Thorough planning and careful preparation are essential for hikers who aspire to be responsible. It is imperative to be self-sufficient and capable of taking care of oneself during trail excursions in order to ensure smooth adventures.
If you are injured while hiking, especially in a remote area where help is not readily available, it is important to be able to take care of yourself or others. Therefore, having a well-equipped outdoor medical kit is essential.
A strong first aid kit is a great tool for handling various outdoor ailments, including blisters, cuts, headaches, and other small issues. It is not limited to life-saving situations, and can prevent these problems from escalating into more serious ones.
When going on hikes, it is not beneficial to carry an excessive amount of equipment like a complete hospital. However, it is also important not to compromise on gear. Taking this into consideration, we present our comprehensive guide for constructing a hiking first aid kit that will cater to every possible situation.
So why carry a First Aid Kit?
In the event that you become sick, injured, or encounter an emergency situation while on a trail, being equipped with a Backpacking First Aid Kit ensures improved readiness and self-dependence.
Having a Backpacking First Aid Kit increases the likelihood of self-rescue. Factors such as location, distance on the trail, and weather conditions determine the time it takes for First Responders to assist or rescue in case of a medical emergency. Even with a satellite communicator equipped with two-way messaging, it may still take several hours or even days for them to reach you.
By having a Backpacking First Aid Kit, you can effectively deal with various trail injuries and illnesses until you are capable of returning to the trailhead and leaving the trail.
A backpacking first aid kit can also serve for treating common trail injuries and illnesses such as blisters, pain relief, an upset stomach, or a sprained ankle even in non-emergency situations.
When packing for any hiking or backpacking trip, it is advisable to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
I want to emphasize that I am not a certified medical expert, but rather an enthusiastic day hiker and backpacker with extensive experience of hiking hundreds, and possibly even thousands, of miles in remote areas.
Before embarking on your next trip to the backcountry, whether it’s a solo or group day hike or an overnight backpacking expedition, it is strongly advised that you acquire some form of first aid training.
To begin, enroll in an online or in-person First Aid course.
If you are truly committed to your First Aid training, you should think about obtaining a Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Aid Responder certification. I personally hold a Wilderness First Aid Certification because it is crucial for me to know how to respond during an emergency while hiking. Acquiring this level of experience and knowledge can potentially be life-saving for either yourself or others.
Considerations when building a First Aid Kit:
- My trip objective and any activities I plan on doing along the way
- The length of my trip
- How many people I’ll be out on trail with, like if I’m going out solo or with a group
- Where I’m going and the type of terrain I’ll be hiking in
- Any potential environmental concerns I might have to deal with like extreme weather or high elevation
- any anticipated illnesses and possible risks I might encounter along the way
- Weight and space limitations
- AND how I want to keep my kit organized
I suggest creating your own Backpacking First Aid Kit according to your specific requirements and customized for the kinds of excursions you intend to undertake. This will ensure that you are aware of the contents of your kit and possess the necessary knowledge to utilize each item effectively.
First aid essentials
When putting together your hiking first aid kit, make sure to include several essential items. These items will help treat the most common issues you may encounter during your hikes. If desired, you can add extra supplies to your kit for additional treatment options.
Medications
In order to treat an ailment, medications can be administered either by oral consumption or by topical application to the skin. Below are listed some of the crucial medications that should be included in your first aid kit.
- Paracetamol: A painkiller used for treating fever or mild aches and pains.
- Ibuprofen: An anti-inflammatory drug used for treating pain, swelling, and fever.
- Antihistamines: Medicine used to treat allergic reactions.
- Loperamide: Medicine used to treat diarrhoea.
Wound treatments
To prevent bleeding and infection, treatment is necessary for cuts, burns, and splinters. It is important to have a varied assortment of plasters and bandages to ensure proper coverage.
- Plasters: Select a wide range of shapes and sizes. Make sure they are durable, and it’s a plus if they’re also waterproof.
- Bandages: It’s advisable to also have a good range of shapes and sizes to cover multiple wounds.
- Medical tape: This tape can be wrapped around the skin to secure plasters and bandages. It can also be used to stop blisters from forming.
- Blister plasters: Blister plasters are an essential item for a hiking first aid kit. Specialized gel plasters can stop blisters from forming, or protect them from getting worse.
- Steri-strips: These “butterfly stitches” are a good temporary solution for deeper cuts. They may need replacing with proper stitches later on at a hospital.
- Sterile wipes: Alcoholic wipes can help to sterilize a wound before any treatment is applied.
- Cotton buds: When used as cleaning swabs, cotton buds can help clear wounds of foreign debris, blood, and any bodily fluids that may be present.
First aid tools
Including a few tools in your first aid kit can facilitate treatment. Although not as crucial as the other items, they enhance the cleanliness and effectiveness of medical care.
- Tweezers: A perfect tool for removing ticks, splinters, and other foreign objects from wounds.
- Medical scissors: Used for cutting medical tape and shaping bandages.
- Nitrile gloves: To be worn when treating any wounds to prevent infection from occurring.
- Thermometer: Less common in a hikers kit but it can still be an important life-saving item. If someone has a fever or is hypothermic, you can read their temperature and make a judgement call over what treatment they require.
- Safety pins: Can help to secure bandages or tie up slings to support sprains/breaks.
