1. Into the Wild
When you go to the wilderness to get away from it all, you do just that. "All" includes your medicine cabinet, the pharmacy and the emergency room. Therefore, it is important to take a first-aid kit with you and know how to use it. General things to consider when assembling your kit are the length of your trip, the number of people in your party, what you will be doing, the geography of the location and the distance to medical help. Consider, for example, that rock climbing will expose you to a different set of hazards than fishing. Chances are you won't have to deal with major illness or injury, but even so there are many common problems that confront wilderness goers. These include blisters, insect stings, cuts and scrapes, sore muscles and sunburn.
2. The Right Tool for the Job
The basic tools to take along are tweezers and small scissors. Include a variety of bandages in different sizes, and some sterile pads and gauze. Other items to consider taking are razor blades, elastic wrap, safety pins, moleskin, a syringe, latex gloves, forceps, cotton swabs or a tourniquet. These tools are for wound care, removal of splinters and ticks, and stopping bleeding. If people will be handling fish hooks on this trip, include a small pair of wire cutters.
3. Your Portable Medicine Cabinet
Be sure to include instant heat and cold packs, useful for strains and sprains. Take along over the counter pain relievers and fever reducers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen or aspirin. Other useful medicines to include are hydrocortisone ointment, antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide and antihistamine tablets. With these items you are prepared to clean and disinfect cuts and abrasions and treat insect bites.
4. A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way
It is always possible that you will encounter more serious illness or injury while in the wilderness. It is a good idea to take a basic first-aid class or wilderness first aid class so you will know how to handle more serious emergencies. A pocket-sized first aid manual is also a crucial component of a good wilderness first-aid kit.
5. Shopping for Your Kit
Ready-made first-aid kits for wilderness and other travel are available at sporting good stores, camping outfitters and department stores. Look for one that is lightweight, water proof and contains the items you need for your particular trip. You can also put together a kit yourself by assembling the necessary items, a manual and a sturdy, water proof bag. As a third option, you can purchase a pre-made kit and then add to it or take out items you don't want. Most come in handy packs with pockets and sections for organizing the gear, and you can use the pack trip after trip, restocking it as needed.
