First Aid Kit
Keep a first aid kit readily available in your home, cottage, car, boat, workplace, and recreation area. Store it in a dry place and replace used or outdated contents regularly.
A first aid kit should contain the following:
- Emergency telephone numbers for EMS/9-1-1, your local poison control centre, and your personal doctors
- Home and office phone numbers for family members, friends, or neighbours who can help
- Sterile gauze pads (dressings) in small and large squares to place over wounds
- Adhesive tape
- Roller and triangular bandages to hold dressings in place or to make an arm sling
- Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Safety pins
- Instant ice packs
- Disposable non-latex gloves, such as surgical or examination gloves
- Flashlight, with extra batteries in a separate bag
- Antiseptic wipes or soap
- Pencil and pad
- Emergency blanket
- Eye patches
- Thermometer
- Barrier devices, such as a pocket mask or face shield
- Coins for pay phone
- Canadian Red Cross first aid manual
Emergency Supplies Kit
Have supplies ready for an emergency. Store them in a backpack or a duffle bag so you can take them with you if you have to evacuate the area.
- Four litres of water per person per day (use sealed, unbreakable containers and replace the supply every six months)
- Packaged or canned food that won’t go bad, and a can opener (replace the food once a year)
- Walking shoes, rain gear, and a change of clothing
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- A first aid kit and prescription medications (check the medications every six months to make sure they haven’t passed their expiry date)
- Toilet paper and other personal supplies
- An extra pair of glasses
- A battery-powered radio and flashlight, along with extra batteries
- Spare cash
- An extra set of car keys
- A list of your family doctors
- Important family information such as a list of any medical conditions or medical devices, such as pacemakers
- Photocopies of all important identification for you and your family, including health card numbers
- Special items for babies, elderly, or disabled household members
- Cell phone and contact information for family and friends
Emergency Car Kit
Keep an emergency kit in your car.
- A battery-powered radio and flashlight, with extra batteries
- A blanket
- Booster (jumper) cables
- A fire extinguisher
- A Canadian Red Cross first aid kit and manual
- Bottled water and high-energy foods that won’t go bad (replace the water every six months and the food once a year)
- Maps of the area
- A shovel
- Flares
- A tire repair kit and pump
- Matches and a “survival” candle in a deep can that will burn for many hours
For more information on first aid kits for the home, car, office and more, please visit Canadian Red Cross eShop.