The 8 Best First Aid Kits of 2024

The Protect Life First Aid Kit has everything you need to address minor wounds

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The 7 Best First Aid Kits of 2022

Verywell Health / Sabrina Jiang

From scraped knees to car crashes, having a quality first aid kit allows you to treat minor injuries, prevent infections, and even increase the chances of keeping an accident victim alive until proper medical help arrives. “A first aid kit is a small stockpile of basic supplies that are readily available to treat everything from burns to traumatic injuries, offering the necessities to provide life-saving interventions,” says Eddie Boyle, director of operations at Cetronia Ambulance Corps.

When purchasing a first aid kit, make sure it has the essentials like bandages and cleaning supplies. Antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment clean and disinfect, while bandages help protect the affected area from dirt and debris. Some kits contain tweezers, face shields, and over-the-counter pain medications like aspirin. Assistant professor of emergency medicine Dr. Christopher E. San Miguel recommends finding a kit with gloves, which can prevent the transmission of certain diseases when treating victims who are bleeding. 

Deals of the Day

We tested dozens of the top-rated first aid kits in The Lab, our 7,000-square-foot testing space in New York City. Each tester was tasked with opening their assigned kit and finding specific items in a timed trial designed to mimic the pressure and timing constraints under which people must react in an emergency. We evaluated each kit for included products, ease of use, organization, quality, and overall value. Our top picks range from a basic kit for $18 that’s perfect for stashing in your car or boat to a $125 set stocked with enough supplies to treat up to 50 people.

An emergency physician from our Medical Expert Board reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy surrounding what to look for in first aid kits, when first aid should be applied, and where kits should be stored.

Based on our testing, here are the best first aid kits available online.

Best Overall

Protect Life First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit for Home/Businesses - Emergency Kit/Travel First Aid Kit for Car. Small, Mini First Aid Kit Bag Survival/Medical kit. Hiking First aid kit Camping/Backpacking med kit

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4/5
  • Organization
    4/5
  • Quality
    4/5
  • Value
    4/5
Pros
  • Durable case

  • Includes tools like a carabiner, scissors, and safety pins

  • Comes with a cold compress

Cons
  • Does not include ointment

  • Items can shift around in the open plastic pockets

What do buyers say? 95% of 11,400+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

We named the Protect Life First Aid kit our best overall because it has everything you need to take care of minor wounds. Enclosed in the durable first aid case are gauze pads, bandages, first aid tape, a cold pack, gloves, scissors, tweezers, and even an emergency whistle. The contents—all manufactured at an FDA-registered facility—are stored inside a durable hard case, making it ideal for road trips, camping, and hiking.

Though it’s our best overall pick, there were a few issues with the $25 kit. The carrying case is relatively small, and the items are packed into clear plastic pockets, making them easy to spot but prone to shifting and falling out. “It was hard to get everything back in the kit,” so the contents may need reorganization from time to time, according to our tester. Still, the kit is easy to use and has most of the basics needed to care for minor wounds.

Ideal For: Travel and personal use | Case Size: 7.8 x 5.9 x 2.6 inches

Best Budget

Be Smart Get Prepared First Aid Kit

Be Smart Get Prepared 110 Piece First Aid Kit: Clean, Treat, Protect Minor Cuts, Scrapes. Home, Office, Car, School, Business, Travel, Emergency, Survival, Hunting, Outdoor, Camping & Sports, FSA HSA

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Organization
    5/5
  • Quality
    4/5
  • Value
    5/5
Pros
  • Durable, lightweight, and portable

  • Affordable

  • Supplies meet FDA standards

Cons
  • Does not include scissors, tweezers, or OTC medications

It’s the only kit on our list that’s under $18, and the Be Smart Get Prepared Kit still has everything you may need to treat minor injuries, and our tester ranked it a 5 out of 5 for ease of use, organization, and overall value. “The quality of the supplies was good,” our tester said. In addition to the basic bandages and alcohol wipes, the kit includes antibiotic ointment, finger splints, a cold compress, and exam gloves.

