What Is a First Aid Kit? A Complete UK Guide

What is a first aid kit? Put simply, it is a collection of equipment and supplies kept together so that first aid can be provided when somebody becomes injured or unwell.

That sounds straightforward, but there is no single first aid kit that is right for every situation.

A kit kept in a family home may be very different from one provided in a factory. Someone heading into the hills may need equipment that would be unnecessary in an office, while a workplace with specific hazards may need additional first aid supplies identified through its first aid needs assessment.

The important question is therefore not simply “What should be in a first aid kit?”

It is:

“What first aid kit is appropriate for the people, environment and risks involved?”

This guide explains the basics and will help you choose the right first aid kit for your home, workplace or outdoor activities.

What Is a First Aid Kit Used For?

A first aid kit gives you access to useful equipment when somebody needs immediate assistance.

Depending on the situation, supplies may be used to help:

• protect wounds
• control bleeding
• reduce the risk of contact with blood or body fluids
• support an injured limb
• manage minor injuries
• protect an eye injury
• assist a casualty while professional medical help is arranged

However, a first aid kit is not a substitute for medical treatment.

Serious illness or injury may require emergency medical assistance regardless of how well equipped your first aid kit is.

Equally, owning a large first aid kit does not automatically make somebody prepared for an emergency.

Equipment is most useful when the person opening the kit knows what to do with it.

What Should Be in a First Aid Kit?

There is no universal contents list that is appropriate for every first aid kit.

However, general first aid supplies often include items such as:

• individually wrapped plasters
• sterile wound dressings
• sterile gauze
• adhesive medical tape
• roller or conforming bandages
• triangular bandages
• disposable nitrile gloves
• alcohol-free cleansing wipes
• sterile eye dressings
• first aid scissors
• basic first aid guidance

Other equipment may be appropriate depending on where the kit will be used.

For example, an outdoor kit might include blister dressings, a tick-removal tool and an emergency foil blanket.

A workplace with a foreseeable risk of serious bleeding may require specialist trauma equipment.

A family home may benefit from a thermometer and cold packs.

This is why we do not recommend treating a generic first aid kit checklist as the answer for every situation.

Different Types of First Aid Kit

The easiest way to choose the correct kit is to start with where it will be used and what risks you are preparing for.

For most people and organisations, first aid kits fall into a few broad groups.

Home First Aid Kits

A home first aid kit should help a household deal with common minor injuries while providing useful equipment during more serious emergencies until further help is available.

Typical considerations include:

• cuts and grazes
• minor wounds
• burns
• sprains and strains
• eye injuries
• cold packs
• family-specific requirements

Homes with young children, older people or family members with particular medical needs may need to adapt their arrangements.

It is also useful to distinguish between a first aid kit and a medicine cabinet. They are not the same thing.

We have covered this separately in our guide to what should be in a home first aid kit.

Workplace First Aid Kits

Workplace provision is different because employers have legal responsibilities.

Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, employers must provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel so employees can receive immediate attention if they are injured or become ill at work.

There is no single statutory contents list that every UK workplace must follow.

Instead, the employer should determine appropriate provision through a first aid needs assessment.

Factors can include:

• workplace hazards
• number of employees
• previous incidents
• size and layout of the workplace
• shift patterns
• remote and lone workers
• travelling employees
• distance from emergency medical services

A small office and an engineering workshop should not automatically have identical first aid arrangements simply because they employ the same number of people.

Our workplace first aid kit requirements guide explains what employers should consider and what HSE recommends for lower-risk workplaces.

What Is BS 8599?

If you have looked at workplace first aid kits, you may have seen products described as BS 8599 compliant.

BS 8599 is a British Standard providing a recognised framework for first aid kit provision.

The current workplace standard is BS 8599-1:2019+A1:2026.

The 2026 amendment also gives Automated External Defibrillator provision a more prominent role within workplace first aid planning.

However, there is an important distinction:

BS 8599 is not itself a legal requirement.

Employers still need to assess their own workplace and decide what constitutes adequate and appropriate first aid provision.

Buying a particular box because it has BS 8599 written on it does not remove that responsibility.

We have produced a separate explanation of BS 8599-1:2019+A1:2026 and what the updated workplace first aid standard means for employers.

Outdoor First Aid Kits

An outdoor first aid kit needs to take account of something that may be less important at home or in a conventional workplace:

How long could it take for help to reach you?

A short family walk through a local park is very different from a day in the hills or an overnight camping trip.

