First Aid Kits for the Church
by Ruth Clevinger, R.N.
How many of you remember some incident on a church activity or during a church service where
medical treatment of some kind was needed? Medical incidents occur all the time at church from
children scraping their knees and needing a band-aid to an elderly person having heart problems. In
this article I will outline why a church needs a first aid kit, what a good first aid kit includes and
sources for first aid supplies.
Why do we need a first aid kit?
As alluded to above, one never knows when something is going to happen that a first aid kit will be
needed for-from the scraped knee to the heart attack. There are several places in the church to consider having a kit depending upon the size of your church to the activities provided for in your ministry. The church office should keep a basic kit that includes simple dressing supplies (i.e.: band-aids,
antibiotic ointment, etc). If your church has a bus or a van, a combination first aid kit/vehicle emergency kit may need to be considered. If your church has a gym/fellowship hall, it would be a good
idea to have a basic kit there as well.
What does a good first aid kit include?
Band aids (all
sizes)
Antibiotic ointment
Disinfectant spray
Gauze sponges
(2x2, 4x4)
Gauze wrap (kerlix
or kling)
Muslin swath and
safety pins
Scissors
Tape
CPR mask
Gloves
Alcohol wipes
First aid booklet
Disposable instant
cold packs
Copyright 2010 Hold Fast Ministries All rights reserved.
Distribution of this material is expressly prohibited without written permission from Hold Fast Ministries.
Optional items:
(Note: If you have a health care professional in your church ask their assistance in this project and
also their preferences as they will probably be the one called on to help)
Blood pressure
cuff
Stethoscope
Tylenol 500 mg
tablets
Ibuprofen 200 mg
tablets
Benedryl 25 mg
capsules
Baby aspirin
Enteric-coated
aspirin
Benedryl 12.5mg
chewable tablets
(Note: Do not give
aspirin to children under 12)
Hydrocortisone 1%
cream
Caution: If you keep any medications in your kit, please keep your kit locked so that small children
cannot get into it. Also, you must be very careful with any of these medicines as anyone can use
them to overdose and they are very dangerous.
Where can I get first aid supplies?
There are many different places to get first aid supplies. If your needs are simple then any drug
store, Walmart, K-mart, Sam’s Club, Costco etc. will have what you need in a ready made container
with all or most of the above. Stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs can be found at drug stores or
nursing supply companies. If you are looking for a place on line to order from I can recommend
First-aid-product.com. There are others, just type first aid kits into your search engine and you will
come up with several.
I hope that this article has been of help to you in developing a first aid kit for your church. Feel free
to email any questions to HELPS and I will do what I can to answer them.
Ruth Clevinger RN, BSN has been a nurse since 1993 including the emergency rooms of West Florida Hospital, the University of North Carolina Hospital and Alamance Regional Medical Center. She has experience in several areas of nursing, but finds she enjoys emergency medicine the most. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter.
Copyright 2010 Hold Fast Ministries All rights reserved.
Distribution of this material is expressly prohibited without written permission from Hold Fast Ministries.