Stocking a Medical Kit
A well-stocked medical kit can make all the difference when caring for injuries both at home or on the field. The following are recommended items for stocking your team or personal med-kit:
- Gloves
- Athletic Tape
- Underwrap / Pre-wrap
- Scissors
- Assorted bandages
- Non-adherent gauze/Tefla pads
- Sterile Gauze
- Non-sterile gauze
- Nose plugs
- Butterfly Closures
- Betadine Solution or Wipes
- Alcohol Solution or Wipes
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Saline Solution
- Tissues
- 4" Ace Wrap
- 6" Ace Wrap
- Plastic Bags
- Shoulder Sling
- Tweezers
- CPR Mask
- Nail clippers
- Antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizer
- Emergency Medical cards and contact phone numbers
Other items that can be included depending on sport or location:
- Instant cold packs for locations without access to ice
- Female sports- Feminine hygiene products
- Contact sports- extra nose plugs, gloves, skin lube/vaseline, and extra blood supplies
- Outdoor sports- Bee-sting swabs
- Glucose tablets for teams with diabetic athletes
When re-stocking a med-kit from the previous season, be sure to clean out all old supplies, throw away trash and items in poor condition. Discard of open bandages, dirty gauze or other soiled supplies. Check the expiration date of any liquid items or ointments.
Med kits and supplies can be purchased from medical suppliers, pharmacies, supermarkets, or online. Almost any container will do when creating a medical kit as long as you can keep supplies organized and access what you need in a timely manner.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine specializes in diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries in youth, adolescent, and collegiate athletes. Services are available in multiple locations throughout central Ohio. To make an appointment, call 614-355-6000 or request an appointment online.