As a mom of three, I’ve cared for my littles through everything from bug bites to broken bones. When they’re sick or hurt, they immediately come to me with the expectation that I’ve got something in my home first aid kit + natural remedy stash to help them . . . and usually I do. 

There have been times, though, when something came up and I realized I needed something that I didn’t have and couldn’t be picked up around the corner. 

With that in mind, I thought I’d share the tools and supplies that I’ve found most helpful over the years. 

Why Every Family Should Have A Home First Aid Kit

A well-stocked first aid kit + remedy stash is vital for responding effectively to common injuries and illnesses. I keep one kit in my home that I’ve customized to meet my family’s needs, and I also keep a basic pre-made kit in my car for emergencies.

I’ve used them for: 

Minor injuries or illnesses

Stabilizing a more serious injury before taking my child in for medical care, such as using a triangular bandage to make a sling for a suspected broken collarbone and then immediately heading to the hospital for assessment and care

Partnering with my family doctor to care for things at home under medical guidance. In the past year or so we all had what I shall call “the crud” and unfortunately it was during a time when getting an in-person doctor’s appointment was nearly impossible. Instead, I  met with my functional medicine M.D. over video chat and implemented his recommendations at home. His approach included supportive supplements, which I had stocked in my remedy stash. 

Though usually I am comfortable addressing situations at home, as I’ve mentioned there are also times when I absolutely reach out to our family doctor for input on a situation. I recommend that you do too if you’re not sure how to proceed. As always, this is not medical advice and none of these statements have been evaluated by the FDA.

My Home First Aid Kit Essentials

In addition to the basic first aid supplies and home remedy ingredients I’ll cover below, there are a couple of tools I’ve found to be very helpful: 

Otoscope With Camera 

When kids have earaches, home remedies like garlic and mullein oil can be very soothing. However, it’s important to make sure the eardrum is intact before using any kind of drops, which is why years ago I invested in this Dr. Mom Otoscope. 

Developed by an ER doctor, it comes with a series of photographs that show what a perforated eardrum, ear infection, eardrum with tubes, and normal eardrum look like. 

The downside of the Dr. Mom Otoscope is that you can’t show your doctor what you’re seeing. That’s why I eventually switched to this high definition otoscope with a camera. It connects to your phone, can take pictures, and is super easy to use. 

Some reviewers have pointed out that the app needed to use it asks for unnecessary personal data which concerned me, so I downloaded it and then went to to my privacy settings to turn off permissions. I found that it wasn’t requesting all the info reviewers were saying, but I did turn off everything except for access to photos so that it can store pictures. 

If you’d rather not use an app but do want to be able to take pictures to send to your care provider, this otoscope with camera is app-free. 

Pulse Oximeter

This year when my family had some respiratory stuff going on, my doctor asked that I monitor our oxygen saturation levels at home and keep him updated. 

Pulse oximeters are non-invasive monitors that are placed on a fingertip to measure oxygen saturation levels and heart rate. There are some things to know about how to take accurate readings that the FDA covers here, but in general they’re very easy to use. 

This pulse oximeter fits all finger sizes from four-year-olds to adults. 

Basic First Aid Supplies

If you check the American Red Cross, CDC and other organizations, you’ll find first aid checklists that share a lot in common but have some differences as well. Here are the basics I keep in stock: 

First aid guide book – Having the right supplies on hand is obviously important, but so is knowing how to use them. I bought this first aid manual because its written by the American College of Emergency Physicians and is one of the highest rated in user reviews.

First aid ointment – Some natural and organic options include:

Medical grade manuka honey for minor burns, cuts and scrapes 

Nutrasporin is made with chelated silver oxide

Bandages of assorted sizes (The ones I linked to are made with organic, compostable bamboo)

Butterfly bandages and/or these emergency laceration closures

Sterile gauze pads (Ideally in both 2 inch and 4 inch squares)

Flexible sterile rolled gauze for difficult to bandage areas

Elastic wrap bandages for wrist, ankle, knee and elbow sprains/injuries

Triangular bandages with safety pins to support arm or shoulder injuries

Adhesive tape to keep gauze in place

Scissors to cut gauze and tape

Alcohol wipes

Cold packs

Tweezers for removing small splinters, bee stingers, etc. 

2 pairs of latex-free gloves for addressing open wounds

Thermometer

Hydrogen peroxide

Homemade hand sanitizer or pre-made natural hand sanitizer

Tourniquet (Here’s how to use one, and here’s how to make one)

Finger splint

Mylar emergency thermal blanket

A small packet of aspirin. Although I opt for natural options whenever possible, this is one thing I keep on hand for family and friends. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Aspirin may be life-saving in an adult with chest pain. If you or someone else has new or unexplained chest pain or may be having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Then chew a regular-strength aspirin. However, don’t take aspirin if you are allergic to aspirin, have bleeding problems or take another blood-thinning medication, or if your doctor previously told you not to do so. Never give aspirin to children.” (emphasis mine)