How to make a basic home medicine and first aid kit
Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Short answer: A good home kit holds a few basic first aid supplies, a small number of medicines your pharmacist has recommended for your family, and a list of important phone numbers. Keep it in a cool, dry place out of children's reach, and check it every few months for anything expired or used up. Fewer, well-chosen items are better than a box full of leftovers.
Why have a kit
Minor cuts, burns, fevers and stomach upsets often happen at night or on a holiday, when shops are closed. A simple, well-kept kit lets you deal with small problems calmly, and it helps you avoid buying medicines in a hurry from a seller you do not know. It is not a replacement for a doctor, and it should never encourage you to treat a serious problem at home.
Basic first aid supplies
| Item | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Adhesive plasters and sterile gauze pads | Covering small cuts and grazes. |
| Roller bandage and medical tape | Holding dressings in place. |
| Antiseptic wipes or solution | Cleaning around a minor wound. Ask a pharmacist which one suits your family. |
| Clean water and saline for rinsing | Rinsing minor wounds and, if advised, the eyes. |
| Scissors, tweezers and safety pins | Cutting dressings and removing splinters. Keep them clean. |
| Disposable gloves | Protecting you and the person you are helping. |
| Digital thermometer | Checking for fever. Keep spare batteries. |
| Cold pack | Reducing swelling from a knock or sprain. |
| Torch and spare batteries | Helpful during a power cut. |
Medicines: ask your pharmacist what suits your family
What belongs in a medicine kit depends on who lives in your home: their ages, any long-term conditions, allergies and the other medicines they take. A pharmacist can help you choose a short list. Common categories families often ask about include:
- A pain and fever reliever suitable for the people in your home, including a form suitable for children if you have them.
- Oral rehydration salts, for fluid loss during diarrhoea or vomiting.
- Something for minor skin irritation, insect bites or small burns, as advised by your pharmacist.
- Any regular medicines prescribed for family members, kept in their original packs with the label.
Do not add antibiotics or other prescription medicines "just in case". Read why you should not take antibiotics without advice.
Before you buy, check each pack, work out the price per tablet, and choose a licensed source. Buy small packs of things you rarely use rather than large ones that will expire unused.
Keep it safe
- Keep it out of children's reach, for example on a high shelf or in a box with a child-resistant lid.
- Choose a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, the bathroom and the kitchen. Read how to store medicines safely at home.
- Keep medicines in their original packs, with the leaflet, so the name, strength and directions stay with them.
- Keep a list of what is in the kit and the expiry dates, so you can see what needs replacing.
Check the kit every few months
- Take everything out and look at each expiry date. See medicine expiry dates explained.
- Remove anything expired, damaged, damp or unlabelled, and ask your pharmacist how to dispose of it.
- Replace used supplies, and check the batteries in the thermometer and the torch.
- Make sure each family member's medicines are still the right ones for them.
Write important numbers on the lid
Put these where anyone can see them: your family doctor, your nearest pharmacy, the nearest hospital, and your local emergency numbers. Add known allergies and any long-term conditions of family members.
When a kit is not enough
Get medical help instead of treating at home if there is severe bleeding, a deep or dirty wound, a serious burn, difficulty breathing, chest pain, a head injury, a very high or long-lasting fever, signs of dehydration, an allergic reaction with swelling or breathing trouble, or if a baby, an older person or a pregnant woman is unwell. If someone may have swallowed a medicine that was not meant for them, call for help and take the pack with you.
Frequently asked questions
How many medicines should a home kit contain?
As few as you need. A short list chosen with your pharmacist is safer and cheaper than a large collection of half-used packs.
Should I keep leftover prescription medicines in the kit?
No. Leftovers can be the wrong medicine for a new illness and may be expired. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of them.
Can I keep the kit in the refrigerator?
Only items that are labelled to be refrigerated. Most kit contents should be kept in a cool, dry place, not in the fridge.
Sources and further reading
- The label and leaflet supplied with each medicine.
- A certified first aid course, for hands-on training in first aid.
- DRAP, dra.gov.pk, for official information on registered medicines.
- Your doctor or pharmacist, for advice about your own household.