Home First Aid Restock List for Aussie Homes
First aid kits often get checked after an injury, not before. A proper restock list fixes that — so when someone gets cut, burned or sprained you’re ready, not scrambling.
What to keep on hand
Focus on everyday needs: wounds, burns, sprains, splinters, headaches and basic hygiene. Keep items in date, easy to find and in sensible quantities.
- Adhesive dressings (mix of sizes)
- Sterile gauze swabs, non‑stick dressings, conforming bandages
- Medical tape, blunt‑ended scissors, tweezers
- Antiseptic wipes/solution and saline for irrigation
- Disposable gloves and instant cold packs
- Burn gel or burn dressings
- Sterile eye wash (ampoules or small bottle)
- Paracetamol, ibuprofen and age‑appropriate formulations for children
- Antihistamine for mild allergic reactions
- Thermometer (check batteries)
- Small travel/car kit for outings
Expiry and storage — check more than counts
A full kit can still be useless if items are expired, dried out or heat‑damaged. Check antiseptics, saline, burn gel, eye wash and medicines for expiry and packaging integrity.
If you store a kit in a hot car, garage or a cupboard that gets warm in summer, inspect vulnerable items every few months.
Wound care basics to prioritise
One dressing change can use more supplies than you expect. Keep non‑adherent pads, larger sterile dressings and tape in stock. Tweezers and blunt scissors are essential for splinters and safe trimming.
If someone has fragile skin or takes blood thinners, pick gentle adhesives and dressings to reduce trauma.
Burns, bites and eye care people forget
- Burn gel/dressings — don’t treat as optional.
- Soothing cream or a cold pack for bites and stings (seasonal need).
- Sterile saline for flushing eyes — useful around wind, DIY or sheds.
Medicines — keep them simple and appropriate
Store pain relief and fever medicine safely and clearly labelled. Check suitability for household members (kids, pregnant people, allergies). Test thermometers regularly — a dead battery at 10pm is not helpful.
PPE and hygiene at home
Disposable gloves, hand sanitiser and surface disinfectant are practical, not fancy. They reduce cross‑contamination during treatment and are worth keeping topped up — especially if you care for someone vulnerable.
Keep a small reserve of face masks if you expect to limit spread during illness.
How often to restock
Quarterly checks suit most homes. Check immediately after use and do a deeper review once or twice a year — before summer holidays, road trips or bushfire season.
Homes with kids, carers or regular outdoor work should glance monthly.
Storage and buying smart
Keep one main, clearly labelled kit in a dry, accessible spot. Add a small car/travel kit. Buy bulk for fast‑moving items (gloves, gauze, dressings) only if you’ll use them before expiry; buy creams and low‑use items in smaller amounts.
Buying from a single supplier that stocks the full range saves time when you want to replace everything in one order.
Final thought
A reliable kit is current, practical and easy to reach. If you haven’t checked yours recently, pull it out, replace expired items and restock what’s missing — now beats discovering a gap when it matters.
