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\n\t\tIt\u2019s important to keep a first aid kit in case of emergency, but what do you need inside it? (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tIt\u2019s important to keep a first aid kit in case of emergency, but what do you need inside it? (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Growing up, many of us were plonked on the toilet seat after suffering a fall, so our parents could stick some Savlon on it. <\/p>\n
This would inevitably come from the first aid kit<\/a>, which was always on hand to keep us safe.<\/p>\n These days, though, there\u2019s a rather more dystopian reason most of us need to be keeping a decently stocked little green box<\/a> at home.<\/p>\n The UK government is stepping up its home defence plan, and Andy Burnham<\/a>\u2019s office is preparing a publicity campaign which will tell households to prepare for extreme weather events<\/a> or cyber attacks, according to the Financial Times.<\/p>\n This preparation will include ensuring Brits have plenty of tinned food <\/a>and bottled water at home, as well as knowledge about how to cope in a crisis, to free up immediate government resources for the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n During an emergency event, any medical help will likely be delayed, which means we\u2019ll need to have the bare minimum on hand in case we need it.<\/p>\n The UK government has recommendations for an emergency kit, and this list includes a first aid kit. <\/p>\n The guidance recommends stocking it with, at a minimum, waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape for dressings, and tweezers.<\/p>\n If you rely on medication, you\u2019ll also need to prepare \u2018several days\u2019 worth, and if you use medical devices or specialist equipment, you\u2019ll need to keep both a paper copy of the instructions and spare batteries, all charged up.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tAsk Metro<\/p>\n Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about \u2013 powered by Metro and trusted publications.<\/p>\n While there\u2019s no need to panic, it\u2019s always good to be prepared for the very worst. So, if you\u2019re wondering exactly what you need to have stocked inside a more detailed first aid kit, we\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n \t\t Dr Penelope Sheehan, GP at\u00a0Medical Express Clinic<\/a>, says since most injuries happen at home, it\u2019s best to have some means of dealing with them at hand. <\/p>\n She tells Metro: \u2018A kit changes what you can safely do yourself versus what needs a same-day GP or A&E. Most cuts, grazes, minor burns and sprains do not need a hospital visit if they are cleaned and dressed properly in the first few minutes. Skip that step, or improvise with whatever\u2019s in the bathroom cabinet, and a simple graze can turn into an infection.<\/p>\n \u2018I would treat it the same way as a smoke alarm: something you hope never to need, checked occasionally \u2013 genuinely useful the one time it counts.\u2019<\/p>\n Every single item you need inside a first aid kit, and why<\/p>\n \t\t Dr Penelope says the first item you need inside your kit is plasters, and in several sizes, since a toddler\u2019s knee and an adult\u2019s finger will require different types.<\/p>\n Next, it\u2019s sterile gauze dressings, again, in various sizes. These are for \u2018wounds too big for a plaster,\u2019 and Dr Penelope says \u2018sterile packaging matters because it stops you introducing bacteria into a fresh wound.\u2019<\/p>\n Wound closure strips are next on the list, and these are \u2018for a clean cut that gapes slightly but is not deep enough to need stitches.\u2019 The intention is to hold it together while it heals.<\/p>\n \u2018Microporous tape will secure gauze and dressings without the harsh pull of ordinary sticky tape, which hurts far more coming off a hairy arm or a child\u2019s skin,\u2019 Dr Penelope suggests, while antiseptic wipes will \u2018clean a wound before you dress it.\u2019 Again, dirt getting into a cut is the most common reason a seemingly minor injury can become more serious.<\/p>\n \u2018Disposable gloves will protect the wound from your hands and your hands from any blood,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n \u2018Tweezers with a fine point, for splinters, thorns, and the occasional insect sting left in the skin. <\/p>\n \u2018Small, blunt-tipped scissors, for cutting tape, dressings, or clothing away from a wound or burn without dragging fabric across it.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDr Penelope Sheehan’s full list of items for your emergency first aid kit\t\t\t<\/p>\n Assorted plasters (several sizes) She also suggests including a sterile saline solution for cleaning wounds when running water isn\u2019t an option, as well as an instant cool pack, which can be used for sprains, bumps, and insect stings.<\/p>\n She explains: \u2018Cooling an injury in the first 20 minutes genuinely reduces swelling; a bag of frozen peas works too.<\/p>\n \u2018An elastic bandage will also support a sprained ankle or wrist, or hold a dressing firmly in place on a limb. <\/p>\n \t\t \u2018A triangular bandage is the most underused item in most kits. It slings a suspected broken arm, secures a dressing, or improvises a pad for a larger wound.\u2019<\/p>\n A digital thermometer is another must-include, as are paracetamol and ibuprofen, an antihistamine tablet, oral rehydration sachets, and a burns dressing.<\/p>\n Then, a foil emergency blanket can be used for a drop in body temperature, while a torch can either illuminate a wound in poor light, or check someone\u2019s pupils if they\u2019ve suffered a head injury.<\/p>\n Finally, Dr Penelope recommends including a basic first aid guide or leaflet. \u2018Most people, myself included at three in the morning with a screaming child, forget the correct order of steps under stress,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n \u2018A laminated card removes the guesswork.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tThe government’s list of items for your emergency kit\t\t\t<\/p>\n Battery or wind-up torch (because they\u2019re safer than candles) Source: Gov UK.<\/a><\/p>\n Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_313531357-a2fd.jpg\")
\n\t\tA fully stocked medical kit will see you through an emergency (Picture: Getty Images)
\nWhy it\u2019s important to have a first aid kit at home<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_313531348-d256.jpg\")
\n\t\tAny first aid kit needs things like plasters and disposable gloves (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\nSterile gauze dressings (again, several sizes)
\nWound closure strips
\nMicroporous tape
\nAntiseptic wipes or cream
\nDisposable gloves
\nTweezers (with a fine point)
\nSmall, blunt-tipped scissors
\nSterile saline solution
\nInstant cold pack
\nElastic bandage
\nTriangular bandage
\nDigital thermometer
\nParacetamol and ibuprofen
\nAntihistamine tablet or cream
\nOral rehydration sachets
\nBurns dressing or hydrogel
\nFoil emergency blanket
\nTorch
\nBasic first aid guide or leaflet
\nList of emergency contacts and any relevant medical details.<\/p>\n![\"Rear](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_313530987-697d.jpg\")
\n\t\tPlasters of all sizes need to be included (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\nPortable power bank
\nBattery-powered or wind-up radio
\nSpare batteries
\nA first aid kit (including waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape for dressings, and tweezers)
\nHand sanitiser and wet wipes
\nBottled water (a minimum of 2.5-3 litres per person per day)
\nNon-perishable food (things that don\u2019t need cooking, including tinned meat, fruit or vegetables), plus any pet food
\nBaby supplies (including nappies and baby formula).<\/p>\n
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