First Aid Kit Checklist: What Should Be Inside (And What Gets Missed)

Most first aid kit shortfalls aren't discovered on a shelf—they're discovered mid-incident, when someone reaches for a specific item and finds it missing, expired, or depleted. For procurement teams managing kits across multiple facilities, a standardized checklist is the difference between consistent compliance and a patchwork of unknowns.

The Baseline: ANSI-Required Contents

Under ANSI/ISEA Z308.1, both Class A and Class B kits are required to include core categories of supplies, though quantities differ by class:

• Adhesive bandages, various sizes
• Sterile gauze pads and roller gauze
• Adhesive tape
• Antiseptic wipes or solution
• Burn treatment (burn dressing or gel)
• Cold pack
• Eye covering with means of attachment
• Hand sanitizer or antiseptic
• Medical exam gloves
• Scissors
• Tourniquet (required in current Z308.1 revisions)
• CPR breathing barrier
• First aid guide

Class B kits require higher minimum quantities of each item and broader coverage across injury types, reflecting higher-risk or higher-traffic environments.

What Gets Missed in Practice

Even fully ANSI-compliant kits run into real-world gaps. The most common issues we see in facility audits:

• Expired components—antiseptic wipes, burn gel, and adhesive bandages have shelf lives; a kit purchased two years ago may already have expired contents
• Depleted high-use items—bandages and gloves get used first and refilled last
• Missing facility-specific additions—a kitchen or maintenance shop may need burn treatment beyond the ANSI minimum; an outdoor parks site may need insect sting relief
• No documented inspection cycle—without a recurring check, gaps aren't caught until the kit is needed

Building a Facility-Specific Checklist

A strong checklist starts with the ANSI baseline for the kit's classification, then layers in facility-specific additions based on the risks unique to that location. A school cafeteria and a public works garage will both meet the same ANSI minimum, but a complete checklist for each will look different once you account for actual use cases.

We recommend reviewing and restocking kits on a quarterly cycle at minimum, with an additional check after any incident that draws down supplies significantly.

Make It Repeatable

Rather than rebuilding this checklist from memory at every facility, we've put together a printable Cabinet Inventory Template that standardizes the process—so any staff member doing a restock check knows exactly what to look for and how to log it. It's built around the same ANSI classification and facility-type logic used throughout our catalog, so what you order matches what the checklist calls for.

Download the Cabinet Inventory Template, or browse ANSI-compliant kits and refill supplies in our Safety & Emergency catalog.