Today’s lesson…Create a Football First Aid Kit for Your Kid’s Game
When the whistle blows, be the calm in the chaos.
Let’s be honest. Saturday mornings on the sidelines aren’t always sunshine and orange slices.
Between cleats flying, tackles that go too far, and that one kid who insists on diving for every ball, someone’s going to get hurt. And when it’s your kid, or someone else’s, you don’t want to be the parent scrambling for a wet wipe and a prayer.
That’s why I built a Football First Aid Kit List, something small enough to toss in the backseat but complete enough to handle most of what happens on the field.
When you’re the mom or dad who’s “the one with the kit,” it changes the whole vibe. You go from helpless to prepared. You’re the calm one, kneeling on the grass while everyone else panics.
And trust me, those moments matter. Kids remember who showed up when things went sideways.
Although I carry a lot more gear in my trauma bag because of my training, I put together a list that will work for basic first aid that anyone can do. If you need tourniquets and chest tubes, just yell at me and I’ll come running.
Football First Aid Kit
Minor Cuts & Scrapes
- Adhesive bandages (multiple sizes)
- Antiseptic wipes or spray
- Antibiotic ointment
- Tweezers (for turf splinters)
- Nitrile gloves
- 4×4 pads
- Hand sanitizer
Bruises & Sprains
- Instant cold packs (lots of them)
- Elastic bandage wraps (have fun and buy this in your team color)
- Athletic tape
Bonus Prep
- Dedicated small bag for the kit
- Cool “Ouch Pouch” patch for the kit so it’s easily identified
- List of player allergies & emergency contacts (Great for the coach and team mom to have these!)
- Spare mouthguards
- Small notebook and pen (for incident notes)
- Headlamp or small flashlight for night games
- EMT scissors
You don’t need to be the team medic. You just need to care enough to be ready.
Next time you’re at your kid’s game, be that calm, collected parent who reaches for the right thing at the right time.
Preparedness doesn’t always look tactical. Sometimes it’s a bandage and a smile on the sidelines.
BONUS Tips:
- If you’re like me and your kids do multiple sports, use the same bag and change out any needed items with the seasons.
- Always restock your bag as soon as you get home.
- Athletic directors- kits like these are great for you to put together and provide for your coaches inside their supply bags.
- Coaches- Always delegate and identify an assistant coach or one of the parents who’s always at the games to be the designated first aid person.
Click here to join the Prepared membership and download a one page round-up of this lesson. Don’t forget- the one pagers always include extra information not found in the email above.
If you don’t wish to join the membership but would still like to have the one pager, you can purchase individual ones from the store HERE.
This information may not be relevant to you right now, so I recommend one or all of the following…
- Saving it to an email folder titled “Prepared”
- Saving it as a PDF in a file called “Prepared” so you don’t have to worry about your email provider
- Printing it out and putting it in a binder with a word on the front in big fat letters…yes, you know it…”Prepared”.*
*No. 3 is the gold standard EMP proof recommendation.