First Aid Kit List

[Matt Pincham]

Hi Guys,

I really love the Straight Forward forum so have decided to ask this question here rather than the health and safety forum.

Basically I will be compiling my own First Aid Kit as opposed to paying too much for one with things I don't need/wont use. I'm not the kind of guy that downs half a dozen painkillers if he stubs his toe so I can't think of much other than bandages and plasters/blister treatment.

Basically, in simple terms, what do you carry for First Aid Purposes?

[smokymtnsteve]

antibiotic ointment
ace bandage
antacid
immodium
asprin or your fav headache potion
antihistamine

[Alligator]

Bandaids, sport type that really stick. Sizes up to the really big elbow ones for heel blisters.
Cloth tape.
Anti-bacterial wipes-Bacitracin.
Neosporin.
Needle for blisters.
One large length of gauze.
Telfon coated pads.
One pair non-latex gloves.
One small bottle of ibuprofen, one of tylenol. You can take both at the same time to maximize relief (if needed).
Some prescription pain killers.
Small tube of aloe for burns.
Tweezers.
Eye drops.
Vaseline for blister prevention.
Talc for chafing.
Safety pins.
Moleform.
Wilderness medicine book. (Plan to switch to cards.)

In winter, I usually add some cold medicine and lots of throat lozenges. Hard to eat with a raw throat and food is fuel.

Dual use:Scissors on Micra, bandana, duct tape, short length of fine wire (finger splint)

I have had to use everything at one time or another except the roll of gauze, the gloves, and the prescription pain killers. Once, I got a skin infection in my blisters, $300.00 bill. I had an inadequate med kit.

[Doctari]

I carry, usually, the following:

Actual "first aid kit" items / uses:
2 4X4 gauze pads / for "big" wounds.
4 large bandaids / for "small" wounds.
2 small bandaids / for smaller wounds.
Bag Balm (in film canister) antibiotics in Vasaleen.
Mole skin / for blisters.
Immodium AD / for the trots.
Aspirin & Advil* / for pain.
Pepto bismol tabs / for upset tummy.
HEAVY duty tweezers / for splinters & stuff.
1 roll 2" Self stick gauze bandage / to hold on the 4x4s

WT: about 1/2 Lb

Double duty stuff / uses:
Duct tape / 1,000,000 uses.
Knife / to cut stuff.
Folding scissors / to cut other stuff.
Castel soap towletts / to clean me.
Alcohol gel / to clean stuff & me.

WT: about 5 Oz, maybe more or less.

AND;
21+ years experience as an EMT on how to use this & other stuff in an emergency.

Wt: ZERO


Doctari

* I have to alternate between them or neither works long term.

[Kerosene]

Diarrhea pills (4, Imodium Advanced)
Heartburn pills (1, Pepcid AC)
Antihistimine (4, Benadryl Allergy)
Antibiotic ointment (Polysporin, 0.5 oz tube)
Hydrocortisone ointment (1.0% Cortaid, 0.5 oz tube)
Ibuprofen (25 tablets)
Band-aids (10, various sizes)
Steri-strips (10)
Adhesive bandage pad (1, telfa)
Gauze pads (2-3"x4")
Cut control dressing (2, Spenco 2nd Skin)
Antiseptic cleaning wipes (2)
Adhesive tape (1" width, clear)
Stretch Ace Bandage - 2.25 oz
Tick removal tweezers and magnifying glass
Ditty bag (nylon, tie, red)

Total weight: 5.5 ounces

This doesn't include moleskin and the like for foot care.

[Peaks]

Always a good question about how much first aid supplies to carry.

I am guided by the minimal list published in Christopher Whalen's workbook for planning thru-hikes. For a more complete list, look at the list in the ATC Trail Guides.

Realistically, you probably don't need much besides treating blisters, cuts, and scrapes. And some vitamin I.

[Doctari]

I also (after last trip) now have to carry Nitro Spray. Seems I have a bit of angina. It is a new thing, so I forgot :rolleyes:

Doctari.

[bearbait2k4]

Gauze
Ibuprofen
Duct or Athletic Tape
New Skin
Ibuprofen
Tylenol Cold and Flu (NON drowsy)
needle (and a lighter or other flame to keep it sterile)
tweezers
Ibuprofen
alcohol pads


It's my experience that mole skin is a complete waste of time. Tape your hot spots up with duct or athletic tape.

The list stated ibuprofen several times for a reason. You may not be the type of person that takes pain killers when he stubs his toe, but you WILL need some pain relief from time to time on the trail.

[okpik]

2 triangular bandages
duct tape
advil
immodium
dental floss
a couple of bandaids
I carry a small swiss army knife to deal with the tool aspect of medicine.
I also always wear a 1 inch military web belt. It has MANY uses.

Used to carry a lb or more and never used it.
Been in medicine for 30 years and this stuff is enough for me plus whatever I can find in the woods. That as they say is a class in itself.

[Blue Jay]

Something to stop massive bleeding and plenty of duct and electrical tape. Unless you have an ailment before you start that is all you need. The rest is nice but not required. Most people cover the little problems and ignore the important one.

[bearbait2k4]

Regardless of what others have said in this post, don't go out on the trail without some sort of pain killer and disinfectant. DO NOT underestimate the power of an infected blister or cut.

They will knock you off the trail faster than almost anything.

[tribes]

This is what is in my kit:

Band Aids (cloth type last longer on the trail)
Neosporin (half used tube)
Ibuprofen (depends on miles)
Pepcid AC (4)
Tylenol PM(4)
Duct Tape (10 feet on hiking pole)
Small Pin for blister control (1)
Guaze pad (2)