The youth sports sideline produces minor injuries at a predictable rate. Scraped knees, twisted ankles, small cuts, swelling. You will use this kit almost every week. Stock it in your car, check it monthly, and know what you have before you need it.
This is not a comprehensive first aid kit for wilderness or home. This is the small bag that sits in your car and handles the sixty injuries you see a season.
Basic injury kit
Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
Stock a few sizes. Small for splinters and small cuts. Large for scraped knees. Check the box monthly and refill when you hit half-empty.
Our pick. Around $5–8 per box of 30.
Gauze pads (2x2 and 4x4)
For bleeding that bandages won’t cover. Non-stick gauze doesn’t stick to the wound. Keep a small pack.
Our pick. Around $4–8 per pack of 10.
Athletic tape (white, 1.5 inch)
Tape for ankles, fingers, or anything else that needs stabilization. Learn to cut it or keep pre-cut strips. Tape lasts longer than you think and gets used almost every week.
Our pick. Around $4–8 per roll.
Butterfly bandages or wound closure strips
For small cuts that are longer than they are wide. These pull the edges together and reduce scarring.
Our pick. Around $4–6 per pack of 10.
Antibiotic ointment (small tube, travel size)
Apply it to scraped skin or small cuts before bandaging. Prevents infection. Most tubes last a full season or longer.
Our pick. Around $3–5.
Alcohol or saline wipes
Clean a wound before bandaging. Saline is gentler than alcohol and still kills most bacteria. Keep a small pack.
Our pick. Around $4–7 per pack of 20.
Strain and sprain
Instant cold packs (chemical, no freezer)
Ice reduces swelling immediately. Chemical packs don’t require a freezer. Keep two or three in the kit. They stay good for years.
Our pick. Around $6–10 per pack of two.
Elastic bandage or Ace wrap
For a mild ankle sprain or knee swelling. Wrap it snug but not cutting off circulation. Comes off after a few hours when the swelling is down.
Our pick. Around $5–8.
Pre-cut kinesio tape
Faster than learning to cut your own. Ankle, knee, or shoulder. Pre-cut strips work for most sideline tape jobs.
Our pick. Around $8–15 per pack of 20 strips.
Ibuprofen (children’s or adult depending on kid age)
For mild pain or swelling. Follow the dosage on the bottle. Most minor sprains feel better within an hour of ice and ibuprofen.
Keep a small supply. Store-brand works fine.
Around $4–8 per bottle.
Allergy and bites
Antihistamine (Benadryl or generic equivalent)
For allergic reactions or bug bites. Liquid or tablet depending on what your kid will take. Ask your pediatrician first about dosage for your kid’s age.
Our pick. Around $6–10.
Bug bite relief stick
Stops the itch immediately. Keep one in your bag.
Our pick. Around $4–7.
EpiPen note
If your kid has a severe nut, bee, or medication allergy, they should have a prescribed EpiPen. Do not carry one without a prescription. Talk to your pediatrician. If prescribed, keep it accessible, know how to use it, and tell coaches and other parents.
Cuts and scrapes
Saline rinse (small bottle or spray)
For a deep cut or scrape with dirt. Saline rinse cleans without stinging.
Our pick. Around $4–8.
Tweezers (small, pointed)
For splinters or embedded grass. A small pair fits in a kit.
Our pick. Around $3–6.
Small scissors (blunt-tip)
For cutting tape or gauze. Blunt tips are safer around an injury.
Our pick. Around $3–6.
Sun and heat
SPF 30+ sunscreen (travel size)
Reapply every 90 minutes in direct sun. A travel size lasts most of a season.
Our pick. Around $6–12.
Lip balm with SPF
Easy to forget and causes painful burns. Keep a small stick in your kit and in your pocket.
Our pick. Around $3–6.
Electrolyte tablets
For a hot game where a kid drank too much water and not enough electrolytes. Mild dizziness or cramping usually means they need salt and potassium, not more water.
Our pick. Around $8–12.
Things to know: injury decisions
RICE for minor sprains
Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Apply ice for 15 minutes, remove for 15 minutes, repeat three to four times. Compression with an Ace wrap keeps swelling down. Elevation (leg or arm elevated above the heart) helps too. Most minor ankle sprains feel better in an hour.
When to push to the ER
You don’t need to go to the ER for a scraped knee or minor sprain. You do need to go if:
- The kid cannot put weight on a leg at all (possible fracture or serious sprain)
- Bleeding won’t stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
- There is a deep cut that might need stitches
- The injury makes a loud crack or pop and swelling is immediate and severe
- The kid hit their head and is vomiting, confused, or unconscious (see concussion protocol below)
- There is a limb at an odd angle (possible fracture)
When in doubt, call your pediatrician’s nurse line. That’s literally what they are for.
Concussion protocol: short version
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury from a blow to the head or violent shaking. Signs include:
- Confusion or disorientation
- Vomiting or nausea
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Headache
- Behavior change (grumpy, withdrawn, hyperactive)
Concussions do not always involve loss of consciousness. If you suspect a concussion:
- Stop play immediately.
- Do not let the kid return to the game.
- Do not let them play again until cleared by a doctor.
- Call your pediatrician.
Most concussions recover in 1–2 weeks with rest and no exertion. Some take longer. There is no such thing as a “minor” concussion when it comes to repeat injuries.
Stinger or shock symptom triangle
A stinger is a sharp, burning pain in one arm or shoulder after a neck hit or tackle. Usually passes in minutes. If it does not pass within a few minutes, or if there is any numbness or weakness, the kid should be seen by a doctor.
A shock symptom triangle is extreme fatigue or dizziness in the few minutes after a collision. Usually passes. If it does not, or if the kid is pale or sweating heavily, call 911. This is rare but worth knowing.
This is a guide, not medical advice. When in doubt, your pediatrician’s nurse line is one phone call away. They answer these questions constantly and will tell you whether to come in or watch at home.
What we’d actually buy
Stock the basic kit (bandages, tape, cold packs, antibiotic ointment, saline wipes) in a small bag and keep it in the car. Add strain supplies (elastic bandage, kinesio tape, ibuprofen) because you will use them. Keep sunscreen and bug spray separate but accessible. Check the kit every four weeks and refill what is empty. That covers 95 percent of what happens on the sideline.