As we’ve been working on content for OSME.tv (Outdoor Skills Made Easy) many people suggested we put together a list of what a proper first-aid kit should contain.
We suggest building your own first aid kit which is easy and fun and will give you confidence when you go because you are very familiar with what is in it. Each kit becomes a very personal piece of equipment as you design it for the activities that you’ll be doing. We, of course, highly recommend taking a basic first aid course. And, if you love getting farther into the back country, you should take a wilderness first aid course for more in depth training.
Let’s consider the contents of various kits according to activities.
If you’re a day hiker that stays close to home and generally in range of cell service, your kit may contain a few band-aids, mole skin, and pain relievers as shown in the video we already released.
However if you love your ATV rides or are a long range backpacker, your first-aid kit will be very different. Space, weight, and size are still important factors in building your kit, but the activities your are engaging in should demand a more complete kit. For example, you may have larger compresses to stop bleeding, possibly a sew kit (if you have the proper training), and splints to stabilize broken bones.
Your “at-home” first-aid kit will be less concerned with weight and space but be focused on typical injuries that may happen around the home.
We’ve put together a list of basic supplies for each of these situations. Check it out!
Day pack
Nitrile Gloves
Antiseptic wipes
Band-Aids of various sizes
Gauze pads
Triangle bandage
Surgical tape or self adherent wrap
Steri strips
Tweezers
Moleskin for blister relief
Scissors
First Aid ointments
Hydrocortisone ointment
Tylenol/Ibuprofen
Aspirin
Benadryl
Tums
Imodium
Garbage baggie
Extended backpacking
Nitrile Gloves
Antiseptic wipes
Band-Aids of various sizes
Gauze pads
Triangle bandage
Roller Bandages
Skin Glue
Surgical tape or self adherent wrap
Steri strips
Sam splint
Moleskin for blister relief
Tweezers
Scissors
First Aid ointments
Hydrocortisone ointment
Tylenol/Ibuprofen
Aspirin
Benadryl
Tums
Imodium
Garbage baggie
Emergency blanket
Whistle
Home and Car
Nitrile Gloves
Gauze pads
Bandaids of various sizes
Finger tip
Knuckle
3×1 adhesive
Gauze pads
2×2 pads
3×3 pads
Large trauma pad
Gauze tape
Roller Bandages
Elastic Bandages
Triangle Bandage
Steri strips
Instant cold packs
Sam splint
Blunt Scissors
Aloe Vera or burn ointment
Ipecac syrup
Pen Light
Thermometer – digital
Blood Pressure cuff – digital