Use this free printable First Aid Kit list and quickly know what to include in your own medical kit for the car, classroom or college student!
We are currently packing up my oldest and getting him ready for his first year at college this week (one of those big life moments for both parents & kids)!
And in all the packing & shopping, I’m trying to think about what he’ll need when he’s 1,000 miles away from home.
You know, the stuff that Moms always seem to prepare for — all those “What if” moments.
One of the items that quickly came to mind is a portable First Aid Kit that’s perfect for students!
DIY First Aid Kit List
How frequently do you hear “Mom, I think I’m getting a cold” or “I cut myself“.
Anytime my kids get hurt or don’t feel 100%, they always seem to come to Mom (we’re magic, I guess 🙂
But once they’re out on their own, it’s important they know how to take care of themselves (thus our 48 Things All Kids Need to Know Before College list!)
So as I began accumulating items for him to take to college, I realized there had to be a good way to organize them so he can find what he needs when he’s not feeling well or does get hurt (let’s face it, its gonna happen at least once over the next four years).
And then I thought, “Man, this would be great to have when we go on vacations or day trips“!
A small kit with everything you’ll need for any of those little emergencies. So I created a quick tutorial and included a free printable list for you so it’s easy to put together your own DIY First Aid Kit!
Whether you’re organizing this kit for your car, a classroom or for a dorm room, the important thing is that your first aid kid fits the needs of the person, family or group! Use the list as you gather your items. I’ve also included affiliate links for some of the things we included in our kit.
QUICK UPDATE: I just wanted to let you know how handy this kit was for my son’s Freshman year — he used it FIVE times in the Fall semester alone plus had a few items on had for his roommate who needed them too! The biggest need was –> Band-aids!
There are a few key supplies on the list you should definately have in your FIrst Aid kit:
- a Digital Thermometer
,
- Tweezers ,
- pain medications,
- Hot & Cold Reusable Gel Pack and
- first aid creams (we like the Neosporin + pain relief ointment the best!)
These are items almost everyone will need at some point in their lives. But be sure to think through your family’s needs as you create your own kit.
If you’re using the kit in a classroom. for a college student or with a scout troop, it might also be a good idea to include a Quick Reference First Aid Guide sheet or a mini First Aid guide too.
Gather Your First Aid Supplies
One of the ways I created our First Aid Kit list was to go over the past year and write down what incidents occurred at our house — seasonal allergies, a few cuts and bruises, bug bites (All.the.Time!), colds, coughs, muscle aches, etc.
Then I asked my kids about any medicines they used that I may not have thought of while I was brainstorming the list.
My daughter quickly mentioned an ACE Bandage (not sure how I missed that one since we always have a sprain or broken bone in the house!). A few others that came up were items like Chapstick and mouth gel (for kids who wear braces or have canker sores).
And I always like to have some Emergen-C packets
Now that you have a good list, off to shop for what you need (be sure to check your medicine cabinet at home and stock that up at the same time so you’re not running back to the store in a few weeks 😉
Sort & Organize Your First Aid Kit
This is super easy now that you have everything on your list!
In addition to the first aid items and medications, you’ll also need a bin to store everything. I decided to use a Snap ‘N Stack Portable Organizer
The photo above highlights the items we included in our first aid section (top) and the ‘get well soon’ section (bottom). The Thermacare Heat pads could really go in either section.
Why did I choose this type of storage bin?
Once I looked at a few of the items we purchased (like antibiotic cream and oral mouth gel), I realized that the packaging looks REALLY similar on some items — and you don’t want your college kid to be putting antibiotic cream in his mouth by accident!
It was also nice to have smaller compartments so I could easily organize, sort & find the items you’ll need.
Like the labels we have on our kit?
You can download them here and tape them to your bin.
If you do have a college student, remember to ‘school’ them on how to use various medications and first aid items —
- read the package and follow directions,
- call home with any questions,
- make an appointment at the health center if you’re not sure what to use or if things aren’t getting better within a day and
- any other great ‘Mom’ reminders they should hear before they head to their new ‘home away from home’.
Print Your Own First Aid Kit List
This free printable list (page 2 of the download) should help you to think through some of the items you use when the kids are hurt or sick. And since everyone is different, I left a few open spaces so you can customize the list to fit your family.
See what else we’re doing to get our teen ready for college!
More Ways to Get Organized:
The Best Place to Begin Organizing Your Entire Home
5 Ways to Make Your Home More Kid-friendly
7 Things to do Before the First Day of School
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HealthySavings #CollectiveBias