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When spending time outdoors, it’s important to have a first aid kit with you. Anything can happen in the outdoors, from slipping on rocks to snake bites. Always expect for something to happen and be prepared just in case. These are the things that I have found to be great for an outdoor first aid kit. Keep in mind that a backpacking kit is going to be significantly smaller as you don’t want to have the extra, unnecessary weight.
Outdoors First Aid Kit
Here’s what you should be taking with you:
- Adhesive Bandages of Different Sizes – You don’t want to be stuck with a large scraped knee and trying to stick a small Band-Aid on it. Make sure that you have a variety of sizes available.
- Neosporin – I always put this on before putting on any bandages to help prevent infections.
- Mole Skin – This is great to help with those blisters that you get outdoors!
- Anti-Histamine – Even if you don’t know of any allergies that you may have, it’s a good idea to have anti-histamine cream or pills. The cream can be very helpful if you run into poison oak, ivy or sumac.
- Gauze Pads and Medical Tape – A larger injury may require gauze pads and tape.
- Finger Splint – Climbing rocks can be dangerous. It can be very easy to injure or even break a finger. Having a splint available can be useful to help inhibit movement of the injured finger
- Cloth Bandages – I have twisted an ankle while climbing over rocks. Bandages are great to help prevent further movement of the injured area.
- Flashlight – If you happen to get lost and are out after dark, you don’t want to be caught without a flashlight. It gets really dark out there with no streetlamps lighting up and even worse when it’s cloudy and there’s no moon or stars lighting the sky for you either!
- Tylenol or Motrine – Being outdoors is no fun when you have sore muscles or a headache!
- Extra Food & Water – Just in case, because again, you never know what could happen.
Backpacking First Aid Kit
My backpacking first aid kit will be significantly smaller than my regular outdoors one. I don’t want the added weight in my backpack if I just don’t need it. These are the things you will find in my backpacking first aid kit:
- Mole Skin – Just a couple pieces for just in case.
- Band-Aids – I usually on bring a few of the regular size.
- Gauze – A small pack of gauze is all I need for a larger injury.
- Duck Tape – This usually isn’t in my first aid kit, but wrapped around my trekking poles. Believe it or not, duck tape has a ton of uses outdoors, including help secure the gauze that I may need for an injury.
- Tylenol/Motrin – I usually have a small pack of these in my kit. I will generally start my morning with a couple to help with the soreness before it even starts.
- Antacids – I bring a few of these as well because I do not want to be stuck out in the woods with heartburn and nothing to do about it!
What’s Not in My Kit
As you can see, I keep my backpacking kit minimal compared to a regular outdoor kit. I try not to overdo it but I want to be safe, rather than sorry. You may possibly notice that there is no snake bite kit in my first aid kit. The reason for that is, after lots of research, I’ve learned that different anti-venoms are needed for different snakes. You’re more than welcome to take a rattlesnake kit with you if you like, but if you get bit by a copperhead instead, it may not work. My suggestion would be to get the heck in your car and go to the ER. Your first aid kit should not replace actual medical assistance but help with small injuries when a medical professional is not needed.
