Wound Care Supplies: The Complete List for a Home Kit

Most home wound care supplies live in one shoebox: 40 adhesive bandages, a dried-out tube of something, and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. That holds up until somebody opens a hand on a broken jar at 9 at night and you need sterile gauze, tape, and steady pressure for 10 straight minutes.

The supplies you actually need are a short, boring list, and you don't have to guess. The American Red Cross publishes the whole thing with counts and sizes, built for a family of four.

Below is that list, plus the parts people get wrong: the antiseptic most of us still reach for, and the one number nobody publishes. I'm Logan Pierce, the voice of this newsletter, not a doctor or a nurse, so every clinical line here is linked to the source that published it. If a wound is deep, bleeding hard, or came from a bite or a rusty object, get it seen by a provider.

What wound care supplies do you need in a home first aid kit?

You need absorbent dressings and gauze pads in two sizes each, two roller bandages, tape, gloves and tweezers. The American Red Cross kit list for a family of four spells out the counts:

• For bleeding and packing: 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches), 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches), 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches), 1 gauze roller bandage (3 inches), 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide), and 2 triangular bandages.

• For covering and securing: 25 adhesive bandages in assorted sizes and 1 roll of adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch).

• For cleaning and treating: 5 antiseptic wipe packets, 5 antibiotic ointment packets (about 1 gram each), and 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (about 1 gram each).

• For handling the wound: 2 pairs of nonlatex gloves (large), tweezers, and 1 breathing barrier with a one-way valve.

• Also on the list: 1 instant cold compress, 1 emergency blanket, 1 non-mercury non-glass oral thermometer, 2 aspirin packets (81 mg each), and emergency first aid instructions.

The gauze count is the part people miss. Ten pads sounds like plenty until one scalp cut soaks through three. And note the two roller widths, because a 4 inch roll is useless on a finger.

The Red Cross says to check the kit regularly, check expiration dates, and replace anything used or out of date, but it names no interval. That comes from CDC's Public Health Matters blog, which reproduces the Red Cross list and credits it as such: "Set a calendar reminder on your smartphone to update the supplies in your kit every six months."

How do you clean a wound at home?

Wash your hands first, then wash the wound itself with mild soap and running water. MedlinePlus, from the NIH National Library of Medicine, gives the order for a minor cut, and the order matters:

1. "Wash your hands with soap or antibacterial cleanser to prevent infection."

2. "Wash the cut thoroughly with mild soap and water."

3. "Use direct pressure to stop the bleeding."

4. "Apply antibacterial ointment and a clean bandage that will not stick to the wound."

The American College of Surgeons Wound Home Skills Kit adds detail at both ends. If your hands are visibly dirty, wash with soap and water for 15 to 30 seconds. If not, a hand gel that is at least 60 percent alcohol works. Put on clean gloves before packing a wound. And let the water run "until all the soap residue disappears."

Punctures get a timed rinse. MedlinePlus is specific: "Rinse the puncture for 5 minutes under running water. Then wash with soap." It says to look for objects inside, but not poke around, and never remove one you find. That 5 minute figure belongs to punctures, and no source sets a rinse time for ordinary cuts, which our step-by-step on cleaning and closing a cut at home covers.

Should you put hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on an open wound?

No. The American College of Surgeons states it plainly in its Wound Home Skills Kit: "Do not use disinfectants and antiseptics, like hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or iodine, to clean open wounds," because "They are more likely to damage tissue than to help it heal."

Straight about the sourcing: that is one organization's guidance, and MedlinePlus never mentions peroxide, alcohol or iodine on its minor cuts page. It just says mild soap and water. One authority says don't, and the other never puts those products in the cleaning step.

How do you stop the bleeding, and when does a cut need stitches?

Press firmly on a clean gauze pad or cloth for 5 to 10 minutes and do not lift it to check. HealthyChildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics, calls lifting the cloth early "the most common reason bleeding continues." Set a timer.

