This might be a bit more appropriate for the Lavender Room but this could also apply here as well. I have a first aid kit that I put together myself mostly for backpacking ad hiking, but I also take it to triathlons (yeah, that’s how I can get this on topic). I put it together about 4 years ago and a lot of the medications and supplies have gone bad. While I’m in the process of resupplying it, do you think anything should be added or removed?
Here is a link to the Google Docs of the contents.
Since this is primarily for backpacking, weight and size are of a concern.
This might be a bit more appropriate for the Lavender Room but this could also apply here as well. I have a first aid kit that I put together myself mostly for backpacking ad hiking, but I also take it to triathlons (yeah, that’s how I can get this on topic). I put it together about 4 years ago and a lot of the medications and supplies have gone bad. While I’m in the process of resupplying it, do you think anything should be added or removed?
Here is a link to the Google Docs of the contents.
Since this is primarily for backpacking, weight and size are of a concern.
Thanks.
Bee sting kit. Saline solution for irrigation. Stick and some sort of wrap/belt to make a tourniquet if necessary. Some sort of non permeable plastic (Such as cling wrap or similar) in case of a penetrating chest wound. Something for a sling (Unless that is your triangular bandage). Dixie cups (Used to stabilize items, like a branch in the eye).
And, not really first aid, but waterproofed/paraffin matches, mirror.
Bee sting kit: I could use one of these but if someone is allergic to bees, hopefully they carry an Epi-Pen with them
Saline solution: contact solution is what I said I have but it is actually saline solution
Tourniquet: I could reappropriate a belt or backpack strap for one of those
Plastic: I could reuse the freezer bags that I keep all of the supplies in inside of the first aid kit
Sling: Yep, triangular bandages are that or once again I could use a backpack strap or a shirt
Dixie cup: Eh, I’m going to leave this out but with backpacking supplies, I should have enough things to MacGyver a solution together
Waterproof matches: I’ll add them to the list
Mirror: Have that as well
.
Bee sting kit: I could use one of these but if someone is allergic to bees, hopefully they carry an Epi-Pen with them
Saline solution: contact solution is what I said I have but it is actually saline solution
Tourniquet: I could reappropriate a belt or backpack strap for one of those
Plastic: I could reuse the freezer bags that I keep all of the supplies in inside of the first aid kit
Sling: Yep, triangular bandages are that or once again I could use a backpack strap or a shirt
Dixie cup: Eh, I’m going to leave this out but with backpacking supplies, I should have enough things to MacGyver a solution together
Waterproof matches: I’ll add them to the list
Mirror: Have that as well
Ah, missed it. I was scanning for saline, not contact. I have that built in, as I wear contacts and have to have it anyway. Yeah, the rest you could MacGyver, but if a tourniquet is needed, it’s needed now. The rest could be done pretty easy. Great list, btw, more than 90% of the kits I used to see being sold commercially.
Thanks. I’ve just read a bunch of different recommendations from many different sources, left out the stuff that I didn’t need, and added things from here and there as I saw fit. It isn’t enough to support a 6-person trip for a week, but it is perfect for what I do which is 3 day backpacking trips with 2-4 people. I also have this in my car most of the time in case something comes up. I actually went on a date where the girl cut her toe on a nail sticking out of the concrete and the kit came in handy then.
Dang. That is about a squad level aid kit. It seems relatively well equipped. The key, and it seems like you’ve done this, is to try to anticipate the type of conditions you’ll be treating. That’s tough since the nature of emergencies is we don’t anticipate them. Carrying an Israeli clotting bandage and tampons is a good idea for very serious wounds like a gunshot wound, but that is pretty rare in a civilian setting unless you are carrying firearms for sport.
Thanks. Yeah, I have put some thought into it. I know a guy that is an EMT over in the Sandbox and he recommended the Israeli bandage to me and since they are fairly cheap, I’ve decided to get one. The worst case that I could think of is that someone falls and has a knife or a stick go through an appendage and hits an artery which is a possibility. Also, tampons are great for nosebleeds Also, all of this fits in a package that is about the size of 2/3 of a loaf of bread.
The spreadsheet is great because my plan is to start restocking this about every 6 months or after I use something in it. This sheet will help me know which things I need to check such as the medications and which things I don’t (Expire column). There is also the column for whether I need to stock that supply or not (Up To Date). I’m kind of anal like that, no surprise there being a triathlete, and I think this helps me out a lot when I do need to restock it because I won’t forget anything and I know which stuff is really important to check.
Where did you get your case at? I really like it and may upgrade to case like that if I can find one.
I’ve added that as well but I consider it a Level 3 item which means that it isn’t essential. I’ve actually updated the Google Docs list as well. http://www.galls.com/medical-supplies.html
So far so good but let’s not forget the gloves and barrier or face mask. You don’t want to treat some one else w/o gloves and trust me on this one you don’t want to do mouth to mouth w/o a barrier of some sort. Both our cars (and the house) have a mask and gloves, very small package in the trunk. The mask might be a bit large for certain activities or trips but the face barriers available commercially take up almost no space. Hope you never have to use anything.
I agree I never want to use this stuff, but it puts me at ease that I have this stuff available and I know somewhat well how to use it. I do need a refresher course on my wilderness first aid because my certification expired about 2 years ago. Even though I hope to not use it, I don’t get much confidence and experience by not using it.
Well, I updated most of the essentials in this kit today. Well, I
ordered everything and will have to wait for them to get here. It was
about $80 total which is a lot, but I needed a lot.
I have that built in, as I wear contacts and have to have it anyway. Yeah, the rest you could MacGyver, but if a tourniquet is needed, it’s needed now. The rest could be done pretty easy. Great list, btw, more than 90% of the kits I used to see being sold commercially.
Also, all of this fits in a package that is about the size of 2/3 of a loaf of bread.