Falls, Poisoning, Burns Hurt at Home, Stock a Red Cross Kit
Ready.gov, the U.S. government's preparedness website, lists common causes of injuries in the home: falls, poisoning (including drug overdoses), and burns; for what goes in a first aid kit, the American Red Cross suggests a list for a family of four, 19 items in all, which Ready.gov lists. Ready.gov also says that every year, millions of people seek medical attention after they're injured at home, so it's important to know what to do and to have items on hand.
Ready.gov says that in addition to your disaster supplies kit, having a well-stocked first aid kit on hand can help you manage minor injuries or help keep an injured person safe until they can get professional medical help; beyond basic first aid, CPR, AED, and how to administer Naloxone are important. This article follows Ready.gov's home safety page on learning first aid, the Red Cross first aid kit list, and how to adjust it to your family's needs. Everyone's health is different; if you have questions, ask your healthcare provider.
Learn first aid first
Ready.gov explains (Ready.gov Home Safety):
- Why learn it: minor and life-threatening emergencies can happen fast, and emergency responders aren't always nearby; you may be able to save a life by taking simple actions immediately.
- Get trained: first aid is a skill, so it's important to be properly trained in techniques that prevent further injury and relieve pain.
- Beyond basic first aid: CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), AED (automated external defibrillator), and how to administer Naloxone are also important.
- Where to take a class: organizations like the American Red Cross, local government groups, or places like the YMCA offer first aid classes.
- Read course details: some programs are more expensive than others, so read course information carefully before you sign up.
The Red Cross first aid kit list
The American Red Cross suggests these 19 items for a family of four's first aid kit, as listed by Ready.gov:
- One first-aid guide
- Two 5 × 9-inch absorbent compress dressings
- 25 assorted size adhesive bandages
- One roll of adhesive cloth tape, 10 yards × 1 inch
- Five antibiotic ointment packets
- Five individual antiseptic wipe packets
- Two packets of 81 mg aspirin
- One emergency blanket
- One breathing barrier with a one-way valve
- One instant cold compress
- Two pairs of large nonlatex gloves
- Two hydrocortisone ointment packets
- One 3-inch gauze roll bandage
- One 4-inch-wide roller bandage
- Five 3 × 3-inch sterile gauze pads
- Five 4 × 4-inch sterile gauze pads
- One thermometer (non-mercury, non-glass)
- Two triangular bandages
- One pair of tweezers
Adjust it to your family
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist: talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other items to keep on hand, including Naloxone.
- Customize it: Ready.gov says you should customize your kit to fit your family's needs.
- Severe allergies: you or a family member might have severe allergies and require antihistamines or an epinephrine injector.
- Diabetes: if you or a family member is living with diabetes, include a juice box, glucose tablets and gels, and an emergency glucagon injection kit.
- Coronary artery disease: chewable baby aspirin might help someone who has coronary artery disease, provided the person is not allergic to aspirin.
For preparing a disaster supplies kit, see Emergency Kits, 1 Gallon of Water a Day Each, Food for Days; for preventing falls at home, see Prevent Falls, Ask Your Doctor About Risk, Add Grab Bars; for not mixing cleaning products, see Never Mix Home Chemicals, Bleach and Ammonia May Explode.
What this article didn't cover
- Falls, poisoning and burns pages: Ready.gov has separate pages on these three; this article uses only the home safety page.
- Class prices: Ready.gov only says some programs cost more than others; local class prices were not checked.
- Medicines: how to use the aspirin, ointments and Naloxone on the list, and who can use them, was not covered; ask a doctor or pharmacist.
FAQ
Is a first aid kit the same as a disaster supplies kit?
No. Ready.gov says to keep a well-stocked first aid kit "in addition to your disaster supplies kit."
How many people is the Red Cross list for?
The list the American Red Cross suggests is for a family of four, 19 items in all.
Should Naloxone go in the kit?
Ready.gov says to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other items to keep on hand, including Naloxone, and that knowing how to administer Naloxone is important.
A family member has diabetes. What else goes in the kit?
Ready.gov says to include a juice box, glucose tablets and gels, and an emergency glucagon injection kit.
Sources and dates checked
All checked on 2026-11-03.
- Ready.gov, Home Safety (page updated 2026-02-26):https://www.ready.gov/home-safety