How to Prepare a First Aid Kit for Hiking

Preparing a first aid kit for hiking is a balancing act. You need to carry enough medical supplies to treat situations from minor scrapes, bug bites and blisters to more serious problems like heatstroke, broken bones and open wounds. Yet, you can't pack so much into your kit that it becomes a burden on the trail. Here's what to include in a basic first aid kit.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Start building your kit with bandaging material, including adhesive bandage strips in assorted sizes, sterile gauze pads, butterfly bandages, adhesive tape, mole skin for blisters, an elastic bandage roll and a bandanna. These supplies will be enough to cover and protect most scrapes and cuts, create a makeshift sling or tourniquet and even make an emergency splint.

2. Choose versatile medicines that can serve more than one function in an emergency. Your kit should include aspirin, ibuprofen, a disinfectant cream or pump spray, decongestant and antihistamine tablets, petroleum jelly, chemical hot and cold packs, eye drops, a diarrhea medication, Pepto-Bismol and antacid tablets and cough drops.

3. Carry small amounts of each item listed. Weight and bulk are always a consideration. Take bubble packs of tablets and pills and put any liquid medicines in small, unbreakable leak proof containers. Put bandages in zip lock plastic bags.

4. Assemble equipment that will help you administer first aid, signal for help and shelter and protect an injured hiker. These items include a paperback first aid manual, a small knife, a safety razor blade, a needle, safety pins, tweezers, thermometer strips, a suction type snake bite kit, dental floss, moist towelette packets, matches or a lighter, a flashlight, a small mirror, a whistle and an Emergency Space Blanket.

5. Check your first aid kit before every outing. Replace any used items and old medications that have passed their expiration dates. Update your kit as you find newer and more effective medicines and supplies.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a first aid course before you attempt to render first aid.
• You can solve most minor problems with a well equipped kit. The most important things you can do for a seriously injured hiker are to stop bleeding, keep him breathing, reduce pain and get medical help as soon as possible.
• Pack your first aid supplies in a rip stop nylon bag to keep it handy and together.
• Be cautious in giving medication to someone else. Some people have severe allergies to common medications. If in doubt, don't use it.

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[GENE-D]

on 8/27/2008 I think it was well written. I would add a good working cell phone. Leave off, untill needed. fasten to clothing so as not to damage or lose.

[GENE-D]

on 8/27/2008 I think it is well written, covers most items. I love to have a good working cell phone, attached,so as not to loose it. Leave turned off, until it is needed, so it will not have a dead battery, when needed. (no games or whisteles.

[Fike]

on 8/27/2008 Special conditions apply, of course, in special circumstances. We live in the Mojave Desert, so we are very big on water and recommend a book called, DESERT SURVIVAL HANDBOOK should anyone venture this way (which we encourage, for brief vacations - it ain't for most). Good article! Thank you. Larry