While a foil blanket might be useful if you're outdoor adventuring, it's unlikely to be needed in the home, where other things can keep you warm. Firstaid.co.uk opening hours are between 8.30am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday, and our sales team will be happy to deal with any queries you might have during these times.

If you need to rinse out your eye, run fresh, clean water run over the eyeball for at least 20 minutes (you might, however, find an eye bath handy for this).

Hold dressings over wounds safely and comfortably with this lightweight high-stretch bandage. Microporous tape While they might come in a handy storage bag or box, shop-bought first-aid kits often contain supplies you're never likely to need, and not enough of the ones you do. 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. 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.” You won't usually find hydrocortisone cream (mild steroid cream), antihistamines, tweezers (for getting out splinters) and pain relief medication.

Buying an empty first-aid container case (or indeed, a cheap make-up/toiletries bag or lunch box that you can label) and filling it yourself means you can adapt it to your needs and lifestyle, and avoid paying for unnecessary extras. painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen 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. The HSE Economy Workplace First Aid Kit (1-10 Person) is a great value first aid kit that comes in a hard case containing all the items you need in case of a workplace accident. David Cutler, MD, family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CaliforniaIt's worth taking some first-aid essentials on your travels, to avoid the hassle of finding and navigating a pharmacy for minor ailments when you're somewhere unfamiliar. 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. Accurately and safely cut clothing, bandages, tape, and dressings with reduced risk of puncturing the casualty’s skin. Conforming bandages Make sure it's easily identifiable as a first aid kit, and keep it out of the reach of small children. First-aid kit essentials: what you need Small disposable saline wipes to clean a wound area easily, protecting it from infection. Washproof sterile plasters