First-Aid Kit Auditor

Overview

Every household has a first-aid kit; almost none are adequate. The typical kit is a decade-old box with hardened bandage tape, one expired children's fever syrup, and no burn dressing. The problem is that "what should be in a first-aid kit" is a moving target that depends on who is in the house: infants need weight-dosed syrups, an allergy household needs an epinephrine plan, hikers need trauma capability, pet owners need a muzzle and vet wrap. Store checklists are generic; this tool makes it personal and keeps it current with expiry tracking.

The auditor maintains a simple JSON registry of what you own. audit compares it against a catalog calibrated to your household profile and outputs: coverage %, expired items, expiring soon, missing core items, low stock, and a verdict. shop turns the gaps into a prioritized shopping list.

When to Use

• "What should I put in a first-aid kit?" (→ init with household profile, then shop)
• "Is my first-aid kit good enough for a family with two kids and a dog?"
• Yearly kit restock / daylight-saving reset ritual.
• After using items (post-incident restock check).
• Building a car kit or hiking/travel kit (adventure profile).
• "My ibuprofen expired 2 years ago — is everything else expired too?" (expiry sweep)

Don't use for: actual medical emergencies (call emergency services); prescription planning (auto-injectors, inhalers need a doctor — the tool flags them as Rx, it does not dose them).

How It Works — Numbered Steps

1. Init the profile: python3 scripts/first_aid_auditor.py init --people 4 --kids 2 --pets 1 --adventure medium --conditions allergy
2. Register what you already own, with expiry dates for anything that degrades: python3 scripts/first_aid_auditor.py add --item "adhesive bandages (assorted)" --qty 50 --expires 2027-06-01
3. Audit: python3 scripts/first_aid_auditor.py audit → coverage %, expired/expiring, missing, verdict.
4. Shop: python3 scripts/first_aid_auditor.py shop → prioritized list (expired first, then missing core, then low stock).
5. Re-audit yearly and after every incident that consumed supplies.

Catalog Logic (what drives requirements)

Expiry: meds and sterile items get expiry dates on add; anything within 180 days is flagged "expiring", past date is EXPIRED and lands at the top of the shopping list.

Common Pitfalls

1. No children's formulations when kids are present. Adult pills can't be split for a toddler; children's acetaminophen/ibuprofen syrups are non-negotiable and expire fastest.
2. Storing the kit in the bathroom medicine cabinet. Humidity and heat degrade meds and adhesive; use a sealed box in a cool dry room, above child reach.
3. Car kits cook. A kit living in a hot car deades in 1-2 seasons — swap car-kit meds on a shorter calendar (spring and fall).
4. Owning but not knowing. A kit nobody can find at 2 AM is decorative. One location, everyone knows it, labeled.
5. Tools without training. A tourniquet or epinephrine auto-injector you've never practiced with is a liability; take a first-aid/CPR course (the audit verdict reminds you).
6. Forgetting the info layer. Emergency contact card, consent forms for kids' caretakers, and a handbook matter as much as gauze.

Example

Family of 4 (kids 3 & 6), a dog, camping trips, one bee-sting allergy.

$ python3 scripts/first_aid_auditor.py init --people 4 --kids 2 --pets 1 \
      --adventure medium --conditions allergy
$ python3 scripts/first_aid_auditor.py add --item "adhesive bandages (assorted)" --qty 50 --expires 2027-06-01
$ python3 scripts/first_aid_auditor.py add --item "children's acetaminophen" --qty 1 --expires 2025-01-01
$ python3 scripts/first_aid_auditor.py audit
Coverage: 7% (3/46)
EXPIRED — replace now:
  ! children's acetaminophen (expired 2025-01-01)
MISSING — core gaps:
  - epinephrine auto-injector (rx)  (medications (allergy profile))
  - children's ibuprofen, burn gel, hemostatic gauze, ...
VERDICT: CRITICAL — this is not a first-aid kit yet.

→ The two moves that matter most: fresh children's fever syrup and an
  epinephrine conversation with the pediatrician. The rest is one pharmacy run.

Safety Note

The catalog follows Red Cross / ANSI Z308.1 minimums extended for household profiles. It is a stocking aid, not medical advice; Rx items require a clinician. In an emergency, call local emergency services first.

References

• references/catalog-rationale.md — why each item earns its slot, category by category.
• references/storage-and-rotation.md — storage conditions, car-kit heat reality, rotation calendar, and the "one box, one place" rule.