The kit lost marks for lacking scissors and tweezers. It did, however, have most of the basic items needed to treat lacerations and contusions. The supplies come in a high-density plastic case with a sturdy top handle for easy portability.

Ideal For: At home, travel, offices | Case Size: 7.75 x 10.75 x 7.25 inches

Best for Families

Adventure First Aid Family Kit

Adventure First Aid Family Kit

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    3.5/5
  • Organization
    4.5/5
  • Quality
    4/5
  • Value
    3.5/5
Pros
  • Enough supplies to a family of four

  • Includes OTC medications

  • Is well organized

Cons
  • Flimsy, soft case

Priced at just under $30, this kit from Adventure comes with enough supplies for small groups or families of up to four people, including topicals like antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointments, bandages and sterile gauze dressings, and over-the-counter pain relief medications.

During testing, the kit earned the day’s highest score for organization, receiving a 4.5 out of 5 because the “products were sorted into categories: medications, gauze/bandages, and other various trauma care accessories,” according to our tester. The goods come in a zippered soft case, which our tester noted was flimsy and difficult to open.

Ideal For: Outdoor activities, travel, families | Case Size: 6 x 8.5 x 3 inches

Best for the Office

First Aid Only First Aid Kit

First Aid Only 245 pc. First Aid Kit for 50 People (1000-FAE-0103)

Staples

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Organization
    5/5
  • Quality
    5/5
  • Value
    4.5/5
Pros
  • Wall-mountable and well organized

  • Includes a face shield, gloves, and trauma pads

  • Contains topical and OTC medications

Cons
  • It’s not portable

At $125, the First Aid Only kit is the priciest pick on our list, but if you’re looking for a kit that contains everything from bandages to over-the-counter pain relief medications, scissors and tweezers, gloves, and a CPR face shield, it’s worth the price. There are enough supplies to treat up to 50 people, and the plastic case is wall-mountable, making it a smart choice for offices and other places where groups gather.

“Each product has a designated space that keeps everything secure and easy to see,” our tester said. “It’s expensive, but considering what's included and how well everything is organized, you're getting your money’s worth.”

Ideal For: Offices | Case Size: 4.5 x 13.25 x 14.25 inches

Best for Injuries

Homestock+ Professional First Aid Kit

Homestock+ Portable Small First Aid Kit Compact Medical Kits with with Compartments EVA Case for Car, Home, Outdoors, Sports, Camping, Hiking and Office

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4/5
  • Organization
    5/5
  • Quality
    5/5
  • Value
    4.6/5
Pros
  • Well organized

  • Portable

  • High-quality materials

Cons
  • Zipper is difficult to open with one hand

The Professional First Aid Trauma Kit contains items designed to treat traumatic injuries like bleeding, burns, and shock. A pocket-size guide explains each item and how to use it. Our tester was pleased to find supplies like a trauma pad, elastic bandages, burn care gel, eye pads, and more, all neatly organized and clearly labeled. 

During the timed trial, the zippered kit proved challenging to open with one hand, which could waste precious seconds in an emergency. “It folds open, so everything is visually and manually accessible, but it’s difficult to open when you are in a stressful situation,” our tester remarked.

Ideal For: Traumatic injuries | Case Size: 7.9 x 5.9 x 3.6 inches

Best Compact

Protect Life Small First Aid Kit

protect-life-first-aid-kit

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4/5
  • Organization
    3/5
  • Quality
    4/5
  • Value
    4.3/5
Pros
  • Compact and portable

  • Includes an emergency blanket and tourniquet

Cons
  • Items are not well organized

Looking for a basic first aid kit that you can tuck into your backpack or glove compartment? We recommend the Small First Aid Kit, which is compact but durable. In addition to bandages, tape, and topical ointments, the affordable pouch contains many foldable items, like an emergency blanket, a tourniquet, and a CPR mask. It also has a saline solution for rinsing the eyes and irrigating wounds.

