You’re out on a hike in the mountains. It’s a beautiful day, and you’re having a great time with some good friends. You are several miles from help when someone in your group falls on some rocks and gets a deep bleeding gash on her leg. What do you do? Does anyone have a first aid kit?
If you have read my post on the importance of planning during hiking trips, you know how I feel about the need to be prepared for challenges and issues that may arise. Accidents can happen to anyone at any time. When you’re in the wilderness though, you may not be able to get immediate medical attention. Enter the first aid kit.
The main thing to remember in a first aid situation is not to create more injuries or complicate the injuries that have taken place. For the same reason, it’s often best to not use techniques or equipment that you don’t know how to use properly. My recommendation is to become familiar with treatment techniques and maybe even become wilderness first aid certified.
Please note that I am not a licensed medical professional or expert and these suggestions should be taken simply as potentially useful ideas and not as professional medical or expert advice. You are responsible for your own safety on the trail and for knowing the techniques and equipment you need to stay safe.
So! Without further ado, I have put together a list of 10 first aid items to have on a hike. Try researching on your own as well to decide what other items you should have. Some pre-existing medical conditions might require other items. These are by no means the only items you may ever need, but for me, these are first aid must-haves (in no particular order). I would keep these in some type of lightweight, waterproof container or bag:
- Sterile rubber gloves. I don’t recommend that these be latex because many people are allergic to it. I buy the nitrile ones. It’s easy for a wound to become infected in the wilderness—nothing is sterile. Minimize that risk by avoiding contact between a wound and your bare hands.
- Over-the-counter pain meds, and any other medications as prescribed by a doctor. In the case of some injuries, being able to reduce the amount of pain a victim feels can make him or her more able to move to a place where medical treatment is available, as well as keep him or her focused on things other than the pain.
- Sterile dressings to stop bleeding.
- Antibiotic ointment and wipes.
- Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes.
- Some type of syringe or baster that can squirt clean water. This can help to wash out dirt and debris from open wounds .
- Heat and cold packs. These may help in maintaining proper temperatures in the extremities or to stop swelling.
- A suture kit. You must be careful about giving someone stitches, and it may not be recommendable it if you do not know what you are doing, but there may be cases where it is necessary.
- They can be used to remove debris in wounds, ticks, stingers, and splinters.
- For allergy and swelling.
As always, be keep it fun and keep it safe. Happy trails.
Idaho Trail Junkie 