Outdoor first aid planning may need to consider:

• terrain
• weather
• distance from roads
• mobile phone coverage
• number of people
• activity
• remoteness
• potential injuries
• ability to keep an injured casualty warm and sheltered

An outdoor first aid kit may therefore include items such as blister dressings, a tick-removal tool and emergency foil blanket alongside conventional first aid supplies.

For more remote activities, the first aid kit should form part of wider emergency preparation that may also include an emergency shelter, headtorch, whistle, navigation equipment, charged phone, power bank, additional clothing, food and water.

Our complete outdoor first aid kit guide explains what to consider for walking, hiking and other outdoor adventures.

First Aid Kit or Emergency Kit: What’s the Difference?

These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they can mean different things.

A first aid kit primarily contains equipment used to provide first aid.

An emergency kit can be much broader.

For example, an emergency kit might contain:

• torch
• spare batteries
• power bank
• emergency shelter
• food
• drinking water
• blankets
• whistle
• communication equipment
• other supplies needed during disruption or an emergency

There can naturally be some overlap.

An emergency foil blanket, for example, may be included in a first aid kit and also form part of wider emergency equipment.

The important thing is not the name on the container. It is whether you have planned for the situations you could reasonably face.

Is an AED Part of a First Aid Kit?

An Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, is normally considered separate emergency equipment rather than something kept inside a conventional first aid box.

However, it can form an extremely important part of an organisation’s wider first aid and emergency arrangements.

An AED analyses the heart rhythm of a person in cardiac arrest and will only deliver a shock when one is required.

Modern AEDs provide spoken and visual instructions and are designed so that members of the public can use them.

Where an organisation has an AED, somebody should also be responsible for making sure it remains ready for use, including checking its status indicator and monitoring electrode pad and battery replacement dates in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

What About Bleed Control Equipment?

A conventional first aid kit may not necessarily contain specialist equipment for catastrophic bleeding.

Whether additional equipment is appropriate should depend on risk.

Some workplaces or activities may identify a foreseeable risk of severe bleeding involving machinery, tools, glass, cutting equipment or other hazards.

Additional equipment might then include:

• trauma dressings
• haemostatic dressings
• wound-packing equipment
• recognised commercial tourniquets

Specialist equipment should be supported by appropriate training.

Adding a tourniquet to every first aid kit without considering risk, equipment quality or whether anybody knows how to use it is not a sensible approach to first aid preparedness.

Should Medicines Be Kept in a First Aid Kit?

First aid kits and medicine cabinets should generally be treated separately.

For workplaces, HSE recommends that tablets and medicines should not normally be kept in the first aid box.

At home, families may keep medicines such as pain relief, antihistamines or prescribed medication, but these need appropriate storage and should not simply be mixed into the first aid kit without thought.

Personal prescribed medication is different again.

Someone who relies on an asthma inhaler, adrenaline auto-injector, diabetes medication or another prescribed medicine should follow their medical advice and storage instructions.

Where Should You Keep a First Aid Kit?

A first aid kit needs to be accessible.

At home, choose somewhere that responsible family members can reach quickly while keeping potentially hazardous products appropriately stored away from young children.

In a workplace, consider:

• accessibility
• visibility
• signage
• workplace layout
• different floors
• separate buildings
• remote work areas
• shift patterns

A large workplace may need several first aid kits rather than one central kit.

A kit should not be hidden underneath boxes in a locked storeroom that nobody can access during an emergency.

People should know where first aid equipment is kept.

Do Vehicles Need First Aid Kits?

Keeping first aid equipment in a vehicle can be useful, but the appropriate provision depends on the circumstances.

For businesses, vehicle provision may form part of the employer’s first aid needs assessment, particularly where employees travel, work remotely or spend substantial amounts of time on the road.

BS 8599-2 covers motor vehicle first aid kits.

For personal vehicles, a compact first aid kit can also be useful, particularly during longer journeys.

Remember that vehicles can experience significant temperature changes, so equipment should be stored appropriately and checked periodically.

How Many First Aid Kits Do You Need?

There is no universal answer.

At home, one well-located kit may be enough for many households, while others may choose additional supplies for a garage, workshop or vehicle.

For workplaces, consider:

• number of employees
• number of buildings
• floors
• distance between work areas
• hazards
• remote locations
• travelling workers
• accessibility during different shifts

The objective is for suitable first aid equipment to be reasonably accessible when it is needed.

