What should be in a first aid kit?

A well-stocked first aid kit includes: wound care essentials (gauze, bandages, medical tape, antiseptic wipes), trauma items (tourniquet, pressure bandage, hemostatic gauze), basic medications (pain relief, antihistamine), tools (scissors, tweezers, gloves), and documentation (first aid reference card). The right kit depends on your use case: home kits differ from field or IFAK configurations.

An IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) is a compact, standardized trauma kit designed to be carried on your person — originally developed for military use. It typically contains a tourniquet, chest seals, pressure bandage, hemostatic gauze, and gloves. IFAKs are built for rapid single-handed access to treat life-threatening bleeding and airway injuries in the field.

Do I need a trauma kit at home?

A home trauma kit is a worthwhile addition to any household preparedness plan. Serious injuries from accidents can occur faster than emergency services can respond. A basic trauma kit — including a tourniquet, pressure bandage, and wound packing gauze — can provide critical care in the minutes before professional help arrives.