Many cuts, scrapes and other minor injuries occur away from home medicine cabinets, making mobile first aid kits invaluable for dressing wounds and preventing infections. But simply throwing a few adhesive bandages into plastic bag provides inadequate protection for the most common types of minor injuries and ailments. Packing a first aid kit ensures a well-rounded means of responding to many common wounds and other health issues.
Bandages and Wound Dressings
Most basic to any first aid kit are bandages and other material, such as gauze or cotton, for dressing open wounds. The American Red Cross recommends at least two large absorbent dressing pads (5 inches by 9 inches), 25 adhesive bandages for smaller cuts, two roller bandages for wrapping wounds or stabilizing sprains, and at lease 10 sterile gauze pads. Don't forget a 10-yard roll of cloth medical tape (some people are allergic to the plastic kind) for securing gauze bandages to wounds.
Cleansing Material
Cleaning wounds before applying dressings is essential to avoiding infections. The Department of Homeland Security's emergency preparedness website, Ready.gov, recommends either soap or antibiotic-laden cleansing towelettes for every first aid kit. Antiseptic wipes, including those containing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, also provide effective wound cleansing in compact packets. The Red Cross suggests keeping at least five of these wipe packets in the kit. A tube of antibiotic ointment offers additional protection from wound infections.
Swelling Relief
Swelling arises from outdoor activity in two primary ways: allergic reactions and trauma from bumps or other injuries. Instant cold packs or compresses, typically activated by crunching up the compress contents, provide relief. Keep at least one in the kit. Also keep a few antihistamine tablets in the kit for relief from swelling related to allergies and insect bites or stings.
Hand Protection
Applying dressings to wounds--particularly on other people--requires protection from blood and other bodily fluids. Keep at least two pairs of non-latex (again, some people are allergic to latex) protective gloves in every first aid kit for this purpose.
Warmth
Emergency space blankets provide a compact means of bringing quick warmth to those suffering from hypothermia or shock. Keep at least one in every kit.
Over-the-Counter Meds
Keeping a few travel packets or a small bottle of aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen provides relief from headaches or fevers. Add a small travel-size roll of antacids for heartburn or other stomach discomfort.
Other Implements
Scissors for cutting tape or gauze, thermometers for gauging fevers, and tweezers for removing splinters or other debris from wounds help round out first aid kits.
