Hello,
You guys helped me out so much with questions for my interview with the New Orleans Saints Dietitian, I thought I'd ask you to help me again. Are you feeling taken advantage of yet?? I figure if you love talking about anything backpacking as much as me, you'll be okay with it.
I'm going to be working on a post about UL First Aid kits with help from an instructor at NOLs Wilderness Medicine. I know there isn't a single first aid kit that is perfect for everyone, since some people have specific needs that others don’t, but I'm going to have him help me tweak my kit and hopefully help give us some ideas for what first aid skills all backpackers should learn. Additionally, what skills will help us reduce our kit weight by learning how to use the environment and how we can re-purpose gear items, that we already carry, for first aid use.
I know so little about first aid that I'm not totally sure what questions to even ask.
I know there are other posts on here about what to carry in a first aid kit, and those helped me out a lot, as a beginner especially, but I'm curious if any of you have something to add. Like, what do you carry and why? How have you re-purposed other gear in a first aid situation? Here is what is in my kit:
Neosporin (a few single use packs)
Advil or Aleve
Excedrin, for migraines
Tylenol PM, if it’s a long hike, to help me sleep with the ache and pains
Hand Sanitizer
Duct Tape
A few gauze pads
A couple butterfly strips
Items that I have, or that could possibly be, re-purposed for first aid
Toilet paper, with duct tape for bandages
Bandanas, extra socks (for bandages, splints or tourniquet)
Hiking poles or Neo-air sleeping pad (for splint)
Bleach for water treatment, for sterilizing bandages/instruments
Cordage, floss, or fishing line
Safety Pins
Something I’m considering on the next cold trip is latex gloves. They could be used when helping someone else with a wound, and also as waterproof layer over gloves in cold weather, when doing anything that could lead to wet hands. like gathering water, digging in the snow.
What do you think?