture selection knowledge, and technique that cannot be self-taught. Stock what matches your training.
Tier 3 — Advanced kit
Purpose: Extended patient care, airway management, and austere medicine in scenarios where professional help may be delayed by 12–72+ hours. Training required: Wilderness First Aid minimum; many items require Wilderness First Responder or equivalent. Added to Tier 2 — do not replace.
Airway management
| Item | Specification | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) kit | Sizes 24–34 Fr, with lubricant | 1 set | Unconscious patient with intact gag reflex; contraindicated in suspected skull base fracture |
| Oropharyngeal airway (OPA) | Sizes 80/90/100 mm | 1 set | Unconscious patient without gag reflex — do not use if patient gags |
| Bag-valve mask (BVM) | Adult + child masks, oxygen-compatible | 1 | Assisted ventilation; requires proper technique |
| Pocket mask (CPR) | One-way valve | 1 per adult in household | Rescue breathing with barrier |
| Suction device | Manual bulb or pump-style | 1 | Airway secretion clearance |
Chest injury management
| Item | Specification | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vented chest seal | Bi-directional valve, commercial | 4 (2 packages) | Open pneumothorax; vent prevents tension conversion |
| Needle decompression kit | 14-gauge, 3.25" (8 cm) catheter-over-needle | 2 | Tension pneumothorax; requires WFR+ training to use safely |
Extended care additions
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| IV fluid setup (normal saline 1L bags + IV tubing) | Volume resuscitation (prescription item in most jurisdictions; WFR training for placement) |
| Urinalysis dipstick strips | Kidney function monitoring, UTI assessment |
| Blood glucose meter + strips | Diabetic monitoring, altered mental status workup |
| Blood pressure cuff (manual sphygmomanometer) | Trending blood pressure in extended care scenarios |
| Stethoscope | Breath sounds, bowel sounds, pulse assessment |
| Otoscope | Ear canal and tympanic membrane assessment |
| Irrigation splash guard (eye wash station) | Chemical exposure, eye irrigation |
| Suture kit | Needle driver, iris scissors, thumb forceps, sutures (3-0 nylon, 4-0 absorbable) |
| Surgical stapler | Alternative to suture for linear lacerations |
Prescription medications (Tier 3, with prescriber authorization)
Prescription items require a physician-patient relationship to obtain legally. The following are commonly stocked by preparedness households with provider authorization — document indications, dosing, and contraindications on a laminated card inside the kit:
| Class | Common agents | General use |
|---|---|---|
| Oral antibiotics — broad spectrum | Amoxicillin-clavulanate, doxycycline, azithromycin | Skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory infections, prophylaxis |
| Topical antibiotic | Mupirocin ointment | Wound infection, impetigo |
| Corticosteroid oral | Prednisone | Severe allergic reactions, inflammatory flares |
| Anti-parasitic | Metronidazole | GI parasites, anaerobic infections |
| Pain management | Prescription-strength NSAID or tramadol | Moderate–severe pain requiring more than OTC coverage |
See stockpiling for sourcing, storage, and legal considerations around building a prescription medication cache.
Storage requirements
Improper storage degrades supplies faster than expiration dates suggest.
| Factor | Requirement | Consequence of failure |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 59–77°F (15–25°C) ideal; avoid extremes | Heat above 86°F (30°C) accelerates medication degradation; nitrile gloves crack; elastic loses tension |
| Humidity | Below 60% relative humidity | Adhesive bandages lose adhesion; hemostatic gauze absorbs moisture, may clump |
| Light | Store in opaque containers or dark location | UV degrades medications and some dressings |
| Vehicle kits | Use insulated storage; avoid glove box in climates with extreme heat | Vehicle interiors can reach 140°F+ (60°C) — destroys medications and degrades elastic and rubber |
Labeling requirements: Every container, pouch, or module should be labeled with its tier level, contents category, and the expiration date of the earliest-expiring item inside it. This tells you at a glance which module needs attention during your next inspection.