Call 911 if the bleeding is severe or cannot be stopped. MedlinePlus sets that threshold at 10 minutes of pressure. Past that, this is not a home wound, and the gear belongs in a bug-out bag trauma kit.

For stitches, two sources give two useful measurements:

• Depth and location. MedlinePlus says stitches may be needed when the wound "is more than a quarter inch (0.64 centimeter) deep, on the face, or reaching the bone."

• Length. The American Academy of Pediatrics adds that "any cut that is open and is more than 1/2 inch long" probably needs stitches.

The number that surprises people is the clock. AAP says "Most cuts can be safely closed for up to 24 hours after the injury," though a dirty wound or one at higher infection risk such as an animal bite may need care sooner. A cut from Saturday night is not automatically a lost cause Sunday morning.

Which wounds should you take to a provider right away?

Go now, not tomorrow. MedlinePlus says to contact a provider right away when the wound is large or deep even if bleeding is not severe, when a human or animal has bitten the person, when a cut or puncture came from a fishhook or rusty object, when you step on a nail, or when an object is stuck in the wound. Do not remove it yourself.

Its DO NOT list is just as useful, because every item is a reflex: do not assume a wound is clean because you cannot see dirt, do not breathe on an open wound, do not try to clean a major wound after bleeding is controlled, do not remove a deeply stuck object, and do not pick debris out of a wound.

One more line there is worth memorizing: "Puncture wounds often appear to be on the surface, but may extend into the deeper tissue layers." A nail hole in a foot looks like nothing, and that is the problem.

When does a wound need a tetanus shot?

It depends on how dirty the wound is and how long ago your last dose was. CDC's wound management guidance splits it 5 years versus 10 for someone with a complete primary series:

• Clean and minor wound: vaccination is recommended if the last dose was 10 or more years ago.

• Dirty or major wound: vaccination is recommended if the last dose was 5 or more years ago.

• Either type, last dose under 5 years ago: no vaccination is needed, if the primary series is complete.

• Unknown history, unvaccinated, or an incomplete primary series: vaccination is always recommended.

So the decision turns on what counts as dirty or major. CDC defines that to include penetrating and puncture wounds, wounds containing dirt, soil, feces or saliva (bites land here), and wounds with devitalized tissue, which covers burns, compound fractures, crush injuries, frostbite, and necrotic or gangrenous wounds. Read that against real life and most yard, shop and animal injuries sit on the 5 year side. The shot itself is a clinician's call.

How do you tell if a wound is infected?

Watch for spreading redness, a red streak, pus and fever. MedlinePlus lists "warmth and redness in the area, a painful or throbbing sensation, fever, swelling, a red streak extending from the wound, or pus-like drainage." The American College of Surgeons adds color cues and a number:

• Redness in or around the wound.

• Foul odor or pus.

• Wound tissue turning white, yellow or black.

• Increased swelling, drainage, wound size or wound depth.

• Fever of about 101 degrees F (38.3 C), or shaking and chills.

• Red streaks on the skin near the wound.

The red streak is the one to act on fastest. Both sources list it, and it means something has moved past the wound itself. That is why the kit includes a thermometer.

Which wound dressings and ointments should you keep?

Different dressings are built for different wounds. The American College of Surgeons breaks down the common types:

• Dry gauze is used for draining wounds. It may stick to a dry wound, so moisten it before you take it off.

• Silicone dressings are for wounds or incisions with abnormal healing. ACS notes that "silicone does not stick to the moist wound bed" while it adheres gently to the surrounding skin.

• Hydrocolloid is a debriding dressing for wounds with slough or dead tissue. It is not for infected or heavily draining wounds.

Under the dressing, MedlinePlus says to apply antibacterial ointment and "a clean bandage that will not stick to the wound." AAP gives the purpose: "Apply a small amount of antibacterial ointment to keep the wound moist and help prevent infection." ACS adds two rules. Use it "for the number of days prescribed by your health care provider; do not stop earlier," and "Watch for signs of improvement in 3 to 5 days; if no improvement, then notify your health care provider." Do not put ointment on a wound closed with skin adhesive, because it can loosen it.

