Emergencies can happen anywhere — at home, outdoors, or on the road. But what if you don’t have a first aid kit nearby? Knowing how to improvise using everyday items can help you manage a situation until proper medical care or equipment is available. This guide shares practical, NHS-aligned ways to give temporary first aid when a kit isn’t on hand.
Bleeding is one of the most common emergencies. If you don’t have dressings, use a clean cloth, tea towel, kitchen towel, sanitary pad, or even a T-shirt to apply firm, direct pressure to the wound. Keep pressure steady until the bleeding stops or medical help arrives. If the cloth soaks through, place another on top rather than removing it.
For burns, follow NHS advice: run the affected area under cool running water for at least 20 minutes. Then, loosely cover the burn with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy plastic bag. This protects the area and helps reduce pain. Never apply creams, toothpaste, or ice directly to burns.
You can use scarves, belts, ties, strips of clothing, or elastic garments (like leggings) as temporary bandages or slings. Secure fabric with safety pins, tape, string, or shoelaces. For sprains, flexible wraps or clean towels can provide compression and support until professional care is available.
Wash your hands with soap and water if possible, or use hand sanitiser. Rinse wounds with clean tap or bottled water to remove dirt and debris. Avoid cotton wool or tissues that shed fibres. Cover the wound with clean fabric or plastic wrap until sterile dressings can be applied.
You may be surprised how many ordinary objects around your home, car, or workplace can help in emergencies. These suggestions follow UK first aid best practice and are intended as temporary measures until proper medical help or equipment is available.
| Everyday Item | Improvised Use |
|---|---|
| Clean cloth / tea towel / kitchen towel / sanitary pad | Cover wounds and apply pressure to control bleeding |
| Cling film or clean plastic bag | Cover burns after cooling with water (as per NHS guidance) |
| Belt / scarf / tie / elastic clothing | Create a sling, secure dressings, or provide limb support |
| Safety pins / string / shoelaces | Secure fabric bandages, slings or splints |
| Tape (duct, masking, medical) | Hold improvised dressings or splints in place |
| Bottled or tap water | Rinse wounds to clean dirt and debris |
| Pillow / cushion | Support or immobilise injured limbs |
| Plastic ruler / wooden spoon | Use as a temporary splint to support a limb |
| Frozen peas / wrapped ice pack | Cold compress for sprains, swelling, bruises |
| Blanket / large coat / foil blanket | Keep the casualty warm to reduce shock |
| Credit card / stiff card | Gently scrape away stings (e.g. wasp) instead of using tweezers |
| Mobile phone | Call 999, use torch, or access NHS first aid guidance |
Improvised first aid can stabilise a situation, but it’s not a substitute for professional treatment. Call 999 or seek urgent medical help if someone has:
Improvisation is useful, but having a proper kit ready is far better. Once the situation is under control, consider preparing for next time:
Explore our most trusted and best-selling emergency kits.
£17.99 £14.99
£17.99 £13.99
£13.99
£18.99 £14.99
£12.99 £9.99
£19.99
