Everyone should have these items in a first aid kit in their home. Since I don't work at home and am probably more prone to injuries on the job, I also have a workplace first-aid kit in my truck. Some of the items are a bit unconventional, but all of them are useful.

What's in my first aid kit?

• Bandages, of course. I have big ones and little ones
• Gauze pads and tape.
• Hydrogen peroxide. It's a good antimicrobial and cleansing agent.
• Handy wipes.
• A pair of good tweezers. Really indespensible for removing splinters, which are a common occurrence when sanding or scraping wood.
• Fingernail clippers. Since minor injuries to hands are common in painting or any home repair, these are useful for torn fingernails.
• Antibiotic ointment. I do not use this but conventional wisdom usually dictates it.
• Safety pins. These help with splinters, along with tweezers. They are also handy for poking out clogged spray-can nozzles. Always remove the nozzle before you mess around with it.
• Crabtree & Evelyn lavender hand lotion. Because all those solvents can be hard on a girl's hands and it never hurts to smell pretty.
• Aspirin.
• Antihistamines, since bee and wasp stings are also a hazard when working outside. I'm not allergic, but some people are and it's a handy thing to keep in a first-aid kit.
• Dental floss. Because it is important to floss as least once a day.
• Swiss Army knife. This thing has so many uses, I don't have space to list them all.
• Revlon Truly Red nail polish. I'm guessing there aren't that many housepainters who keep their toenails in spiffy shape, but I am one of them.
• Sunscreen.
• Saline eye solution. When painting, it's not uncommon to get dust and irritants in the eyes. It's extremely important to use eye protection when sanding and spraying, and equally important to wash eyes out thoroughly with clean water if you get anything in them. The saline solution is handy for residual irritation.
• Lavender-mint oil bug repellent. Not only does this smell fabulous, but it really works to keep mosquitoes away. I get it at my local farmers' market.