Pennsylvania Childcare First Aid Kit Requirements (2026)

If you run a child care center, group child care home, or family child care home in Pennsylvania, your first aid kit is more than a good idea. State regulations spell out the basic supplies you must have, where to keep the kit, and when it needs to travel with the children.

I'm a firefighter, paramedic, and first aid instructor who works with Pennsylvania childcare staff. Directors often ask me, “Is our kit set up correctly?” Here is what the regulations require, what they leave open, and how I'd organize a practical kit for your team.

This guide is educational, not legal advice or a guarantee of inspection compliance. Confirm any unclear requirements with your OCDEL regional office.

Setting up a center kit? Shop the Baby and Kids First Aid Kit as a starting point (add soap; see below) · Request on-site group training

Which Pennsylvania childcare rules apply?

The relevant first aid kit sections are 55 Pa. Code § 3270.75 for child care centers, § 3280.75 for group child care homes, and § 3290.73 for family child care homes. All three list the same seven basic supply categories, though placement and excursion requirements differ.

The seven supplies Pennsylvania requires

Each first aid kit must contain these categories. The regulations do not give exact quantities, so don't confuse our stocking suggestions with legal minimums.

1. Soap
2. An assortment of adhesive bandages
3. Sterile gauze pads
4. Tweezers
5. Tape
6. Scissors
7. Disposable, nonporous gloves

Don't overlook soap. I recommend a separately packaged bar of soap. Hand sanitizer and antimicrobial wipes are not the same thing. Whether individually wrapped soap wipes satisfy the regulation hasn't been confirmed, so I would not rely on them until OCDEL clarifies the question.

How much of each supply should you keep?

Here are practical starting quantities based on the checklist we've shared with childcare centers. Increase them if your program is larger or uses supplies frequently.

Where should the kit be kept?

For centers, the rule requires a first aid kit in a child care space. Group child care homes must keep one in the facility, and family child care homes must have one in the facility. Kits must be inaccessible to children.

That does not mean the center regulation explicitly says “one kit in every classroom.” I still recommend keeping a kit near the adults who may need it. Your staff shouldn't have to leave children unattended to search for gauze.

Field trips and transportation

When children go on an excursion, a first aid kit must accompany them, and that kit must also contain a bottle of water. For centers and group child care homes, the requirement is one kit for each child care group on the trip. Family child care homes must have a kit accompany the children.

When transporting children in a vehicle, the required kit must be available in the vehicle during transport. You can use a designated vehicle kit or a kit that travels with the group, as long as it is there when needed.

What I'd add beyond the minimum

Seven supply categories are a starting point. Depending on your program's training and policies, I'd also consider:

• A CPR barrier mask or face shield
• Roller gauze and larger sterile dressings
• Extra pairs of disposable nonporous gloves
• Current emergency contact information, kept securely
• A pen or permanent marker
• A printed pediatric first aid guide

I would not put instant cold packs, burn gel, antibiotic ointments, or sting-relief products on a generic recommended childcare supply list without first reviewing the center's medication and treatment policies. These items may need separate handling or authorization; this is a policy precaution, not a claim that state law automatically classifies every product as a medication.

Can you buy a Pennsylvania-compliant kit?

Be cautious with any product marketed as “school compliant” or “daycare compliant.” Those labels don't establish that a kit meets Pennsylvania's particular requirements. Compare the actual contents with the seven categories, then consider placement, excursions, staff policies, and restocking.

Our Medium Children's First Aid Kit is a practical starting point to customize. It includes many of the required basics, plus useful extras such as a CPR barrier, roller gauze, a larger dressing, and first aid information. It does not include soap. Add a separately packaged bar of soap and water for excursions. Confirm that the included medical shears satisfy the scissors requirement with OCDEL.

Before using any commercially sold kit in your center, review and remove or manage separately any products your policies restrict, including instant ice packs, burn gel, antibiotic cream, or sting-relief products. You can also explore our daycare and school safety supplies.

A five-minute monthly check

• Check classroom, excursion, and vehicle kits.
• Restock supplies after use.
• Review expiration dates and any center-specific restrictions.
• Record the date, the person checking, and what needs replacement.

These inspection habits are recommendations, not additional requirements stated in the first aid kit sections cited above.

Don't forget staff training

A stocked kit helps most when the adults know how to use it. Pennsylvania's child care center regulations also address pediatric first aid and CPR training. Keep certifications current and confirm the requirements that apply to your program.

I offer on-site pediatric CPR, AED, and first aid training for childcare teams. Current rates are $90 per person for in-person training or $65 per person for blended training, subject to the class details on the training page.

For another practical skill, read my guide to stopping bleeding in a child.

Frequently asked questions

Does every classroom need its own first aid kit?

The center rule specifies a kit in a child care space, not one in every classroom. A dedicated kit per classroom may still be a useful local practice.

Are soap wipes allowed instead of a bar of soap?

That interpretation has not been confirmed. For now, use a separately packaged bar of soap and ask your OCDEL regional office for written clarification if you want to rely on soap wipes.

Do field trip kits need water?

Yes. Pennsylvania's childcare first aid kit sections specify a bottle of water in kits taken on excursions.

Is the Medium kit compliant right out of the package?

No compliance claim is made for the unmodified kit. You need to add soap, review its other contents against your center's policies, and verify the shears question with OCDEL.

Shop the Baby and Kids First Aid Kit · Request on-site group training

Regulatory sources: Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 3270 (including § 3270.75), and the corresponding first aid kit sections in Chapters 3280 and 3290. Confirm current requirements with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). This article is educational and does not guarantee licensing compliance.