All the contents are contained in a small zippered pouch, making it challenging to find specific items, especially if you’re under pressure. “There’s no organization; the items are just jammed in there,” our tester said. Still, it contains all the essentials, so it’s a smart buy if you don't have much space to store a first aid kit.

Ideal For: Travel, car | Case Size: 7.5 x 5.2 x 1.5 inches

Best for Camping

Everlit Survival First Aid Kit

EVERLIT 250 Pieces Survival First Aid Kit IFAK EMT Molle Pouch Survival Kit Outdoor Gear Emergency Kits Trauma Bag for Camping Boat Hunting Hiking Home Car...

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4.5/5
  • Organization
    5/5
  • Quality
    5/5
  • Value
    4.7/5
Pros
  • Durable, quick-release case

  • Has items for traumatic emergency

  • Well organized

Cons
  • Doesn’t include OTC medications

From a tactical flashlight to a paracord, compass, and even an 11-in-1 tactical pocket tool—all stored in a military-grade EMT backpack—the Everlit is the perfect first aid kit for campers, hikers, and survivalists. At under $50, “it’s pretty affordable and has all the basics for managing a traumatic emergency, even if you’re out in the middle of nowhere,” said our tester. Also included are various bandages and topical sting relief wipes, safety pins, an emergency blanket, glow sticks, a pocket knife, a fire starter, a poncho, and a thermal blanket.  

The kit scored high marks for ease of use, organization, and quality. It has a compartment for everything, and “it was easy to put everything back in once I had taken it out,” according to our tester. “It took me 2.5 minutes to find and identify everything.”

Ideal For: Traumatic injuries, outdoor survival | Case Size: 8 x 6.5 x 5 inches

Best for First Responders

MFASCO First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit Emergency Response Trauma Bag Complete

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Organization
    5/5
  • Quality
    5/5
  • Value
    5/5
Pros
  • Easy-to-open case

  • Contains items to treat traumatic injuries

Cons
  • Might be tricky to keep main compartment organized

After putting the First Aid Emergency Response Trauma Kit to the test, our tester gave it a top score for ease of use, organization, and quality. It is filled with quality items, including an assortment of bandages, a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, and just about everything a first responder would need, making it a full-service kit. 

Everything comes in a bright orange reflective bag that’s easy to open and has a carry strap that increases ease of transport. One drawback: It has convenient front and side pockets, but keeping the main compartment organized might take some effort. Priced at just under $90, it is more expensive than most kits on the list but comes with 415 items, and it’s an “excellent value for a trauma bag,” our tester said.

Ideal For: Traumatic injuries, natural disasters | Case Size: 13 x 6 x 9 inches

Final Verdict

We recommend Protect Life First Aid Kit - 200 Piece as our top pick because it has all of the essentials you need to take care of minor cuts and wounds. The Everlit 250 Pieces Survival First Aid Kit IFAK Molle System is another great option if you are spending a lot of time in the great outdoors.

How We Rated the First Aid Kits

4.8 to 5 stars: These are the best first aid kits we tested. We recommend them without reservation.

4.5 to 4.7 stars: These first aid kits are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them.

4.0 to 4.5 stars: We think these are great first aid kits, but others are better.

3.5 to 3.9 stars: These first aid kits are just average.

3.4 and below: We don’t recommend first aid kits with this rating; you won’t find any on our list.

How We Tested the First Aid Kits

The Verywell Health team tested 15 first aid kits in the Verywell Testing Lab. Following our detailed methodology, each test was designed to evaluate and compare the kits for ease of use, organization, quality of the products and carrying case, and overall value.