If a wound was closed at a clinic, ACS publishes how long each closure typically stays put: face 3 to 5 days, scalp or arms 7 to 10 days, trunk, legs or tops of hands and feet 10 to 14 days, palms or soles 14 to 21 days. Steri-Strips usually fall off in 7 to 10 days, tissue adhesive in 5 to 10 days, and absorbable sutures within 4 to 8 weeks.

The part most wound care supply lists skip

Nobody will tell you how long your gauze is good for. I looked, because readers ask constantly, and found no authoritative source publishing a shelf life for gauze sterility, antibiotic ointment or adhesive bandages. What is sourced is narrower, and it is the backbone of first aid kit maintenance: check expiration dates, replace what is expired, run the 6 month reminder. If somebody gives you a confident number, ask where it came from.

The second skipped thing is gloves. The Red Cross puts 2 pairs of nonlatex gloves in the kit, and ACS specifies clean gloves before packing a wound. Neither says you must glove up to wash a scraped knee, and MedlinePlus's instruction for a minor cut is to wash your hands. Stock them, use them for someone else's blood or for packing, and don't let a missing box stop you from washing a small cut.

Frequently asked questions

What wound care supplies do I need at home?

The American Red Cross list for a family of four names the counts: 25 adhesive bandages, 5 sterile gauze pads at 3 x 3 inches, 5 at 4 x 4 inches, 2 absorbent compress dressings at 5 x 9 inches, 3 inch and 4 inch roller bandages, 2 triangular bandages, 10 yards of cloth tape, antiseptic wipes, ointment packets, 2 pairs of nonlatex gloves, tweezers, a thermometer, a cold compress, and an emergency blanket.

Can you use hydrogen peroxide on an open wound?

The American College of Surgeons says not to. Its Wound Home Skills Kit states, "Do not use disinfectants and antiseptics, like hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or iodine, to clean open wounds," because "They are more likely to damage tissue than to help it heal." MedlinePlus never mentions those products and says to wash the cut with mild soap and water.

When does a cut need stitches?

MedlinePlus says stitches may be needed when a wound is more than a quarter inch (0.64 centimeter) deep, on the face, or reaching the bone. The American Academy of Pediatrics adds that any open cut more than 1/2 inch long probably needs stitches. Bleeding that is severe or will not stop after 10 minutes of pressure is a 911 call.

How long do you have to get a cut closed?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says most cuts can be safely closed for up to 24 hours after the injury. A dirty wound, or one at higher infection risk such as an animal bite, may need care sooner. That window means a cut from last night is often still closable this morning.

Do I need a tetanus shot after a cut?

It depends on the wound and your last dose. For someone with a complete primary series, CDC recommends vaccination for a clean minor wound if the last dose was 10 or more years ago, and for a dirty or major wound if it was 5 or more years ago. None is needed for either type under 5 years. If your history is unknown or incomplete, CDC recommends vaccination.

What are the signs a wound is infected?

MedlinePlus lists warmth and redness in the area, a painful or throbbing sensation, fever, swelling, a red streak extending from the wound, and pus-like drainage. The American College of Surgeons adds a fever of about 101 degrees F (38.3 C) or shaking and chills, a foul odor, and wound tissue turning white, yellow or black. A red streak spreading from the wound needs a provider promptly.

You don't have to be extreme to be ready. Start with what you have, count it against the Red Cross list, and fill the gaps. Most kits are short on sterile gauze. Set the 6 month reminder, write your last tetanus date down, and put the kit where you can reach it.

You never know, but you can always be ready.

Sources: American Red Cross, Anatomy of a First Aid Kit | CDC Public Health Matters, First Aid Kit Supplies | MedlinePlus, NIH National Library of Medicine, Cuts and Puncture Wounds | American College of Surgeons, Wound Home Skills Kit | American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, Treating Cuts | CDC, Tetanus Clinical Guidance