Going for an outdoor adventure needs proper planning and packing, out of which, a first-aid kid is one of the most important essentials you must not forget. If you’re new to this kind of packing or don’t know how to start, ask yourself a few questions: What if you don’t carry the first-aid kit? Will there be any consequences for that? Is there anything you’re missing or forgot to add?

People generally carry redundant items because of their habits but forget to analyse if it is really necessary. If you’re moving towards the backcountry, always keep the phrase “Prevention is better than cure” in mind. You can always start by making a list that should include emergency items and other medications. Make a separate kit or box as per your convenience for all the essentials. You can even carry some additional supplies if hiking in a group.

Check out this list of items and see what you can always carry on a hike.

Medications

Keeping vital pills won’t weigh much and you can easily add them in a small bag. Ensure you’re having a stock of the pills (prescribed and non-prescribed), so you have everything during the emergency.

PRO TIP: Add some grains of rice in your bag of pills, so they can absorb any moisture.

Advil that can help you provide relief from the common headache, pain, and even be considered to lessen inflammation and fever.

Benadryl that can be used as sleeping pills as well. It is generally recommended to get relief from allergy or initial anaphylaxis.

Asprin is always an excellent pick for the first-aid kit. What if someone from the group suffers a heart attack? This pill can help lessen the chances of death.

For Wound Care

If you ever check any hiker’s first aid kit, the maximum area would be filled with the stuff for treating wounds. These essentials eliminate the risk of infections, stop bleeding, and help in healing faster.

Important items for treating any wound should always be present in the kid, especially if you’re travelling in the pristine area. Backcountry travelling gives you the privilege to be treated in a cleaner area. Also, ensure you follow up on your injuries once you reach home and get proper treatment if the signs of infection are seen. You need to carry:

Triple Antibiotic Ointment that should be applied when the wound stops bleeding completely. Clean using water and put some cream on the injury to avoid any infections.

3-inch Fabric Band-Aids are kept for the protection from minor scrapes or cuts. Why fabric band-aids? Because they are breathable and stretchable. Also, they don’t get gross with time.

Alcohol Pads are a great pick to clean the skin around the injury before you start the dressing.

Nexcare Steri-Strips are the thin and long tape pieces that are used across any wide cut, so they can pull the skin together. They are just like the stitches one can apply manually for keeping the wound closed.

Irrigation Syringe, a 5ml syringe that can be a great help to push clean water into deep cuts that can easily flush out any harmful thing.

Spenco 2nd Skin Blister Pads are the small pads that can easily stick to blisters and small burns, protect them and let them heal quickly without any discomfort.

 

So, having these important items in the first-aid kit while hiking can help you deal with any mishap easily, especially if you’re planning to spend a lot of time in the wilderness.