Gauze pads: Gauze pads come in a variety of sizes. You can buy many different sizes, and I recommend that when loading your kit. However, when stuck with only one size I'd prefer it is a large size. These can be cut down or folded as needed. Two or three can be added together and folded, then place in the palm of the hand and tied to secure wounds in the palm. Or they can be folded over several times for more absorbency.
Triangle bandages: Triangle bandages are easy to do, can come if a few different sizes, can be home made, and serve many purposes. The easiest triangle bandages are bandanna's the are folded corner to corner. I prefer flower sack towels. They are larger, and they are fairly trendy, making them easier to find. Even places like Walmart carry them from time to time. You can also buy pre-made triangle bandages from several different outlets. A triangle bandage can be used for things like head wounds, securing sprains, slings for arms, and pressure bandages. Because they are multi functional they are essential.
Medical tape: I recommend getting two types of medical tape. One is a cloth tape, used mostly for sports injuries, in the real world. I like to use them to hold bandages, especially if those bandages need to stay in place for awhile. The other med tape I like to use, is the waterproof cloth tape. It is thinner than the fabric tape and can be utilized for smaller patients more easily. It also works better in places like hands, fingers, and toes, and areas like the face. Both tapes rip fairly easily, making scissors not as essential, (even though I still have them in my kit). If there is a tape that your familiar with that you like, be sure and add it, or replace one of these two with it.
Alcohol wipes: It's your choice, alcohol and cotton balls or cotton pads, or alcohol pads. These come in single packets. They are excellent for quick cleaning a wound and hands that will be dealing with that wound. You can get them for as little as 100 for $1.41. (These are also great to keep in your vehicle and your vehicle first aid or emergency kit.)
Iodine tincture: This has a couple great uses. It helps to prevent wound infection, and also can be used to clean water when needing to capture river or lake water for drinking. To use iodine to clean water recipe is, 5-10 drops per 32 oz of water, depending on the clarity of the water, IE; the foggier the water the more drops of iodine. For better instructions than I have listed here.
Triple antibiotic: This salve, has many great qualities when it comes to protecting a wound from infection. There are name brands and generics. Both work very well. They come in tubes of various sizes and label colors. Most are less than $3.00 dollars a tube.
Cotton balls: These have several uses. Iodine, alcohol, bentadine, calamine lotion or peroxide over a large area. They can also be a part of a single person water filter. How about, soaked in alcohol and then used to start an emergency fire? Or, under a band aid as a modified pressure bandage. There are several uses, and many reasons to carry at least a few of them. The next best thing is cotton pads in place of cotton balls. They take up less space, are fairly absorbent, and can be used in almost the same way as cotton balls.
Q-tips: These are great for smaller issues, especially with kids. Applying ointments on sores, or wounds, especially around sensitive areas like the eyes is made easier with q-tips.
Tweezers: No kit is complete with out tweezers. They are most often thought of as a cure for slivers. However they can also be used, as a tool, for fix its, like eye glasses. They can be used to pull out stingers, thorns, or any malady that requires a small headed tool.
Fingernail clippers: These are great for snagged nails, but also for clipping the edges of cuts, and dried skin that has become irritated from snagging everything. They also come in handy for cutting or trimming fishing line, and sewing thread.
Finger nail file: This has similar uses to fingernail clippers. It can also be used for oddities, like filing a hose connection to make any tape or glue stick better. Taking off the rough spots on the ends of fiberglass poles for your tent. (Ever had fiberglass slivers? Ouch!) And on a real stretch, cleaning off battery connections.
Scissors: At least one small pair of scissors should be included in every kit. They come in handy from the most simple uses, to the most emergent situations. They should be large enough to cut off clothes when necessary, but small enough not to be inconvenient. And sharp! There are many different pairs of medical scissors now available that have a "lip" to make getting under bandages, or clothing easier.
