What's in Your Summer First Aid Kit?
Summer is made for adventure. Whether you're heading to the beach, exploring a local park or simply spending the afternoon in the backyard, this season is full of opportunities for kids to play, explore and make memories. Along with all that fun comes the occasional scrape, bug bite or splinter. Having a well-stocked first aid kit can help you handle those little moments with confidence so you can get back to enjoying the day.
Bloom Pediatrics nurse Sarah VanHevel says the biggest reason to keep a first aid kit nearby is simple: you never know when you'll need it.
"It's important to have a well-stocked first aid kit because you truly don't know when something could or will happen," she says. "Accidents happen, mistakes happen. Having a first aid kit makes sure that you are as well prepared as you can be to keep your day running smoothly."
When it comes to packing the essentials, Sarah recommends keeping wound wash or saline to clean cuts and scrapes, adhesive bandages, sting and bite ointment, ice packs and antibiotic ointment on hand. One item she says families often overlook is a good pair of tweezers.
"Bee stings, tick bites, falls into gravel and splinters all aren't urgent, but they will ruin your little one's day if you can't get them out," she says. "Tweezers are amazing to have in a first aid kit."
During the summer months, Sarah says she commonly sees reactions from bug bites, rashes caused by contact irritation or allergies, and plenty of scrapes from falls. While these minor injuries are often easy to treat at home, she hopes parents remember that not every cut needs days of antibiotic ointment.
"The day of the injury, wash it well and use antibiotic ointment," she says. "After that, just use soap and water. Let your body heal."
She also encourages parents to keep an eye out for signs that an injury may need medical attention. If redness continues to worsen, the wound develops a foul odor or your child develops a fever, it's time to contact your pediatrician so you can create a treatment plan together.
If your family is traveling or spending long days outdoors, Sarah recommends bringing your first aid kit along, keeping hydrocortisone 1% cream available for itchy bug bites and making hydration a priority throughout the day.
Her biggest piece of advice is to think ahead before the fun begins.
"Pack first, and enjoy the day off," she says. "Restock your first aid kit and bags weekly so that when you decide to do something on a whim, you don't have to worry that you're forgetting something. You only get 18 summers with them as kids. Spend your time enjoying it."
A little preparation can go a long way. With a stocked first aid kit and a few simple supplies, you'll be ready for whatever adventures summer brings.
Want to help your child build confidence in those same skills? Through Bloom U's Bee Prepared Academy, kids can learn how to respond during everyday emergencies in a fun, hands-on environment.
In the First Aid Squad workshop, children ages 7–11 learn important safety skills with guidance from Bloom Pediatrics nurses and nurse practitioners, including when to call 911, how to respond to someone who is injured and how to care for minor wounds like cuts and scrapes. They’ll also learn how to prevent and treat common outdoor injuries and practice using their very own first aid kit to continue building their skills at home.
Because being prepared isn't just about having the right supplies, it’s about knowing what to do when someone needs help.
