First-Aid and Emergency Kits

When an accident occurs in the home, an emergency kit can be a lifesaver. The Good Housekeeping Institute tested four kits for ease of use and completeness, using the Department of Homeland Security's checklist as a standard.

The winner: Home Guard's Ready Kit Plus with Ready Mask ($58; 800-248-8211; www.readykit.com). This kit comes in an easy-to-find orange backpack, and it included extra items like a poncho and blanket ‑- things that were not listed as mandatory in the Homeland Security Mandatory Kit Checklist.

What you should add to the kit: high-energy foods like granola bars, peanut butter and trail mix. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also recommends that every family store a three-day supply of nonperishable foods in their home. Good options would be foods that require little water and no cooking, such as ready-to-eat canned meats, crackers, beans and instant cocoa. Just don't forget to check the expiration dates.

The top first-aid kit tested was the American Red Cross Home and Travel First Aid Kit ($19.95; www.redcross.org). It was the most organized and came with an easy-to-read CPR and first-aid manual, bandages, aspirin, ice packs and a disposable thermometer.

For more emergency advice, you can log on to www.ready.gov.