If you were bleeding from any other part of your body, a first aid kit would have you covered. So why is it different when it comes to periods?

Menstrual hygiene products like pads and tampons are not optional—they are essential for managing periods with dignity, comfort, and safety. Yet despite this, they are still missing from most first aid kits.

According to UNICEF, 1.8 billion people menstruate each month, and many still face barriers to accessing the products they need. Whether it’s an emergency, an unexpected period, or simply being caught unprepared, access to menstrual products should never be a luxury.

It’s time to treat period care as basic care. By making pads and tampons a standard part of all first aid kits, we can take a small but powerful step toward health equity and inclusivity.