College Life

Why a First Aid Kit Needs to Be on Your Dorm Packing List (and What Should Be in It!)

Collette Reitz
Collette Reitz
Working across AT Media brands, I see through the completion of large-scale editorial projects from their inception. I've worked as an editor in digital media for nearly seven years, covering food and trending news at Elite Daily before coming to ATM. I love using em dashes and running along the Chicago lakefront.
published Jul 26, 2024
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Upper view of modern woman in white pants and striped blouse at modern home in sunny summer day packing first aid kit and SPF in open travel suitcase.
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You usually only think about a first aid kit when you really need one. But it’s good to be prepared so you have a bandage at the ready or a thermometer to take your temperature. 

Jennifer Lopez, MPH, a health educator at Kansas State University’s Lafene Health Center, says you should have some kind of medical kit you can get to quickly. “Accidents happen; we get sick, and we need to be able to take care of ourselves,” she says. “It’s nice to be able to have something immediately to help you out.” 

But what exactly do you need to put in an individual first aid kit? 

Lopez says pain medication, a thermometer, and bandages are among the most important items you can have. Jameel Sylvia, MPA, NRP, the director of paramedic education at UCLA, agrees that materials to stop bleeding, like bandages and gauze pads, are vital to a first aid kit. 

A first-aid kit isn’t a replacement for a doctor or a hospital, but you can do your best to make sure you have the essentials in the case of a minor emergency. The American Red Cross sells a 73-piece kit on its website that includes nearly everything the organization recommends for a first aid kit. (The only thing it doesn’t have is an emergency blanket.) You can also find a similar 80-piece kit from Johnson & Johnson. 

If you’d rather piece together a first aid kit yourself or supplement your premade kit with even more helpful items, here’s what our experts recommend. (The products with asterisks are things our experts suggested, but they aren’t on the official Red Cross first aid kit list.) 

For Lopez, first aid kit essentials are:

  • Pain medication (e.g., ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin)
  • A thermometer
  • Bandages (in assorted sizes)
  • Alcohol/alcohol prep pads
  • Antibiotic ointment/cream
  • Hydrocortisone cream
  • Antifungal cream*
  • Cotton swabs (to apply creams or ointments)*
  • Cold/flu medication (e.g., Tylenol Cold & Flu, DayQuil)* 
  • Cough drops*
  • Dramamine (to help with nausea or vomiting)*
  • Antidiarrheal medications (e.g., Imodium, Pepto Bismol)*
  • A face mask*
  • An at-home COVID-19 test*

Remember to read labels for the recommended dosage and check with your medical care provider before you take any unprescribed medications. 

Being a paramedic, Sylvia is focused on remedies to stop bleeding, including having a tourniquet for extreme circumstances. His first-aid must-haves include:

  • Bandages 
  • Gauze pads
  • Alcohol wipe pads
  • CPR breathing barrier with a one-way valve
  • Instant ice packs
  • A roll of gauze 
  • Elastic bandage wrap
  • Latex-free gloves 
  • A roll of tape to secure bandages and dressings
  • Scissors/shears* 
  • A tourniquet*
  • Hand sanitizer*

Having a first aid kit is good for minor medical emergencies (and remember to replace supplies as you use them). But be sure to speak with your doctor or the on-campus health center whenever you’re injured or feeling ill, and consult your school’s health and safety guidelines for information on isolating and quarantining.

Collette Reitz

Contributor

I've worked in digital media for more than seven years — first as a writer, and then as a weekend and full-time editor. I began as a daily trending news writer for Elite Daily and then expanded my coverage as an editor into tech, food, social media, health, current events, and politics. I've collaborated with colleagues to create many exciting packages throughout my career, like Elite Daily's Money Issue, which aimed to help Gen Z better understand their personal finances. More recently, I helped launch Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn's "Happy Hosting!" vertical, packed with clever solutions for making holiday celebrations less stressful. I've also covered exciting product launches, including an Apple iPhone reveal in Cupertino, California. I've been lucky enough to interview accomplished individuals, including former WNBA star Sue Bird, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, and the iconic Dolly Parton.What I love most about digital media is connecting with readers. My goal is always to create well-researched content that impacts someone's day, whether that's offering practical solutions and reliable information or just providing a laugh with a well-placed pop-culture reference.

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