What to Keep in a First Aid Kit in Minnesota

Every part of your kit can serve a purpose. While some overlap, most are intended for specific emergencies.

Wound Care

Cuts, scrapes, and puncture wounds are the most common reasons people reach for a first aid kit. Make sure yours is stocked with:

• Adhesive bandages in multiple sizes, including knuckle and fingertip bandages.
• Sterile gauze pads and rolls for larger wounds that need more coverage.
• Medical tape to secure dressings in place.
• Antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment to clean wounds and reduce the risk of infection.
• Tweezers for removing splinters and debris. (Fine-tipped tweezers also double as a tick removal tool, an important tool for Minnesota families.)
• Scissors to cut tape, gauze, or clothing if needed.
• Disposable gloves to protect both you and the person you're helping.

Pain and Allergic Reactions

Having the right medications on hand can also be helpful in the early stages of an injury or reaction.

• Acetaminophen and ibuprofen cover most pain and fever needs for adults and older children.
• Aspirin should be in every adult household kit. In the event of a suspected heart attack, chewing a regular-strength aspirin while waiting for emergency services can be life-saving. Do not give aspirin to children.
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) handles mild allergic reactions, bug bites, and itching.
• Hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion help relieve skin irritation, rashes, and reactions to insect bites.
• If anyone in your household has a known severe allergy, keep a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) in the kit.

Sprains, Swelling, and Immobilization

Muscle and joint injuries are common at home, on the field, and on the trail. These items help manage swelling and stabilize injuries right away.

• Elastic bandage wraps (such as an ACE bandage) for compressing sprains and strains.
• Instant cold packs to reduce swelling when ice isn't available.
• Finger splints for stabilizing injured fingers.
• A triangular bandage that can be used as a sling for arm and shoulder injuries.

General Supplies

While most of your kit will serve a niche purpose, you’ll also want a few foundational tools that work in a wide range of situations.

• A digital thermometer to check for fever.
• A CPR face shield or mask.
• An emergency blanket, which is compact and retains body heat quickly.
• Hand warmers for cold-weather emergencies (just remember: do not apply direct heat to frostbitten skin)
• A first aid manual or instruction card for reference.
• A flashlight with extra batteries.

Store your kit in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. Heat and humidity accelerate the breakdown of medications and sterile supplies. Keep it accessible to adults but out of reach of young children, and make sure every adult in the household knows how to get to it. Common spots for storage include:

• A kitchen cabinet
• A hallway closet
• A laundry room shelf

Avoid bathrooms, where humidity is high, and garage shelves, where temperatures swing significantly in Minnesota's shifting weather.

A first aid kit is only as good as the supplies inside it. Expiration dates matter: medications and ointments can lose potency or become unsafe over time, antiseptic wipes can dry out and lose their effectiveness, and adhesive bandages can degrade and fail to seal properly.

After assembling your kit, make a note to check it at least once a year. Replace anything that has expired. If you notice damaged packaging on sterile items like gauze, replace those even if the expiration date hasn't passed. And of course, if you’ve used any of your supplies, replace them as soon as possible.

Even a well-stocked kit won't help much if you're not sure how to treat a wound, recognize a serious allergic reaction, or perform CPR. Knowing basic first aid principles can go a long way to keeping your loved ones safe.

The American Red Cross offers first aid and CPR certification courses throughout Minnesota, including in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth, and Rochester. Classes are available in person, online, and through a blended format that combines online coursework with a hands-on skills session.

Even without formal certification, reading the first-aid manual included in your kit is a good starting point. Make sure the adults in your household are familiar with what's in the kit and how to use it before an emergency happens.

If something goes wrong in your house, it pays to be prepared. Putting together a first aid kit is one of the quickest ways to make your home a safer place. 

If you or someone in your family is injured, SiebenCarey is here to help. Contact us for a free consultation, and we can evaluate your claim and explain your rights.