Whenever we go on an adventure, whether hiking, hunting, fishing, or any other outdoor activity, we run the risk of suffering an injury, wound, or accident. Regardless of the severity, it is always important to be prepared to take care of it and in extreme cases to stabilize the situation while help arrives. That’s why I’m going to explain how to prepare your best survival first aid kit.
It is difficult to have a first aid kit that covers all the needs, however, the objective of the first aid kit is to be the best prepared to solve small problems that arise along the way and in serious situations, to have the ability to stabilize the situation while getting help.
How To Prepare Your First Aid Kit Step By Step
The first thing you should consider about how to prepare your first aid kit is the duration and the terrain you are going to. Is it just one day, are you going to stay overnight, how long/days is your adventure, is it in the jungle, is it in the mountains, is it in the desert…? Keep in mind that the first aid kit should be neither too bulky nor too heavy, a small bag with the essential things is more than enough. The most important thing is that we know how to use what we put inside; it is useless to fill the backpack with things that we do not know how to use.
Ideally, everyone should carry their first aid kit, since everyone has specific needs, although if you go in a group, two or three people can be enough (remember to ask about the particular medication needs of each member). This will benefit everyone to optimize space and carry less equipment.
How To Prepare Your Best Survival First Aid Kit for Camping
The container is as important as the contents and should only be used for the first aid kit. It should be waterproof since some medicines or materials can lose their function if they get wet or damp. Ideally, it should be eye-catching so that anyone can identify it, preferably red or white and with a red cross, although an airtight bag could be useful.
There are ready-made outdoor first-aid kits that can serve as a base for you to compliment them with whatever you need. Try to have divisions so you can easily find what you need and be sure to label or indicate the purpose of each item you keep, for example, medicines.
Contents of The First Aid Kit Checklist
The following list is a reference with some recommendations for you to keep in mind so that you don’t forget anything while preparing your first aid kit. Remember that the first aid kit is for personal use and that everyone has particular needs and specific considerations, for example: being allergic to some medication.
The first thing you should know about how to prepare your first aid kit is the most common reasons for needing it:
Falls and trauma
Exhaustion, sunstroke, dehydration, intoxication, or an allergic reaction due to a sting.
With this in mind, we can classify the contents into 3 groups:
Basic first aid care
Medications and/or additional treatments
Tools and supplies
First Aid Kit Supply List
Antiseptic wipes (BZK or alcohol-based)
Antibacterial ointment
Assorted adhesive bandages
Butterfly bandages/adhesive wound closure strips
Gauze (various sizes)
Medical adhesive tape (10 m. roll, Min. 1″ wide)
Blister treatment
Ibuprofen or other pain-relieving medications
Insect sting treatment (anti-itch)
Antihistamines for treatment of allergic reactions.
Splinter tweezers (fine tip)
Safety pins
First aid manual or information cards
Additional Medications And/or Treatments
Prescription medications (e.g., antibiotics)
Gel or spray for sunburn relief
Throat lozenges
Eye drops to lubricate the eyes
Diarrhea medicine
Antacid tablets
Oral salts or oral rehydration salts
Glucose or sugar (to treat hypoglycemia)
Injectable epinephrine (for severe allergic reactions)
Aspirin (mainly for heart attack response)
Camping First Aid Kit Tools and Supplies
Knife (or multi-tool with a razor)
Safety razor blade (or scalpel with #15 or #12 blade)
Surgical needle and thread
Cotton-tipped swabs
Thermometer
18-gauge irrigation syringe with catheter
Medical/surgical gloves (nitrile preferred; avoid latex)
Portable CPR mask
Small notepad with waterproof pen or pencil
Waterproof container for storing supplies and medications
Reflective emergency blanket
Hand sanitizer
Biodegradable soap
Final Conclusions
Remember that this list is a reference for you to have some options for the best survival first aid kit, however, each scenario and person is different with very particular needs. And if you have the opportunity to take first aid courses, even better.
Check our post Outdoor Survival Items for Save your Life.