Restocking your First Aid kits

January 07, 2025

First Aid kits provide comforting and lifesaving tools in an organized easy to identify container.

A common problem that people come across is opening their first aid kit and finding the items inside are missing, damaged, or expired.

Checking your first aid kit twice a year and replacing items as you use them is a great way to ensure your kit is ready when you need it.

What to check:

Expiry dates:

Damaged Items:

Moisture: Water and moisture damage paper packing as seen in gauze, and bandaids. Mold in the bag and on cloth products such as triangular bandages and tensor wraps. Rust may present on tools such as scissors and tweezers.
Crush/Impact: Packaging may be broken open exposing bandaids and gauze to the environment. Tools can be broken (scissors, tweezers. Medication casing may be broken (pill bottles, epipens, etc...)
Temperature: Exposure of the first aid items to cold and heat for prolonged time can degrade the contents. Gauze and bandage packing may degrade, bandage adhesives can become less effective. Nitrile gloves may degrade. Rust may present on metal tools. Water and cold packs may freeze or expand and leak.

Missing Items:

Check list: Having a check list with each kit that can be reviewed when restocking can help make sure all the required contents are present for when you next need them

Set reminders: Add a reminder into your calendar (print or digital such as apple and google calendar apps) for every 6 months at a convenient date you are likely able to dedicate 30-60 minutes to go through all first aid kits.
Use checklist: Review the checklist that came with the kit or create your own and have a hard copy in the kit to use to review the contents.
Check each item: Pull out each item form the first aid kit and assess for damage, mold, expiry date, damage, and quantity.
Repack and place kit: Reassemble and organize your kit and place it back where it can be easily identified and retrieved if needed.

Plastic bags: Using ziploc bags in your first aid kit to package like items not only assists in organizing the materials but adds to water and moisture protection preventing damage.
Create checklists: If your kit comes with a checklist you could laminate it or make copies to ensure it will last over time. Adding items or removing items from your kits may occur as you customize kits over time, having an editable checklist can allow for easy customization.
Proper container:

Visibility: First aid kits are ideally stored in a bag or container that is highly visible by colour (Red/orange common) and logo (usually identified by a cross or the words first aid kit).
Durability: The container or bag should be durable to the environment it is used in. Think about where the kit will be stored and if the case needs to be crush or impact proof or waterproof if exposed to the elements.
Portability: The bag or case should be easy to move from its storage location to the patient. Consider how far you may need to carry the lit based on its location and how easy it is to move (Consider handle, strap, and weight for carrying).
Exposure: Temperature and moisture are enemies of a lot of the contents in your first aid kit. If storing in a vehicle or a non temperature controlled building using a case or bag that is weather proof and more durable can help. Packing all contents inside the container in plastic bags will assist in slowing and preventing damage to the products. Kits exposed to the elements and temperature will likely have items degrade faster. Consider replacing bandaids, swabs, gauze, gloves every 6 months even if not used to enure they will perform as expected.