College is a chance for young adults to grow into their independence—sweet freedom! However, more freedom comes with more responsibilities. This includes being prepared in case of injury, sickness or an emergency.
Why have an emergency kit?
An emergency kit, or first aid kit, is vital for college students living away from home. Whether you live alone or with roommates, you should keep medicine and other supplies handy. Although we hope you rarely need to use it, your emergency kit could save a life or prevent serious harm.
We gathered a list of essentials to help you build your mini-medicine cabinet. Please talk with your doctor before taking any new medications.
What to include
Medications
- Pain relievers
- Cold and flu medicine
- Allergy medications/Antihistamines
- Throat lozenges
- Eye relief drops
- Prescription medications provided to you by your doctor, such as epinephrine (EpiPen®) or fluticasone (asthma inhaler)
Ointments/Creams
- Antibiotic ointment
- Burn ointment
- Antifungal cream
- Hydrocortisone cream
Wound care
- Bandages (multiple sizes)
- Antiseptic spray or wipes
- Elastic gauze wrap
- Gauze pads
- Disposable gloves
Other supplies
- Thermometer
- Instant cold pack
- Hand warmers
- Tissues
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Medical tape
- Nalaxone HCl (Narcan®) Nasal Spray (Note: Narcan® is a life-saving, opioid overdose reversal medication. Only use according to its instructions.)
Lastly, you’ll need a container. Your kit might include more or fewer supplies than the ones listed; depending on the size of your kit, you could use a reusable bag or a large container with compartments.
If you already own many of these supplies, great! You can put your own kit together in no time. If not, don’t worry—there are plenty of ready-made first aid kits on the market that you can buy instead if you prefer.
What’s next?
- Store your kit somewhere you can easily access. If you live in a dorm, you may find room in your closet, dresser or underneath your bed.
- If you have any pets, make sure the kit is out of their reach.
- Be sure to read the instructions for each medication and tool so you understand how to use it if necessary.
- Take a deep breath—you are prepared and ready for campus life!
Dealing with academic anxiety? Check out our top tips for handling college stress.
About the authors
College 101 is an OhioHealth Wellness Blog series written by OhioHealth Marketing and Communications Interns. This article was written by OhioHealth Brand Journalism and Social Media Intern, Erica Wetzler.