Knife: Knives can be very personal tools, depending on how much that person uses them. I like folding, safety knives. (Especially for beginners or kids) However, there are many, many brands, sizes, shapes and use knives. I recommend going to a local store that sells knives and talk to the people there. Bug them for what they know about these tools. Everyone will have their preference, but if you listen you find the information that is most important to you. I recommend something that makes sense more for the job it is most likely going to be used for. Use it, and check it often. Just as much as you don't want to go into the field with a dirty fire arm, you also don't want to go into the field with a dull knife. Make sure you have a sharpening stone with you just in case. it's better however, to make sure your knife gets a good inspection after you get back home or home base. And please remember never to put your knife away dirty or wet. There is nothing worse than needing that knife, you haven't used nor seen your knife in awhile, and now it's dull and rusty.
Multi tool: These have become very popular over the last several years. They are a great tool and a welcome change to having to bring several different tools to accomplish simple tasks. There are a variety of brands and manufacturers. They all come with basic tools, like the pliers and knife, perhaps a screw driver. After the basics, they all have their little specialties too. It really doesn't matter to much what kinds of extras they have, unless your looking for something in particular. With that being said, spend the little bit of extra and buy the multi tool that has been designed to be "soft" on your hands. What good is a tool that cuts into your hands when you use them? Can you imagine taking that same tool and trying to use it in an emergency? Some of them even have a rubberized or softer grip on the handles that will help to protect your hands.
Lip balm/ chap stick: At least one of these should always be accessible when in the out doors. Even a little bit of wind can really take the moisture out of your lips. A split lip is a miserable lip. I like chap stick. It is simple, inexpensive, and almost every store carries them. Even your last minute gas station will have some. If you tend to be sensitive to the sun, look for any that have sun protection in them
Sewing kit w/fishing line: Sewing kits are super easy and ridiculous not to have. They can be found at any number of stores, and can be made if you'd rather not buy one. One thing we've done to make a sewing kit is to fold a 3 x 5 inch card into a bi or tri fold, and then cut notches parallel to each other on opposite sides of the folded card. Do this for as many different threads you want to include for your sewing kit. Also remember to include fishing line. The only thing you have left to do is add a couple of needles. Poke the needles into and out of the card. Now you have a complete sewing kit.
To hold the thread in place we just add a little bit of tape.
Pain relievers and other necessary medications including epi-pens: What kind of medications do you take on a regular basis? These are going to need to be with you on any trip. If you know your going to be gone for a certain number of days, include enough for those number of days plus three more. If you have allergies that could incapacitate you make sure you have enough of the recommended dose for the amount of time your going to be away from civilization. Epi-pens are by prescription only and should be taken seriously. They are life saving medicine for people afflicted with sever allergies that would otherwise die due to anaphylactic shock. Pain relievers are good to have just in case you need to treat simpler problems like pain. (aspirin has the added benefit of helping with bee stings when made into a paste.) I would recommend a combination of both Ibuprofen and Tylenol. Both have benefits that assist each other in pain and swelling reduction.
Steri strips: These and butterfly bandages are great for quick laceration closures. Steri strips are more flexible than butterfly bandages. Both allow wounds to "breathe" while healing. For the Nexcare brand you can get 18 for about $10.50 online.
Batteries: I like to keep at least 1 extra set of batteries for every thing that needs batteries. Usually it's only flashlights, but on longer trips, we'll need them for a portable radio.
Matches: You've probably seen this one listed on a couple of the different sections of "lists". I make sure in every camping, 72 hour, food storage, and trip bag, that we have sources for fire in a couple different places. This makes them easy to find, and if one supply runs out, a back up source. There are a couple different match brands and types. You can buy water proof matches, or you can make them. You can also purchase waterproof match containers. Some people like book matches, some, prefer stick matches.
Lighter: Different shapes, different sizes, different fuels in some cases. Choose the one you like best. Lighters are a great back up for matches, often don't need to worry about water proofing, (unless there is prolonged exposure), and are quite reliable.
Candle: Candles are great for a lot of different purposes out in the field. We normally keep 1 regular white 6 inch candle in our kit. Candles provide light, a way to start a fire, a way to sterilize pins or other instruments being used for wounds, and a water proofing agent.
