Introduction Whether you are traveling alone, taking part in an expedition, or responding as a member of a search & rescue (SAR) team, you will need a first aid kit. What you should take and how you should package it depends on many things. There is no generic first aid kit. Below are a few basic concepts that you will need to know in order to begin building a kit that meets your needs. Size & Weight The type of activity or expedition defines the amount of weight and space available for your kit (e.g.: a sailboat can carry more than a raft and a raft can carry more than a climber etc.). Generally the further you are from “help,” the bigger your first aid kit will be; consider resupply(s). The level of training of the medical “officer” will limit how much invasive equipment or Rx drugs you can carry and influence the size and weight of your kit. Have each expedition or team member complete a thorough medical form; you may need to add special equipment or drugs to your kit. Pay attention to any allergies. If your experience in wilderness medicine is limited, consider carrying our Wilderness Medicine Handbook for a concise field reference and Patient SOAP Notes to thoroughly document your assessment and treatment. Expedition versus SAR First aid kits used by expeditions are conceptually very different from those used by Search & Rescue (SAR) teams.
Packaging Packaging is extremely important. Well thought out organized packaging protects valuable and irreplaceable equipment. It permits fast and easy access to emergency gear without “vomiting” kit contents everywhere. Critical concepts to organization and packaging are:
Train your expedition or team members to use your kit. Until they are trained only you know why you assembled the kit as you did. Without specific training most people will not know how to use the equipment you have so thoughtfully assembled. Restrict access to compartments or packs that members are not trained to use. In order to understand and responsibly use the first aid supplies discussed in parts 2, 3, and 4 of this article series I recommend, at minimum, taking our Wilderness First Aid course—guides and outdoor instructors should take our Wilderness First Responder course—and carry our field manual. Compile a Possible Problem List For trip leaders, the decision of what to carry in a first aid kit—or if you should carry a first aid kit at all—is based on your ability to recognize and assess the hazards you are likely to encounter during your trip, your ability to mitigate them without injury, your ability to predict the type and severity of your injuries if you can't, and your ability to purchase and carry the supplies you need to treat those injuries. Conceptually, the first step to assembling a first aid kit is to come up with a comprehensive, but realistic, possible problem list. Each outdoor pursuit—be it rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking, paddling, etc.—has a short list of traumatic injuries that are inherent to that activity. So too, does the environment. And, there may be infectious diseases endemic to the area you plan to go. Base your list on the injuries and illnesses inherent to the outdoor activity, environment, and location of your trip. For clarity: divide the list into Basic Life Support or Major Trauma, Minor Trauma, Environmental, and Medical problems and prioritize them. Once you are satisfied with your possible problem list, compile a list of first aid supplies needed to treat them; carry more of the stuff that you WILL need. For example, If you were going to spend an afternoon hiking cross country and, given the terrain and undergrowth there was a good chance that your path would take you through brambles, you might choose to carry some supplies to treat superficial and full-thickness wounds in case your sleeve or pant leg pulled up as you pushed through the thorns. If you knew you there was a chance you might disturb a nest of yellow jackets and you knew enough about medicine to know that life-threatening allergic reactions are unpredictable, you would carry epinephrine and an oral antihistamine. If you are prone to blisters or have any health issues, you would adjust your route and/or what you carry in your first aid kit, accordingly. If your trip were going on a multi-day or -week trip, you should probably consider—and take supplies to treat—minor medical problems like headaches, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, etc. If you were a member of a local Search & Rescue "Hasty" team that responded to climbing accidents at a local climbing area, you would likely carry materials to treat musculoskeletal injuries, have rapid access to a litter and more people, and have reliable emergency communication and transportation. Parts 2, 3, and 4 of this series make recommendations for a number of wilderness first aid kits based on real-life needs for most wilderness travelers and include packs we designed specifically for that purpose (see photos) and supplies we sell. Each of our packs can be configured in a variety of ways to accommodate individual needs. In remote areas where urgent evacuation is difficult or simply not possible, you may need additional assessment and treatment supplies. Within the United States a physician consultation and prescription is required for all Rx drugs; while you are there, discuss the over-the-counter (OTC ) drugs you plan to carry and follow-up with a pharmacist to make sure you understand each drug: its administration, side effects, and drug interactions. Want more information on this and other wilderness medicine topics? Take one of our wilderness medicine courses. Guides and expedition leaders should consider taking our Wilderness First Responder course.
Looking for a reliable field reference? Consider consider purchasing one of our print or digital handbooks; our digital handbook apps are available in English, Spanish, and Japanese. Updates are free for life. A digital SOAP note app is also available.
2 Comments
8/2/2019 10:08:34 am
It's good to know that you should use different compartments or packs for first aid kits. My brother wants to go camping, and he wants to make sure that he is adequately prepared for any emergency that might happen. I'll pass this information along to him so that he can look into classes that will teach him all the skills and preparation tactics that he could need.
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3/3/2020 09:55:19 am
It made sense when you said that soft goods should be sealed in plastic to ensure they don't get damaged by moisture. When I think about it, that must be an especially important consideration for first aid kids that are meant to be used on lifeboats, since exposure to water is even more likely to happen. Thanks for sharing this helpful info about what a first aid kit should include!
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