First aid kit
Nobody wants to think about the dangers of camping and hiking but it is better to be safe than sorry. The best way to be safe is to be prepared. The best way to be prepared is to bring along some items that will help you in case of an emergency. Since you don’t know what you will need until something actually happens, you will want to bring a basic first aid kit which will contain items that can assist you when most of the common problems arise. While it may not be so useful in serious emergencies, under most circumstances it will be extremely beneficial to have an emergency kit or a first aid kit in your pack. So let’s go through some of the items that you will want to pack in your first aid kit. The American Red Cross recommends that your first aid kit include the following items.
- 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
- 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
- 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
- 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
- 5 antiseptic wipe packets
- 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
- 1 blanket (space blanket)
- 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
- 1 instant cold compress
- 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
- 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
- Scissors
- 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
- 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
- 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
- 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
- Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
- 2 triangular bandages
- Tweezers
- First aid instruction booklet
These are some good suggestions but it might be a good idea to go with a pre-packaged first aid kit. You can find kits that are designed specifically with a camper or a hiker in mind. You can purchase the items individually and that will sometimes be a less expensive option but often times it is cheaper and more convenient to buy a kit. It is also nice to know that everything is in there and usually each item has its own place in the kit. This way, you won’t forget anything since all of the items are nicely organized.
First aid kits come in a number of shapes and sizes. Whichever type of kit you choose, make sure to regularly check that all of the items are in working condition and that any items that have expiration dates are not expired. You will also want to remember to include any personal items such as medications inside your kit. It is also important to make sure that someone on the trip is capable of using the items in the first aid kit. It is preferable, particularly for those that do a lot of camping and hiking, to take a cpr course or something similar so that you will be prepared for more serious emergency situations. And as always, be careful because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.