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The items inside a first aid kit are, in most workplaces, set by a published list: the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 minimum-fill table. In the 2015 edition, a Class A kit holds 18 line items, from sixteen adhesive bandages to a triangular bandage, and a Class B kit holds larger quantities of most items and adds a splint and a tourniquet. This guide groups those items by what they do and shows where the legal requirement stops and the standard begins.
Purpose and setting: what a first aid kit is for
A first aid kit is a container of supplies for immediate care of minor injuries and for the first minutes of a serious one, until trained help arrives. The standard most U.S. workplaces point to is ANSI/ISEA Z308.1, which defines two kit classes. The quantities below come from the 2015 edition of that table as reproduced by the UT Austin Environmental Health and Safety first aid kit page (checked 2026-10-29). The same page states: “The 2021 revision to Z308.1 retains the kit classification (Class A or Class B, based on workplace environment).” Check the current edition before you rely on an exact count.
The things in a first aid kit that people usually name first, bandages and gloves, are only part of the list. The table below is the fuller picture, so you can compare any kit against it.
First aid kit contents checklist by category
Quantities are the 2015 ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 minimums as reproduced by UT Austin EHS. The final column describes each item's general function. It is product information, not treatment advice.
Dressings, bandages and tape
| Item | Class A | Class B | Why it is in the kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adhesive bandage, 1 x 3 in | 16 | 50 | Covers small cuts and scrapes |
| Sterile pad, 3 x 3 in | 2 | 4 | General-purpose wound covering |
| Trauma pad, 5 x 9 in | 2 | 4 | Larger absorbent pad for heavier bleeding |
| Roller bandage | 1 (2 in x 4 yd) | 2 (2 in x 4 yd) plus 1 (4 in x 4 yd) | Holds dressings in place |
| Triangular bandage, 40 x 40 x 56 in | 1 | 2 | Cloth wrap, sling or dressing cover |
| Adhesive tape | 1 (2.5 yd total) | 2 | Secures dressings |
Burn care
| Item | Class A | Class B | Why it is in the kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burn dressing (gel-soaked), 4 x 4 in | 1 | 2 | Pre-moistened dressing for burns |
| Burn treatment, 1/32 oz | 10 | 25 | Single-use burn application packets |
| Cold pack, 4 x 5 in | 1 | 2 | Cooling for bumps and sprains |
Wound cleaning and hand hygiene
| Item | Class A | Class B | Why it is in the kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antiseptic, 1/57 oz | 10 | 50 | Single-use skin cleansing packets |
| Antibiotic application, 1/57 oz | 10 | 25 | Single-use topical packets |
| Hand sanitizer, 1/32 oz | 6 | 10 | Hand cleaning when water is not at hand |
Eyes
| Item | Class A | Class B | Why it is in the kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eye covering with means of attachment, 2.9 sq in | 2 | 2 | Covers an injured eye |
| Eye/skin wash | 1 fl oz total | 4 fl oz total | Rinsing eyes or skin |
Protection, tools and reference
| Item | Class A | Class B | Why it is in the kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical exam gloves | 2 pair | 4 pair | Barrier between responder and blood or fluids |
| Breathing barrier | 1 | 1 | Barrier for rescue breathing; see CPR pocket masks and barrier devices |
| Scissors | 1 | 1 | Cutting tape, bandage and clothing |
| First aid guide | 1 | 1 | Printed reference kept with the kit |
Class B only
| Item | Class A | Class B | Why it is in the kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Splint, 4 x 24 in | not listed | 1 | Supports an injured limb; see what is a splint |
| Tourniquet, 1 in width | not listed | 1 | Listed as a kit item only; see what is a tourniquet |
The table as reproduced lists no oral medication. The antibiotic and burn items are single-use topical packets.
What varies by facility type: Class A versus Class B
Comparing the two columns shows what Class B adds: roughly double the trauma pads, sterile pads and cold packs, four eye/skin wash fluid ounces instead of one, more gloves, plus the splint and tourniquet. The 4-inch roller bandage also appears only in Class B. Both classes keep the same single breathing barrier, scissors and first aid guide.
Which class a site needs is a hazard question, and the standard's table does not decide it for you. For how OSHA expects workplaces to approach it, read the OSHA-compliant first aid kit stocking guide. Setting pages on this site show how the same basic list is applied elsewhere, including construction sites and daycare centers.
Storage, expiry and restocking
The UT Austin EHS guidance quoted for the ANSI table makes four plain points. First aid supplies “shall be inspected frequently and replenished when necessary.” “Some supplies may have expiration dates.” “Approved first aid supplies shall be readily available to all employees.” “First Aid Kits shall be kept in an easily accessible area.” None of these sets a fixed inspection interval, so a site chooses its own and records it. Replenishing used items is the “when necessary” the guidance refers to.
Standards and rules that apply
- 29 CFR 1910.151(b) (general industry, via Cornell LII, checked 2026-10-29): “Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available.” If there is no infirmary, clinic or hospital in near proximity, a person or persons adequately trained in first aid must be available. The rule does not itself list items.
- 1910.151(c): where eyes or body may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, “suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.”
- Appendix A to 1910.151 (non-mandatory): “The contents of the kit listed in the ANSI standard should be adequate for small worksites.” Larger or multiple operations should evaluate the need for more kits, and unique needs can be assessed from OSHA 300/301 logs or by consulting fire/rescue, medical professionals or emergency rooms. Where blood exposure is possible, personal protective equipment under 1910.1030(d)(3) (gloves, gowns, face shields, masks, eye protection) is a separate matter.
So the legal text asks for “adequate” supplies, and the ANSI list is the recognised benchmark for what a small-site kit contains. Buyers comparing ready-made options can browse first aid kits against the table above.
FAQ
What are the things in a first aid kit?
In the 2015 ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 table: adhesive bandages, sterile and trauma pads, roller and triangular bandages, tape, burn dressing and treatment, a cold pack, antiseptic and antibiotic packets, hand sanitizer, eye coverings and eye/skin wash, exam gloves, a breathing barrier, scissors and a first aid guide. Class B adds a splint and a tourniquet.
Does OSHA list what must be inside a first aid kit?
Not in the rule text. 1910.151(b) requires adequate supplies to be readily available, and Appendix A points to the ANSI list as adequate for small worksites.
What is the difference between a Class A and Class B kit?
Class B holds larger quantities of most items and adds a splint, a tourniquet and a 4-inch roller bandage, per the 2015 table.
How often should a kit be checked?
The guidance says “frequently” and “when necessary” and sets no number. Set your own schedule and watch expiration dates.
Sources
- UT Austin Environmental Health and Safety, “First aid kit”: ehs.utexas.edu/working-safely/first-aid-kit, reproducing the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2015 tables. Date checked: 2026-10-29.
- 29 CFR 1910.151 and Appendix A, Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/1910.151. Date checked: 2026-10-29.