Fish hooks: If your on a fishing trip, your gonna already have these in your gear. I still recommend putting them with your first aid kit. You can buy fish hooks already tied to leaders. They are easily tied to fishing line or even, (if your creative), to the end of a nylon line. Bate could be tricky. You have a couple of options, buy a small jar of bait, (salmon eggs, or power bait) or you can take your chances with finding bait where you are. Worms will come out at night if the soil is wet. However there are a myriad of other bugs and critters you can use for bait. (The best thing to prepare for fishing, is to go out an do it. You can read about it, and gain a base knowledge, but to actually go out and discover what it means to be a fisherman will make all the difference in those unforeseen and unknown situations.
Ace wrap: There are at least three different sizes of ace bandages. Large, medium and small. I recommend, for the purpose of your first aid kit, use the medium sized one. It can be folded in half to accommodate smaller sprains like wrists, or it can be adequately utilized to maintain a larger sprain like a knee or elbow. Anything larger than that is most likely going to need immediate medical attention. Breaks can be secured in field via other means, (Triangle bandage and splints in combination with the ace wrap. If large enough you can also add clothing that has been "stripped". "Stripping" means to rip clothing into strips for the purposes of tying an injury or securing a splint.)
Self adhesive bandage wraps: These are great. They were first invented when vets and pet owners needed a way to secure bandages without tape. Tape is pretty nasty to have to pull off of fur. These self adhesive wraps helped to solve that problem. Not long after they hit the market for pets, people could see the value in using them for their own injuries. As long as they are clean they can be used a few times before they lose their self adherence. (In the field your going to have to make the determination of cleanliness. Sometimes, the wrap is worth reusing as long as possible because there are no other options. It's not the best scenario, but it is a possibility.)
Cold compress: Many places now sell single use cold compresses. This is not really a need, more of a want. However when they are available they are well worth the effort and weight. If you or someone in your party is prone to nose bleeds, I would definitely recommend several of these. During a nose bleed, place one of these compresses on the back of your neck and lean forward. This will help shrink the blood vessels which will make the nose bleed less enduring. If you are prone to nose bleeds, you probably already know this. ;)
Sting relief: There are a few products on the market now that create a relief from stings, and insect bites. There are also several ways to get stings, not all of them come from insects. Besides commercial products, the 2 ways I have found that always have provided significant relief are mud, and a paste made from water and crushed aspirin. These two remedies, in my family, have been tried and true on dozens of occasions. However, of there is a particular product you are familiar with, and like, absolutely include it in your kit.
Absorbent compress: AKA, the thick absorbent bandage. (From personal experience, this could even be a diaper.) Absorbent compress are meant to do three things, keep the wound clean, absorb copious amounts of blood, and slow or even stop the flow of blood. They can be purchased or made. Something as simple as a diaper, as mentioned earlier, or even a bandanna that has been rolled and then tied over the wound. Folded material lashed with ties over the wound. Your looking to accomplish those three things when purchasing, or making an absorbent compress. Keep the wound clean, absorb copious amounts of blood, and slow or even stop the flow of blood.
Rubber gloves: You should have several pairs of gloves in any of your first aid kits. They are especially important in today's society, when so many illness and infections break sterile barriers on a regular basis. Not only are sterile, rubber gloves, meant to protect you, they are meant to protect the person you are caring for. Now days, you can purchase rubber gloves almost anywhere. They come readily in preparedness stores, the paint section at the hardware store, the craft store, and can even be found at the dollar store.
Ammonia inhalant: These are used when someone has fainted, or is about to faint. They are fairly easy to purchase, and can be found for as little as $24.00 per 100. I recommend having at least a few on hand. More if there is someone in your party that may be prone to fainting.
Flashlight: This like matches, is a redundant item, and missed when no around. I like to keep one in my main pack, but also at least a small one, or a headlamp in my first aid kit. The advantage to a head lamp is the hands free. They have become very popular and therefore in most cases a standard of equipment. (make sure you have at least one set of extra batteries.)
Whistle: Just an exercise, the next time your out with your family, have one of them walk a distance away and try screaming to get someone attention. See how long they can keep up the volume and the screaming. (I think kids have a natural ability to scream as a survival mechanism.) Whistles allow you to call for help with out losing your voice. The noise they make also carries for a much longer distance than your voice can. Any camping section at any store is going to have whistles. They come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. For kids, I like the bright orange ones. (If by chance your child has become lost, and heaven forbid they drop their whistle, bright orange will attract the observers eye and hopefully bring that child back to safety quickly.)
