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You're getting ready to go on an
outdoor adventure with your friends. You're packing all of the gear
you will need and making sure you didn't forget anything. One thing
you should always take with you is a first-aid kit. But what do you
put in a first aid kit? You know what is in the one at home, but do
you need anything different for your outdoor trip? Here are a few
ideas.
One important thing to consider is
where you are going and how long you will be there. It's always a
good idea to keep some extra food or water on hand. Also, you won't
need as big of a kit on a day hike as you would on a weekend or
week-long camping trip. Make sure the container your kit is in is
watertight and crush-proof. It needs to be able to be identified
easily, neatly packed and kept in an accessible part of your bag.
Here are some of the basic items you
should take with you:
- Sunscreen
- A good bug spray containing DEET
- Tweezers
- A small tube of anti-biotic ointment (Neosporin, etc)
- Hand sanitizer
- Various sizes of adhesive bandages
- a small bottle of iodine solution (alcohol preps are also good)
- 2” gauze roll
- 1 roll of adhesive bandage tape
- 4x4 gauze pads
- scissors
- a small bottle or bar of soap
- hydrocortisone cream
- possibly some anti-itch medicine such as Benadryl
- Pain reliever (ibuprofen, Tylenol, etc)
- Aloe vera gel
- Q-tips or cotton balls
Most of these items can be found at any
drugstore, grocery or discount store. Of course, it's always good to
have things such as tampons or sanitary napkins with you. Also,
personal wipes are good, especially if you are going somewhere
without proper, um, bathroom facilities!
Make sure at least one person going
with you is properly trained in first aid. Preferably everyone will
have an idea of how to use the kit, but at least one person should
have this kind of experience. This is very important since you will
likely be in a place where you can't easily call an ambulance or find
a doctor. It's a good idea to carry a small medical guide book just
in case.
Remember that space and carrying weight
is a consideration. It's easy to forget about this when you have a
first-aid kit in your home or car, but you're going to have to find a
way to carry or store everything in your first aid kit in addition to
everything else you're carrying. If possible, everything should fit
in a space about the size of a hard-bound book or small lunch box.You
can find ready-make outdoors first-aid kits at stores such as REI and
Dick's Sporting Goods. Even so, it's good to know what you need in
case you have to make your own. Here are a couple of sites to review
for guidance:
Have fun!
1 comment:
Yeah, especially tampons. Lol, even if you just got off your period. You never know what horrible tricks your body will play on you and it's better to have them with you then be out in the middle of nowhere and start your period with no supplies. I learned the hard way.
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