Learn how to pack a wilderness first aid kit and what to include in it to make sure you are safe and comfortable when you are camping or wherever your travels take you. Use a tackle box to hold first aid items like bandages and medication.
There have been so many times where I have been travelling and had to rush to the drug store to grab a couple things like pain killers or medication.
I finally wised up a couple of years ago and started bringing a travel first aid and medication kit with me when I travel on road trips or camping.
Its great to have something like this stored in your car for those times when you are at the park or zoo and your kid falls and hurts themselves.
It’s absolutely essential to be prepared if you are camping, hiking or spending time out in the wilderness.
What to include in your Wilderness First Aid Kit
There is no one size fits all wilderness first aid kit but here are some ideas to get you started.
You may need to make modicifications depending on where you are traveling to or what activities you are up to.
I decided to use a tackle box for my wilderness first aid kit. It’s a great little box to stash in your trunk for day trips or longer camping trips.
The plastic is sturdy and water resistant and you can fit lots of stuff in the little compartments.
Top 25 Supplies for your wilderness first aid kit
- Bandages
- gauze
- rubbing alcohol
- hand sanitizer
- vinyl gloves
- tweezers
- thermometer
- sunscreen
- bug spray
- essential medication
- pain relievers
- Pepto Bismol
- tissue
- scissors
- Epi pen
- antibacterial wipes
- antibacterial ointment
- bottled water
- knife
- duct tape
- sanitary napkin
- bandages
- self adherent compression wrap
- emergency blanket
Knowing how to use the items in a first-aid kit is as important as having them, so consider taking a training course.
This list is a good starting point. It also includes emergency essentials that you might carry separately from a kit. You’ll also need to include any prescription medications your group needs, as well as additional supplies you might need for where you’re going and how long you will be out.
Get the American Red Cross App
It’s also a good idea to download a first aid app to your phone, like the American Red Cross Emergency App. You may not get reception in the backcountry, but you can brush up on your safety tips whenever you have a little down time.
FAQ about Wilderness First Aid
The basics are the same as a standard first aid course. Stop the bleeding, check the airway and consider head or spinal injury, but there is a heavier emphasis on “now what?” You could have to manage the situation for 30 minutes, 3 hours or 3 days.
Wilderness first aid referees to any training course that focuses on prevention, assessment, and treatment for an injured or ill person in a remote environment where care by a physician or transport to a care facility is not readily available.
It expires two years at the end of the month in which you received your certification.
What do you put in your first aid kit? Let me know your essential supplies in the comments.
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