First Aid Kit Audit – What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Keep Inside

When was the last time you checked your First Aid kit?

If you had to think about it — or worse, you’re not sure where it is — it might be time for a First Aid Kit Audit. Whether it’s in your home, car, office, or rucksack, a well-stocked First Aid kit is one of the most essential tools for emergency preparedness.

At Essex First Aid & Wellbeing, we teach thousands of people each year how to handle accidents and emergencies. One of the simplest, yet most overlooked, actions anyone can take is to keep their First Aid kit complete, in-date, and appropriate for their environment.

Why First Aid Kit Audits Are Essential

Too often, we find that kits are:

• Missing vital items (like gloves or wound dressings)

• Full of expired products

• Unorganised or hard to access

• Contain inappropriate or unsafe contents

• Not tailored to the specific setting (home vs workplace vs travel)

An incomplete kit can delay treatment, introduce infection, or lead to panic during emergencies.

By doing a monthly or quarterly audit, you ensure your kit is:

• Ready

• Safe

• Up-to-date

• Fit for purpose

What Every First Aid Kit Should Include

Here’s a recommended checklist for a general-purpose domestic First Aid kit based on UK HSE guidelines and best practice:

Essentials:

• Sterile adhesive dressings (plasters) in assorted sizes

• Sterile gauze pads

• Triangular bandages

• Crepe/elastic bandages

• Sterile eye dressings

• Adhesive tape

• Safety pins and scissors

• Disposable gloves (nitrile)

• Tweezers

• Saline solution or sterile eye wash

• Alcohol-free cleansing wipes

• Thermometer

• Digital or disposable

• Foil emergency blanket

• Burn gel or burn dressing

• Resuscitation face shield/mouth-to-mouth barrier

• Oral rehydration salts

• First Aid manual or instructions

• Emergency contact numbers

🧯 If used in workplaces or high-risk environments, consider:

• AED (Automated External Defibrillator) access

• Eyewash stations

• Larger trauma dressings

• Ice packs

• Splints or immobilisers

What NOT to Keep in a First Aid Kit

Despite good intentions, some items are better left out of your First Aid kit:

• Medication (unless part of a personal/paediatric kit with clear labelling)

• Expired items

• Cotton wool (can leave fibres in wounds)

• Glass containers (risk of breaking)

• Non-sterile dressings

• Used equipment or re-used bandages

• Home-made mixtures or creams

Always aim for clean, sterile, and clearly labelled.

Kit Variations – Tailor to Your Needs

Car Kit:

• Reflective triangle and torch

• Seatbelt cutter

• High-visibility jacket

• Emergency blanket

• Cold compresses

• Waterproof plasters

• Basic burn and wound supplies

Family/Children’s Kit:

• Paediatric plasters and bandages

• Digital thermometer

• Teething gel and infant paracetamol (labelled & separate)

• Bite/sting relief

• CPR face shield

• Familiar character plasters (to reduce distress)

Travel Kit:

• Water purification tablets

• Anti-diarrhoea medication

• Mosquito repellent

• Copies of prescriptions

• Spare glasses or contact lenses

• Blister pads

• Emergency medical contacts in the region

Workplace Kit (HSE Compliant):

• Contents adjusted for number of employees

• Extra gloves and dressings

• Accident report book

• Eyewash and signage

• Maintained monthly by responsible person

We provide workplace First Aid kit audits and checks as part of our training services.

How Often Should You Audit Your Kit?

Domestic: Every 3–6 months

Travel or Vehicle Kits: Before and after each journey

Workplace: Every month (HSE recommends a log)

Following Use: Immediately restock any items used

Check:

• Expiry dates

• Packaging integrity (no tears or water damage)

• Items are sterile and unopened

• Scissors and tweezers are clean and rust-free

• Gloves are powder-free and latex-free (nitrile preferred)

First Aid Kit Maintenance Tips

• Store in a cool, dry, and visible location

• Keep out of reach of children unless it’s their personal kit

• Attach a checklist to the inside lid for quick audits

• Mark dates for reviews on your calendar or phone

• Replenish from trusted UK suppliers (we can recommend some!)