That depends, obviously, on who’s in your family, what medical conditions they have, and whether you’re trekking in the Himalayas or hanging out closer to civilization.
At a minimum, said Josh Baker, director of health and safety for the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay, you should include:
Adhesive tape
Antiseptic ointment
Band-Aids of assorted sizes
Blanket (can be a metallicized emergency blanket that folds to the size of a cigarette pack)
Cold pack (the kind that gets cold when you squeeze it)
Disposable gloves
Gauze pads and rolls of gauze
Hand sanitizer, such as Purell
Scissors and tweezers
Small flashlight and extra batteries
Triangular bandage to use as a sling or splint.
If anyone in the family is known to have life-threatening allergic reactions, be sure to take an EpiPen, which is available by prescription, said Dr. Richard Rothman, an emergency department physician at Johns Hopkins. You should also carry all other prescription and over-the-counter medicines the family needs, including antibiotics if you’ll be far from medical help, said Dr. Gary Fleisher, pediatrician in chief at Children’s Hospital in Boston. This includes antihistamines like Benadryl (for bee stings or allergic reactions), hydrocortisone ointment (for poison ivy), some Tylenol, aspirin or ibuprofen for pain and Visine or artificial tears for coping with sandy or irritated eyes.
You should also pack a thermometer and a small book on first aid, as well as a list of emergency phone numbers and the toll-free number to call in case of a poisoning emergency (1 800 222 1222).
If you buy a commercial First Aid kit, be sure to add whatever else your family needs. And make sure that all medications – and alcohol wipes – are up to date.