Hopefully you will never need a quality first aid kit in the field. But, if or when you do need one, having a well-packed, freshly-stocked, and accessible kit makes all the difference. You can purchase a first aid kit at an outdoors store and you may find that everything within the kit suits your needs. But there are advantages to packing your own first aid kit. When you pack your own first aid kit, you are aware of the necessities packed within the kit (you might be tempted to buy a kit and pack it away into a backpack without ever examining its contents—in an emergency is the worst time to be sorting through the necessities within a first aid kit) and, in the process of packing a kit, while you are planning out which necessities you pack, you become more aware of the many possibilities for injury, but also for the ways in which these injuries can be temporarily managed by using the necessities within a first aid kit.
Basic First Aid Care (Simple Kit)
First, pack a small tube of hand sanitizer. You will want to clean your hands both before and after administering first aid. Within the kit you will also need something to clean out a cut or a scrape—it should be something easy to use (remember you may have to perform first aid on yourself!). Antiseptic wipes, and some type of antibacterial ointment—think travel sized tubes, or packets already intentionally packaged to kit-size—are necessities. You will need different types and sizes of bandages. Bandages for angles like knees, elbows, and toes; small and large bandages for injuries up to four inches. Beyond four inches gauze pads work best to cover a skin injury; gauze and nonstick sterile pads should be packaged with a kit-sized supply of medical adhesive tape. It’s also a good idea to pack some type of pain reliever such as Ibuprofen, and maybe even some type of antihistamine—well into adulthood, folks find out they have an allergy to an unexpected source. Less important, although entirely necessary, is a packet of moleskin for blisters.
Advanced First Aid
If you are travelling into nature, away from help, away from cell service, you will want to pack extra first-aid-type provision such as a splint, duct tape, fire starters, whistles, headlamps, etc.
We hope that anytime you go outside and enjoy the inimitable Bitterroot Valley that you remain safe and free from injury; but if something does happen, we hope you’ll be prepared.
