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How to Build and Maintain Your Own Wilderness First Aid Kit

This article is part of a series on Wilderness First Aid. Skip to another post:

  • Treating Cuts and Wounds
  • Preventing and Treating Nausea and Diarrhea
  • Preventing and Treating Blisters

Intro

A first Aid Kit is arguably one of the most important things you can pack for a big trip. Whether you are hiking, backpacking, or recreating in some other way, injuries and illness can happen anywhere.

Store-bought, pre-stocked kits are good to have in places where medical care is a phone call away. Unfortunately, they are insufficient for everything you might need, and their contents run out quickly. Maintaining your own first aid kit from your own stock of supplies is a cost effective way to be prepared for any emergency.

This post covers how to build and maintain three different types of first aid kits yourself – a heavyweight version that you can keep in your vehicle or home, a mid-weight version for backpackers, and a slimmed down, ultralight version for those who want just the basics.

Clear labeling is important!

Maintenance

Labels are extremely important for a first aid kit. In urgent situations, speed and quick thinking can save lives, and labels allow you to rapidly find the things you need.

I have provided the labels I use on my kits for download here. They can be printed on a standard 1″ x 25/8” address label form. In return, please consider signing up for our e-mail list or using our Amazon affiliate links to make purchases on Amazon. It costs you nothing and helps us out!

In order for your kit to be effective, it must be restocked after every use. I have a cupboard where I keep large quantities of each item, and before every trip, I take my first aid kit out and replace anything I’ve used.

A few of the supplies I keep in my “first aid cupboard.”

Your kit should be protected from water and able to withstand abuse. I keep my backpacking kit in a large zip bag with the contents subdivided into smaller bags, each clearly labeled. I have a large first aid kit for our RV in a fishing tackle box. Max carries the minimalist version in a quart-sized Ziploc while he backpacks.

Medications should be clearly labeled with name, usage, and dose. If you have children, make sure you have children’s doses on hand (not covered in this post).

I’ve provided Amazon links for each product so you can see examples and the brands I prefer, but you can also find most of these items at Walgreens. War surplus stores are also a great place to find inexpensive medical gear.

Heavyweight First Aid Kit

This kit contains everything you may need to provide first aid in an emergency. This is designed to be stationary, and is perfect for a car, home, RV, boat, or cabin.

The first aid kit we keep in our RV.

Pharmacy

Common brand names are listed in parentheses. Generic versions of these medicines are absolutely fine. I keep mine in small zip baggies with labels.

  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  • Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)
  • Ibuprofen (Advil)
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • Loperamide (Immodium)
  • Ginger Candy
  • Famotidine (Pepcid)
  • Meclizine (Bonine)
  • ORS tablets
  • Docusate (Colace)
  • Miralax
  • Glucose
  • Pseudobphedrine (Sudafed)
The medication compartment of our RV first aid kit

Rashes, Bug Bites, and Mouth Issues

  • Hydrocortisone Ointment
  • Bacitracin Ointment
  • Antifungal cream
  • Oral anesthetic gel
  • Lidocaine patches
  • Campho-phenique

Wound Care and Closure

  • 10 4×4 Gauze pads
  • 10 2X2 Gauze pads
  • Skin glue
  • Tincture of Benzoin
  • Steri-strips
  • 60 ml Syringe
  • A variety of bandages, with plenty of large ones 
  • Bandage Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Hemostats
  • ABD pads
  • Non-stick bandages
  • Hemostatic gauze
  • Moleskin
  • Cotton tips
  • Iodine 10% solution
  • Hydrogen peroxide (Use for removing blood stains and inducing vomiting)
  • Disposable skin stapler, staple remover
  • Rolled conforming tape (AKA Coban)
  • Alcohol Pads

Sprains, Strains, Dislocations, and Fractures

  • 2 SAM splints
  • 2 triangular bandages
  • ACE wraps in various sizes
  • Safety pins
  • Finger splints

Miscellaneous

  • Bulb suction/Nasal aspirator
  • Duct tape
  • Electric blood pressure cuff
  • Gloves
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Thermometer – I prefer cheap digital oral style as they can be used for dogs and infants in a pinch
  • Tongue depressors
  • Water resistant flashlight
  • A reference manual, either a hard copy or digital copy on your phone – Paul S. Auerbach’s Medicine for the Outdoors is compact and covers every scenario you might encounter, from altitude sickness to emergency childbirth. It even has a great chapter on canine first aid. If you have a medical background, Dr. Auerbach’s Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine is a similar book but written for medical professionals.
The contents of our RV first aid kit

Midweight First Aid Kit

This kit sheds the heavier items but still allows you to be thoroughly prepared. This is a great kit for backpackers.

A mid-weight wilderness first aid kit that I take backpacking

Pharmacy

  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  • Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)
  • Ibuprofen (Advil)
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • Loperamide (Immodium)
  • Ginger Candy
  • Famotidine (Pepcid)
  • Meclizine (Bonine)
  • ORS tablets
  • Docusate (Colace)
  • Miralax
  • Glucose
  • Pseudobphedrine (Sudafed)

Bites and Stings

Look for single use packets of these, or squeeze some into small bags.

  • Hydrocortisone Ointment
  • Bacitracin Ointment
  • Antifungal cream

Wound Care and Closure

  • 5 4×4 Gauze pads
  • 5 2X2 Gauze pads
  • Skin glue
  • Tincture of Benzoin Ampules
  • Steri-strips
  • A variety of bandages, with plenty of large ones 
  • Mini Tweezers
  • Hemostatic gauze
  • Moleskin
  • Cotton tips
  • Disposable skin stapler, staple remover
  • Rolled conforming tape (AKA Coban)
  • Alcohol Pads

Sprains, Strains, Dislocations, and Fractures

  • 1 triangular bandage
  • 2 ACE wraps
  • Safety pins

Miscellaneous

  • Temperature strips
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Strip of duct tape
  • Tongue depressors
  • 30 ml syringe 
  • Digital copy of Paul S. Auerbach’s Medicine for the Outdoors downloaded onto your phone

Ultralight First Aid Kit

This is a bare bones kit that only has the basics for day hikers or minimalist backpackers. Use small zip bags for carrying small amounts of medication or ointment.

Max’s minimalist first aid kit. You can tell it’s seen heavy use!

Pharmacy

  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  • Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)
  • Ibuprofen (Advil)
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • Loperamide (Immodium)
  • Famotidine (Pepcid)
  • Meclizine (Bonine)
  • ORS tablets
  • Docusate (Colace)
  • Pseudobphedrine (Sudafed)
Make sure all medications are well labeled

Wound Care and Closure

  • 3 4×4 Gauze pads
  • 3 2X2 Gauze pads
  • Tincture of Benzoin Ampules
  • Steri-strips
  • A small variety of bandages
  • Mini Tweezers
  • Hemostatic gauze
  • Moleskin
  • Alcohol Pads

Sprains, Strains, Dislocations, and Fractures

  • 1 ACE wrap
  • Safety pins

Miscellaneous

  • Temperature strips
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Strip of duct tape
  • Digital copy of Paul S. Auerbach’s Medicine for the Outdoors downloaded onto your phone

Boring but Necessary Disclaimer

This is not a substitute for professional medical care. First aid is meant to provide assistance to an injured or ill person when medical treatment is unavailable. Do not delay seeking professional help in the event of a serious condition.

If you are interested in learning more about Wilderness Medicine, I recommend enrolling in a Wilderness First Aid course through your local REI.

The post How to Build and Maintain Your Own Wilderness First Aid Kit appeared first on Back o' Beyond.



This post first appeared on Back O' Beyond, please read the originial post: here

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