Do First Aid Kit Contents Expire?

Some do.

Sterile first aid products normally carry expiry information from the manufacturer.

This can include items such as:

• sterile dressings
• eye dressings
• individually wrapped sterile plasters
• sterile eyewash
• certain burns products

Other items may not have an expiry date but can still deteriorate, become contaminated or suffer damage.

Packaging can tear. Adhesives can deteriorate. Equipment can get wet. Gloves can become unsuitable. Scissors can become damaged or corroded.

That is why first aid kits need checking rather than simply replacing when they look empty.

How Often Should a First Aid Kit Be Checked?

There is no single checking interval appropriate to every situation.

At home, check the kit periodically and after it has been used.

For workplaces, there should be a sensible checking system based on the organisation and how frequently supplies are likely to be used.

A regular planned inspection, such as monthly, may be appropriate for many workplaces, while busy or higher-risk environments may need more frequent attention.

Workplace kits should also be checked and restocked following use.

Our dedicated guide to checking your workplace first aid kit explains responsibilities, expiry dates, sterile packaging, restocking, record keeping and AED checks in more detail.

What Should You Check in a First Aid Kit?

When inspecting a kit, look at more than the number of items inside.

Check:

• contents
• quantities
• expiry dates
• sterile packaging
• signs of contamination
• damaged equipment
• missing equipment
• accessibility
• storage conditions

For workplace kits, also ask whether the contents remain appropriate for the risks identified in your first aid needs assessment.

A perfectly maintained kit can still be inadequate if the workplace has changed and nobody has reviewed what is required.

Should You Buy a Ready-Made First Aid Kit?

Ready-made kits are convenient and can provide a useful starting point.

However, do not assume every kit sold online is automatically suitable for your needs.

Before buying one, consider:

• where it will be used
• number of people
• likely injuries
• workplace hazards
• quality of the equipment
• quantity of useful supplies
• whether specialist items are needed
• whether replacement supplies are readily available

For workplace kits, do not choose purely by employee headcount without considering your first aid needs assessment.

Buying First Aid Kits and Replacement Supplies

We occasionally recommend equipment that may help readers put the guidance in our articles into practice.

Jax First Aid supplies a range of first aid kits and replacement equipment, including options for different environments.

Whichever supplier you use, check the actual contents rather than choosing a kit purely because of its name, size or price.

For workplaces in particular, the kit should reflect your first aid needs assessment rather than relying solely on a pre-packed box.

Affiliate disclosure: The link above is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase after following it, First Aid and Safety Training may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only include affiliate links where the product or supplier is relevant to the subject being discussed.

A First Aid Kit Does Not Replace First Aid Training

This is perhaps the most important point in this entire guide.

Imagine opening a perfectly stocked first aid kit and finding:

• wound dressings
• triangular bandages
• gloves
• an AED nearby
• specialist bleeding equipment

Would you know what to use first?

Would you recognise when the casualty needed an ambulance?

Would you know how to manage an unresponsive casualty?

Could you perform CPR?

Would you know how to use the AED?

Could you recognise shock?

Would you know what to do with life-threatening bleeding?

Equipment gives you tools.

Training gives you the knowledge and confidence to use them.

Choosing the Right First Aid Kit

If you are trying to decide which first aid kit you need, start with the environment rather than the product.

For your household: read our home first aid kit guide.

For a business or organisation: start with our workplace first aid kit requirements guide.

If you already manage workplace equipment: use our workplace first aid kit checking guide to create a sensible inspection and restocking routine.

For walking, hiking and outdoor activities: see our outdoor first aid kit guide.

If you are reviewing workplace standards: read our explanation of BS 8599-1:2019+A1:2026.

Together, these guides cover the main questions without pretending that the same first aid kit is appropriate everywhere.

First Aid Training with First Aid and Safety Training

First Aid and Safety Training provides practical first aid training for individuals and organisations across the North East.

Our Emergency First Aid at Work course develops essential emergency skills including casualty assessment, CPR, AED use, choking, bleeding and shock.

For workplaces requiring more comprehensive training, our First Aid at Work course provides a broader range of first aid knowledge and practical skills.

Businesses and organisations can also arrange onsite first aid training across the North East.

If you are unsure which first aid training is appropriate for your organisation, contact First Aid and Safety Training and we can help you identify the right option.

You can also view our South Shields training location and customer reviews on Google.

Real Skills, Real Confidence.