Compass: Take the time to learn how to use this valuable, and time tested tool. Before you purchase a compass, make sure that you can SEE it working. Even the most expensive compass is useless if the needle sticks. Compass's give direction and comfort. IF you have kids, take the time to teach them. They need to know how a compass works just as much as you do.
Hard candy: I learned this trick from a diabetic. Low blood sugar can make us think and do strange things. Out in the wild is no place to have this happen. Even if your not diabetic, this will come in handy. Not only will a hard candy help to revive you if your blood sugar has become low, it can also help to keep the lining of your mouth moister, if you lack water. It is a comfort that can soothe what ails you, at least for a short time.
Hand and body warmer: Hand warmers come in a variety of different sizes now. You can put them in your socks, under your clothes, in your gloves and in your sleeping bag. There are two basic kinds, rechargeable and single use. (In my 72 hour kit I have both. If I am in a position that I cannot recharge the one, I can use the other. Both are fairly inexpensive and work really well. They are not necessarily a need, but do make those chilly camping trips much more enjoyable.
Poncho/ rain gear: It doesn't matter if your forecast for your trip was 100% sunny sky's and no rain for months. Ponchos have more uses than just protecting you from the rain. They can also be used to cover yourself from the sun, gathering water, carrying possible food stuffs, or even a layer between you and the cold ground, IE; a tarp. (If you forgot your poncho and there seems to be no end to the rain, a good sturdy garbage bag makes a great second choice. All you need to do is cut holes for your arms and head.)
Solar emergency blanket: Solar blankets help to hold your body's heat in an enclosed, reflective space. They help keep patients warm that may be experiencing shock, or children warm that didn't realize how cold the lake really was. Most can be found for extremely reasonable prices. They are wrapped compact and take up very little space.
Wind up light/ radio: I added this because it is what I have in my kit. It is a flashlight that has a wind up arm. It also has a built in radio. It does not require batteries. We found ours at the local Army Navy Surplus store.
Sun block: This should already be included in your car, or in other areas of your pack. However, we like to keep an extra in our first aid kit as well. Most of the camping we do is during the summer, and with out fail, someone always forgets their sunblock. Having the extra one in our first aid kit makes every one's life a little more carefree.
Bug dope or spray: Mosquito's and flies are tenacious creatures that will find you if you forgot your repellent. They're motivation is eating, and breeding. They need to eat to have healthy eggs, and you are their main course. Don't be shy about spraying your clothes. We have spent many hours itching because the bug avoided the bare skin that sprayed and just bit us through our clothing. Don't spray your face with bug spray, spray your hands and then apply to your face. The last thing you'll ever want to do is accidentally get bug spray in your eyes. It hurts like the dickens, and will get your eyes watering. (With young kids, instead of spraying they're hands with bug spray, try putting long pants, long sleeves, and gloves, or mittens. Then remember to spray the rest of their exposed skin. (don't forget their hair, especially with thin or short hair.) Mosquito's and flies can be found nearly everywhere. Even in a seemingly waterless desert.
Safety pins: These also have many uses. They are great for quick fixes, and once sterilized, lancing blisters and infections. (They are also supposed to a good alternative for fish hooks, but I have yet to be able to prove that one. As soon as I do I will update this post.)
Disposable razor: Hairless wounds are easier to deal with. A little patience and skill and wounds can be easily dealt with. This is an item that will with the best of fortune rarely be needed. However, it is nice to have one when the necessity arises.
Women's sanitary products: Not only are these great for their intended use, but they can be used as secondary bandage sources. Even tampons can be used to help stifle a bleeding injury. It was recommended to one of my family members who suffers from occasional severe nose bleeds that a tampon cut in half would work better than pinching the nose to stop the profuse bleeding.
Pencil/paper: Just like leaving notes at home detailing a departure or arrival of family members, these will help point out day time departchers and expected arrivals when out hiking or biking. This is intended to leave information in case someone has not arrived back at the expected time frame. It can also be used to point out direction if one is lost or on the hunt for someone.
