first aid kits

“what should every first aid kit HAVE to have for yall to take it for a week or so backpacking trip?”

“Bandages (variety of sizes), moleskin, aspirin or other pain killer, alcohol (not the fun kind, the kind you clean wounds with)anti-itch cream (if it's buggy), tweezers... that's what's in my kit, and I imagine it'd be good for a week or more.”

“Take benadryll.”

“I would add a roll of self cling gauze...it works better then Ace Bandage and holds bandages and 4x4's on places where everything else fails. At WalMart, in the animal/farm supply section they have unsterilized versions for about half the price...different colors too.

It's what they use at the blood bank to hold the gauze in place after you give blood......


You folks are giving blood, aren't you?????”

“Off the top of my head, I'd add plastic or surgical gloves, eye drops, neosporin, a variety of pain killers, pepto bismal, imodium, tick remover, tweezers, nail clippers, duct tape, and most importantly a first aid book. I also carry "you alone in the Maine woods" if nothing else, it's fire starter or good reading.

I have a Sam splint, but wonder where to get things like codein after reading about cindy-lu's accident.”

“There's lots of Excellent advice on previous threads, search for "first aid"--good stuff!”

“Loratab 1200 mg.”

“DCBA what you put in the kit depends on what you need to accomplish with it. A kit for a group will be much larger then a solo one. I dont carry much in mine as it is only there to deal with minor problems and get me back to civilization.

Immodium
benedryl
Advil
4x4 bandages
roll of gauze
ace bandage
moleskin

also there are other items I take but arent specificly for first aid.

trash bag
duct tape
knife
sewing kit
map

The point of my particular kit is to control bleeding, stabilise broken bones and self extract.
Items like smelling salts dont work in a solo kit because the doctor is out. Many items like splints can be improvised on the spot as well.

It is better to take a good first aid course then a good first aid kit....”

“dont forget matches/lighter

don't wanna be caught without a light”

“Iburprophen
Duct Tapt”

“In all seriousness I hear that female hygeine pads are great in a medical kit because they are sterile and absorb large amounts of blood?”

“Iburprophen
Duct Tape”

“For longer trips I would recommend a Sam-Splint, an irragation syringe (for cleaning debris from wounds), safety pins, antiseptic solution, and most important the knowledge...”

“Adventurist, They AREN't they absorb so much blood they end up sucking it out of you, long after your wound would've clotted up with aregular bandage.

Twigeater, ask your doctor for a sample or an RX for a couple pills. You may be surprised what they'll give you if you explain why you want it. Birch has gotten meds and sterile needle/thread kits for stitches from ours.”

“I also use an irrigation syringe - it comes in handy. I also use iodine tabs as back up water purification - these double as a way to sterilize water for wound irrigation and, in high concentration, they help disinfect the wound.”

“Thanks Sass!”

“pedxing,
Where does one acquire an irrigation syringe?”

“Most pharmacies have them.”

“Aleve, the wonder drug, Thanks Dare!”

“LOL Not for what you think. I heard the are great for carrying water in case of an emergency.”

“BS: Stumpy's right - you can just ask the pharmacist. I got mine with a few other first aid items at Campmor, and have seen them at some other gear stores. It's one of the few first aid items (along with Ibuprofen, mole skin, butterfly bandages, gauze - duct tape and iodine tablets) that I've used several times.”

“Sterile lances for blisters.”

“Ped and stumpy,
I have one irrigation syringe in my mountian biking first aid kit. It gets used a lot more than you would think. I see it as an essential tool. I need another for my backpacking first aid kit so I can quit having to borrow it from the other kit. I got the one I have from a larger kit from campmor, but I really don't want to buy a whole kit just to get the irrigation syringe that I kow only cost a dollar or two.
Thanks for the info.
I'll try the pharmacy. Thanks!”

“Butterfly bandages can be used to close a cut. They're pretty effective in most cases.”

“BS - farm supply stores sell syringes for about 35 cents - you should be able to buy one at a pharmacy for about a buck - especially if you don't need the needle you shouldn't need a doctor's script
dawn”

“thanks!”

“Sass -

I'm not sure about this one. All my emergency medical training says you DO NOT pop blisters. Instead, make a donut out of 4x4's or moleskin, then try and cover it. Popping a blister is an opening for infection.

Just MHO.

Tex”

“Asprin is a good idea in addition to any other kind of pain reliever you pack. You can crush it up on whatever garbage you are packing out to keep it from getting stinky.”

“Thant's pretty cool info about the anti-stinky powers of aspirin.”

“Can't stress this enough, if you are in the back country very long you will need it. I have needed it myself (broken ankle on Virgin Falls trail) I also teach Red Cross First Aid down at the Saturn plant and am a former E.M.T. Don't take the knowledge for granted. Who knows the life you save might be yours.”

“You don't need codeine. Half a dozen ibuprofen actually kill the pain better. The codeine just makes you not care.”

“I pack a little super glue to close cuts with in an emergency. Just have to make sure the dirt is out of the wound and glue only the surface skin.”