Inspection schedule
Monthly (5 minutes)
- Verify gloves, bandages, and tape are accessible and not depleted
- Replace any item used since last inspection
- Check for condensation inside sealed containers
Quarterly (20 minutes)
- Inspect all medications: discard any that are expired, discolored, or crumbling
- Check tourniquet: windlass intact, velcro functional, inner lining dry
- Check hemostatic gauze expiration date
- Test penlight batteries
- Verify thermometer battery
- Confirm space blankets are resealed (once opened, they degrade)
Annual (60 minutes)
- Full kit audit against component list
- Replace all medications within 6 months of expiration (do not wait for the day)
- Recheck all elastic bandages for tension loss
- Review chest seal expiration dates (most have 3–5 year shelf life)
- Update medication records and dosing card with any household member changes
- Reconcile with ifak.md — portable trauma kits need their own inspection cycle
Organization system
How the kit is organized determines how fast you can use it under stress.
Color-coded module system:
- Red pouch: Trauma (tourniquet, hemostatic gauze, pressure dressing, chest seals, chest needle). First thing you reach for in hemorrhage emergency.
- Blue pouch: Airway/breathing (NPA, OPA, BVM, pocket mask, suction).
- Green pouch: Wound care (dressings, gauze, tape, irrigation, closure strips, antiseptic).
- White pouch: Medications (OTC oral medications, clearly labeled).
- Yellow pouch: Assessment tools (thermometer, penlight, blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, glucose meter, gloves).
- Clear envelope: Reference cards, medication list, allergy list, emergency contacts, laminated quick-reference protocols.
Positioning rules:
- Store the kit in a fixed location everyone in the household knows without looking it up. Above a refrigerator, behind a door, in a dedicated cabinet. Consistent location removes decision-making under stress.
- Keep it off the floor (flooding, temperature variance).
- Accessible within 30 seconds in complete darkness — this is the practical test of "good location."
- If you have a multi-story home, keep a Tier 1 kit on each floor.
- Integrate the kit location into household orientation for any new resident, guest, or babysitter.
Grab-and-go compatibility: The red (trauma) pouch and a spare tourniquet should be removable from the main kit as a stand-alone grab-and-go module. If you need to run out the door, you take the trauma module with you. See ifak.md for the individual carry version.
Kit for special medical needs
Every kit must be personalized for the household it serves:
- Pediatric: Stock dosing chart for weight-based pediatric acetaminophen/ibuprofen dosing. Stock smaller-sized NPA and OPA if children are in the household. EpiPen Jr for children under 33 lbs (15 kg) if a child has a known allergy.
- Elderly: Blood pressure cuff becomes more critical. Stock extra prescription buffer (coordinate with physician). Aspirin 325 mg for cardiac event protocol.
- Diabetic: Blood glucose meter and strips, glucose gel, insulin storage plan if applicable (refrigeration requirements during power outage — see stockpiling).
- Pregnancy: Magnesium sulfate for pre-eclampsia is a prescription consideration for planned remote birth. Fetal heart tone monitor if in third trimester and planning remote living.
- Severe allergy history: Two EpiPens (dual dosing) minimum; prescriber should advise on replacement after use.
Home medical kit readiness checklist
- Tier 1 basic kit built and inventoried for household of 4, 72-hour supply
- All medications checked for expiration — replace anything within 6 months of expiry
- At least 2 tourniquets in the household (Tier 2)
- Color-coded module system in place — red trauma pouch accessible in under 30 seconds
- Kit location known by every adult in the household, including overnight guests
- Medication and allergy list current and laminated inside the kit
- Pediatric dose chart included if children are present
- Inspection dates logged — quarterly reminder set
- Vehicle kit built (Tier 1 minimum) for each frequently used vehicle
- Training completed to match kit tier — see training
- individual first aid kit (IFAK) built for each adult — see ifak.md for individual carry kit
- Prescription buffer reviewed with prescriber for maintenance medications
- Stockpiling plan for OTC medications aligned with stockpiling rotation schedule
- Cross-check basics.md — assessment skills should match the supplies you have staged
A medical kit is not a one-time purchase. It is a maintained system — inspected, rotated, and rebuilt as supplies are used or expire. The household that reviews its kit quarterly, trains against it, and knows where everything is under pressure will use it effectively when it matters. The household that buys it once and forgets it will discover the gaps at the worst possible moment.