Mirror w/hole in the center: This is used, in case you are lost. The point of the hole in the center is to look through it and direct your reflected light. This allows you to get the attention of planes, other hikers, or campers, and so on. You can make them or buy them.
Eye dropper or medicine dropper: These are great for their normal uses. They also make a great delivery system for liquids like alcohols or other fuels. Oils to tools, and machine parts. And finally they can multi task as a liquid medicine delivery system. Sometimes what we can take in a normal situation becomes difficult due to crisis.
Super glue: This is great for quick seals on minor cuts.
Mole skin: This is the coolest stuff. It is really like a second skin. This works great for blisters and "hot spots". It is a little more expensive than the average band aid, but works miracles on feet that have become blistered due to ill fitted shoes. Most sporting goods stores are going to carry this. You can also find it at Army Navy surplus stores, preparedness stores and several big box stores. Look in their band aid section of the store.
Sutures: At our local preparedness store, we were able to find individually wrapped, sterile sutures. They are a needle and thread set up. Provided that the wound needing this kind of care is not considerably deep, or the hint of infection looms, this is a great idea for crisis, deep excursions, and emergency medical situations that will prevent medical help for a length of time.
There are many more items that can be added based on several criteria. Basic knowledge and skill. Anticipation of situation. Number of people in your party. Area you will be traveling and so on. Some like to make sure that a snake bite kit is always accessible because they spend a great deal of their time in swamp areas that are notorious for dangerous snakes. Some are skilled with IVs and carry supplies that would aid them in their kits.
I highly recommend, even if you have a good solid base for first aid and emergency situations, that you brush up often on your skills. Make sure to go through your kits at home and in your camping gear at least every 6 months. It is easy to forget what you have if you have been lucky enough to avoid any large catastrophes. (Our first aid kit at home is quite large and stocked for more than just first aid. It carries a supply of batteries, matches, lighters, safety pins, wraps, medicines, alcohol, peroxide, thermometers and so on. This is the one we use to fill our other smaller kits. We have to go through this kit at least twice a year to make sure that it is kept fully stocked, more if we can find a good deal on something. We keep this one as a kit just in case. If we are in a situation where we have a few minutes to grab it we will. Better yet, if we can stay home in a crisis, we will be able to handle the unknown with out having to hunt down supplies.)
Mole skin: This is the coolest stuff. It is really like a second skin. This works great for blisters and "hot spots". It is a little more expensive than the average band aid, but works miracles on feet that have become blistered due to ill fitted shoes. Most sporting goods stores are going to carry this. You can also find it at Army Navy surplus stores, preparedness stores and several big box stores. Look in their band aid section of the store.
Sutures: At our local preparedness store, we were able to find individually wrapped, sterile sutures. They are a needle and thread set up. Provided that the wound needing this kind of care is not considerably deep, or the hint of infection looms, this is a great idea for crisis, deep excursions, and emergency medical situations that will prevent medical help for a length of time.
There are many more items that can be added based on several criteria. Basic knowledge and skill. Anticipation of situation. Number of people in your party. Area you will be traveling and so on. Some like to make sure that a snake bite kit is always accessible because they spend a great deal of their time in swamp areas that are notorious for dangerous snakes. Some are skilled with IVs and carry supplies that would aid them in their kits.
I highly recommend, even if you have a good solid base for first aid and emergency situations, that you brush up often on your skills. Make sure to go through your kits at home and in your camping gear at least every 6 months. It is easy to forget what you have if you have been lucky enough to avoid any large catastrophes. (Our first aid kit at home is quite large and stocked for more than just first aid. It carries a supply of batteries, matches, lighters, safety pins, wraps, medicines, alcohol, peroxide, thermometers and so on. This is the one we use to fill our other smaller kits. We have to go through this kit at least twice a year to make sure that it is kept fully stocked, more if we can find a good deal on something. We keep this one as a kit just in case. If we are in a situation where we have a few minutes to grab it we will. Better yet, if we can stay home in a crisis, we will be able to handle the unknown with out having to hunt down supplies.)
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