If you want to reduce the weight of your backpack, it is worth examining the regular backcountry first-aid kit. By scrutinizing it, you can easily eliminate close to a pound of weight and reduce its bulk by a liter, provided you are willing to create your own lightweight first aid kit.
Most pre-packaged kits are designed for different lengths of trips and the number of people with you. However, like most convenient and one-size-fits-many products, they usually do not excel in either aspect. You have the option to select from larger “extended trip” kits or smaller “multi-day” or “weekend” options, and adjust the size based on the number of people in your group in theory.
The underlying concept of these products, which suggests that having more than what is necessary is safer, is flawed from the beginning. Just like bike seats, excessive cushioning in first aid kits can actually be detrimental. The reason behind this is primarily because humans tend to be careless when it comes to determining what is “enough” of something. If you start with a substantial supply, you will likely pay less attention to how you use it over time. Consequently, after gradually depleting your initially abundant stock of band aids or medical tape, you may find yourself in a situation where you suddenly lack sufficient supplies. In the realm of first aid or wilderness medical scenarios, the notion of “set-it-and-forget-it” should not be embraced.
If you currently own a large and heavy kit that you oddly cherish, it is possible that you could reduce its weight considerably by replacing the case with a stuff sack.
Educate Yourself about First Aid
If you do not know how to use the contents of a first aid kit, even the best one will be useless. It is crucial not just to possess a tourniquet but to also acquire the necessary knowledge to utilize it correctly during an emergency situation (which includes using a tourniquet).
One option is to use Youtube videos from wilderness medicine companies, another option is to read a book, and the best option is to take a wilderness first aid class. It is recommended to start with NOLS’ book on wilderness medicine.
NOLS and SOLO, two reputable organizations, provide wilderness first aid courses that are well-regarded for their high-quality and focused instruction. These courses are available throughout the United States.
Ready Made vs. DIY First Aid Kits
There are two options when it comes to obtaining a first aid kit – either buying a pre-made one or creating your own. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, yet either way you can assemble a high-quality kit.
Ready Made First Aid Kits
Numerous companies provide excellent first aid kits for various activities. Kits tailored for mountain biking, camping, hiking, boating, and even dogs are available. Typically, these kits contain supplies relevant to the particular injuries one might encounter during the respective activity. However, it is important to supplement these kits with specific items necessary for allergies or other individual requirements.
If you desire the reassurance of a pre-assembled kit, there are excellent options available in the form of first aid kits.
Adventure Medical Kits produces first aid kits for almost any situation imaginable, ranging from family kits to backpacking kits designed for multiple days.
We employ a few of their kits, and then replenish them as necessary when resources are utilized. I appreciate the bags included in their kits since they effectively maintain order and facilitate easy retrieval of items.
DIY First Aid Kits
Due to the distinct requirements and worries of each family, it is unlikely that ready-made first aid kits will encompass all the necessary items for everyone.
Some kits may be too big to carry during a short bike ride, yet it is still necessary to have something on hand in case of an injury.
When it comes to local and brief outdoor explorations, I prefer creating my own first aid kits with ziploc bags. I customize these kits based on the specific adventure, ensuring their lightweight, adaptable, and easy-to-carry nature.
Contents of a DIY First Aid Kit
The contents of your first aid kits will vary based on your family’s needs. If any of your children are highly allergic to bee stings, you must consider this when selecting the items. Since there is a significant number of ticks in the Northeast, we always make sure to include tick removal tools.
When considering special circumstances, think about whether your child has a strong aversion to blood. In such cases, it may be necessary to bring additional gloves and gauze to minimize the potential messiness of providing care for injuries.
If you dislike bandaids, consider bringing fun ones that resemble stickers rather than traditional bandaids.
One Plus One
For longer trips where I desire additional flexibility in dressing cuts, scrapes, abrasions, and punctures, I include a few feet of Cover-Roll Stretch tape that is rolled up on itself. This versatile adhesive bandage, also made by BSN Medical, utilizes the same remarkably adhesive properties as the aforementioned Leukotape P. Cover-Roll Stretch is slightly wider than regular tape, offers better breathability, possesses a smoother surface, and has stretching capabilities. By cutting band-aids and patches of various sizes, incorporating toilet paper or cloth as gauze, and applying the product over the wound, you can be assured of excellent adhesion. With these two items at your disposal, you can effectively dress practically any minor injury.
When I go on longer trips that last for several days, especially if I am engaging in activities such as climbing, mountaineering, or backcountry skiing where there is a higher chance of getting a more severe injury compared to hiking on a wide trail, I will include a suture kit in my usual lightweight first aid kit. This kit consists of a few extremely lightweight needles with suture thread and a hemostat for guiding the needle. However, it is important that either you or someone in your group knows how to suture in order for this addition to be helpful. Therefore, do not add these supplies if you or any of your companions are not willing to suture a cut.
Anti-Infection
When taking day trips, I don’t concern myself greatly with antiseptics. I will simply rinse a wound with water to cleanse it in the field, and then apply antiseptics or ointments once I am back home. However, during multi-day trips, it is advisable to employ antiseptic swabs to aid in disinfecting a wound after washing it, and to use antibacterial ointment while dressing the wound.
Pill box
In addition to the necessary treatment supplies, I typically include a blend of medications in my kit for extended day hikes and overnight outings. These medications serve to address various minor and significant emergencies. To store these pills, I utilize old 35mm film canisters, although it is likely that medical experts would discourage this practice. Despite this, I combine multiple pills in each film canister, yet ensure they are clearly labeled to prevent any confusion regarding their identities.
The items that I typically bring with me are:
Ibuprofen can be used as a general pain reliever and to reduce fever, swelling in infections, injuries, and sunburns.
Usually, Pepto-Bismol pills are effective in helping you return to the trailhead if you experience digestive ailments and/or diarrhea.
Diphenhydramine, also known as Benadryl, is an antihistamine that serves to alleviate allergies and anaphylaxis. It effectively mitigates symptoms such as itching, nasal and sinus congestion, nausea, sea sickness, insomnia, and anxiety. It is well tolerated for a broad range of uses and activities. It induces drowsiness, which can be beneficial when desiring to use it for aiding sleep while in remote areas.
Prescription pain relievers are used for moderate to severe pain and are classified as controlled substances, thus making them difficult to obtain. When traveling abroad, it is advisable to retain these pills in their original containers as evidence that you are not involved in drug trafficking.
Cyclobenzaprine or Flexeril (RX) are effective muscle relaxants for acute muscle spasms, regardless of whether they are caused by injury or a natural tendency to spasm. It is recommended to have one of these medications on hand if you have a history of leg, back, or neck spasms. However, it should be noted that Flexeril can induce notable drowsiness.
One possible rephrasing could be: – A medication like Imodium which functions as an anti-diarrheal agent.
There are numerous backcountry ailments that can only be resolved with time or a helicopter. Ultimately, the key to having a practical, lightweight first-aid kit lies in the contents rather than the quantity.
