Outdoor First Aid Kit – Your Complete Guide (2022)
Outdoor First Aid Kit – Your Complete Guide (2022)
Overview
An outdoor first aid kit is essential if you're planning to go on a trip. Whether you're heading down the trail, pitching a backyard tent, or cycling with the kids, carrying an outdoor first aid kit will make your journey easy and safe.
Based on your preference, you can opt for a premade kit or create a DIY version. The difference? Price, of course. The latter is way cheaper than premade outdoor first aid kits. Another difference when creating a DIY kit is having specific items for your particular activity.
Aside from carrying the right tools in your outdoor first aid kit, you should also be able to identify each item and how to use it.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about outdoor first aid kits. First, let’s start with what should you pack in the kit.
What should an outdoor first aid kit contain?
When you're outside, your body is exposed to all sorts of dangers. The risks are even higher when you take the kids with you. Of course, this shouldn’t stop you from doing what you love.
Therefore, your outdoor first aid kit should contain supplies that address the following incidents:
· Bleeding
· Cuts
· Abrasions
· Snake bites
· Sunburns
· Sprained joints
· Insect stings
Covering these incidents will make you 95% ready to go on your journey. The remaining 5% is for unpredictable incidents. It's the jungle after all!
It's important to emphasize that the most relevant items to have are band-aids, materials for wound care, epinephrine in case of allergy, and painkillers.
Outdoor first aid kit basic care
Antiseptic wipes
A simple cut wound can turn into a nasty infection. The first thing you need to do is clean the area with antiseptic wipes. This will get rid of most germs before applying the band-aid.
However, this step may not be enough, which brings us to the next item on our outdoor first aid kit.
Antibacterial ointment
Applying an antibacterial ointment kills the bacteria sitting on your skin. While this is unnecessary when you're intact, an injury opens the door for these bacteria to penetrate deeper tissues of the skin. The most prevalent bacterial infection is caused by a microbe called Staphylococcus aureus. Use bacitracin after cleaning the area with antiseptic wipes.
Gauze pads
After cleaning the wound area with antiseptic wipes and antibacterial ointment, it is time to apply the gauze pads. This will help the wound heal faster and prevent further damage by microbes.
Adhesive bandage
This will fix the gauze pads in place and allow you to move freely.
Medical adhesive tape
If the wound is large, adhesive bands may not be enough. In this scenario, you will need a medical adhesive tape, which is generally looped around the wound to apply pressure.
We've all seen this in movies when the main actor gets shot and uses a tape to cover his arm/leg. Hopefully, your injury won’t be severe enough to need these tapes.
Over-the-counter painkiller
There are an X number of reasons that cause pain in the outdoors. Fortunately, there is a simple solution for all of them – Painkillers. Ideally, you would take both acetaminophen and ibuprofen with you.
The first is not a Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID), which makes it useful in case of a sudden viral infection. The second is an NSAID that helps with all types of pain and fever.
Insect sting treatment
Getting stung in the wild is not that uncommon. Some stings are benign and require no action from you. Others can cause severe itching, fever, and generalized symptoms. Make sure to take antihistamines with you to control the itching. If you develop generalized symptoms after an insect sting, you might need professional medical care.
Epinephrine for allergies
If you or one of your outdoor companions have allergies that cause anaphylactic reactions, epinephrine is a life-saver. It goes without saying that a known allergy to bees or other outdoor insects means carrying an EpiPen is indispensable.
Diarrhea medications
Experiencing diarrhea in an isolated area can turn your trip into a nightmare! While diarrhea itself is not dangerous, the dehydration it causes can be life-threatening.
Make sure to take diarrhea medications and rehydration salts with you.
Sunblock
Even if you're going to the jungle, sunblock is a must. It will protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB, lowering your risk of:
· Sunburn
· Skin flareups
· Skin cancer
First-aid cleansing pads
These pads would preferably contain a topical anesthetic to help you suture the wound with minimal pain. Make sure to get a hemostatic gauze along.
First-aid manual
This manual will help figure things out when you don’t know how to use a specific item/medication. It should come with the outdoor first aid kit.
Outdoor first aid kit – Supplies
The list above mostly covers medications and wound care supplies. However, you may be dealing with more severe injuries that require a bit more than a few meds and pads.
The following tools will help you suture larger wounds, monitor fever, conduct CPR, and get rid of medical waste safely:
· A multi-tool knife
· Paramedic shears (blunt-tip scissors)
· Safety razor blade
· Cotton-tipped swabs
· Standard oral thermometer
· Irrigation syringe with 18-gauge catheter
· Surgical gloves
· CPR mask
· Medical waste bag
· Hand sanitizer
· Biodegradable soap
Remember that it’s essential to train before using some of these tools. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you may make things worse. That’s why you should carry an outdoor first aid kit manual with you.
Takeaway message
Arming yourself with an outdoor first aid kit will help you enjoy your trip while knowing you're well-prepared and safe. Some of the elements we mentioned can be life-saving in certain scenarios.
We hope that this article managed to highlight the essential elements to carry within your outdoor first aid kit.
If you have questions, concerns, or any thoughts about our list, make sure to leave a comment in the section below. Who knows? You might point out an essential element missing from our list.