First, testers opened their assigned first aid kit to determine whether they could do it quickly and without a struggle. Once opened, testers were tasked with finding specific items in their kit during a timed trial. Lastly, testers inspected each item for quality and placed them back inside the kit to see how easy it would be to keep them neatly arranged and easily accessible. We also consulted with medical professionals for their insights on what to look for when choosing first aid kits. Our experts include:

  • Eddie Boyle, PHRN, director of operations at Cetronia Ambulance Corps in Pennsylvania
  • Christoper E. San Miguel, MD, FAAEM, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
  • Mattan Schuchman, MD, medical director of Johns Hopkins Home-based Medicine
  • David Cutler, MD, family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California

What to Look for in a First Aid Kit

Bandages 

You can find two main types of bandages in most first aid kits: elastic and adhesive. Elastic bandages can be wrapped around small and large wounds “to create a dressing that will hold itself in place,” Dr. San Miguel says. “These can also be wrapped around injured body parts (like a sprained ankle) to help minimize swelling.”

On the other hand, adhesive bandages are bandages that can be applied after a wound has been cleaned and usually stick to the skin.

Cleaning Supplies 

Antiseptic wipes or alcohol pads decrease the risk of germs and bacteria getting into cuts, scrapes, and burns. After using antiseptic or alcohol to clean the wound, apply an antibacterial ointment to prevent infection, Dr. San Miguel explains. 

Medications

Medications can also come in handy during an emergency. It’s a good idea to choose a kit that includes OTC meds like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat pain and relieve fevers. You may also want loperamide for acute diarrhea or diphenhydramine for minor allergic reactions. “If the allergic reaction is causing difficulty breathing or throat swelling, call 911 and administer an EpiPen if the patient has one,” Dr. San Miguel says.  

Gloves 

Dr. San Miguel recommends throwing on a pair of gloves “any time you are dealing with blood or another bodily fluid” to lower the risk of transmission of certain diseases. 

Scissors and Tweezers 

It’s not just about the physical materials and medications used to treat ailments, but also the tools that can assist with the process. Tweezers, small scissors, a thermometer, a scale, and instant ice packs are all items that could be beneficial to have included in a first aid kit. “If you have high blood pressure, an accurate automatic BP cuff is helpful,” says Dr. Schuchman. “If you have a lung condition, then a pulse oximeter is helpful.” The best part about these tools is you’ll likely not have to replace them for years as long as you store the first aid kit in a temperature-controlled area.

According to Dr. Cutler, you should keep your immediate surroundings in mind when evaluating the items contained in a first aid kit.

“For example, if you are in a particularly remote area, survival equipment like a fire starter, water, food, and an emergency blanket might be most important,” he tells Verywell Health. “For hiking trips, materials to address injuries like splints and wraps might take precedence. Recent wildfires and the ongoing pandemic raise the likelihood of needing masks. And exposure to food or water causing diarrhea would require the use of oral rehydration formulas. Plus, there is always the risk of wounds requiring cleaning supplies, bandages, antibiotic ointment, and even a tourniquet to control bleeding.”

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When should first aid be applied?

    Dr. San Miguel recommends applying first aid anytime someone sustains an injury, such as cuts, burns, minor falls, allergic reactions, sprains, and insect stings. First aid should be applied immediately in an emergency until medical professionals treat the victim. Boyle recommends using on-hand materials like clothing if your kit doesn’t include materials for a tourniquet. “Apply direct pressure to a wound and then bandage,” he says. “When proper equipment becomes available, sterile supplies should be reapplied.”

  • Where should first aid kits be stored?

    Store your first aid kit where it is easily accessible in your home, car, RV, or backpack. If your kit contains medication, Dr. San Miguel recommends keeping it out of reach of children and avoiding places that get extreme heat or cold, as that can spoil a drug.

  • Who should apply first aid? And do they need to be trained?

    According to Boyle, anyone can apply first aid. “For instance, one of the most serious emergencies is that of uncontrolled bleeding,” Boyle says. “Bleeding control interventions, such as a commercial splint from a first aid kit—or even making a splint out of sticks in a pinch—could mean the difference between life or death.” To perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), one must be trained.

Why Trust Verywell Health

Receiving her master’s degree in public health in 2020, Kayla Hui is a seasoned public health practitioner and health journalist. She has interviewed dozens of experts, reviewed numerous research studies, and tested many products to deliver well-researched product reviews and roundups. She aims to help readers make more informed decisions about their health and well-being.