First Aid Kit

Where ever you go, packing a first aid kit is important, as is knowing some basic first aid in case of an emergency. Sometimes a simple untreated cut is all it takes to turn a thrilling adventure into a draining slog.

A properly stocked first aid kit is extremely cheap peace of mind to have around. You can purchase complete ready-made kits, but it will be more useful to you create your own (for example: Many ready-made kits have latex gloves, so people with latex allergies would have a latex-free kit with nitrile or vinyl gloves).

It is not hard to build your own first aid kit. It is basically a combination of two things: The components and the case.

Bare minimum, a basic first-aid kit needs to have:

• Antiseptic wipes (preferably Betadine)
• Gauze, vet wrap and medical tape
• Band-aids and liquid bandage
• Antibiotic cream and burn cream
• Hand sanitizer or Betadine in a small plastic bottle
• Disposable gloves
• Tweezers and scissors
• Finger splint
• Instant cold/hot pack

Many of these components you can probably scavenge from other places for free, if you look hard enough. If you have any existing medical condition, you should pack accordingly for that as well:

• If you're diabetic (particularly Type 1) you might have an issue with Hypoglycemia, and should bring some small candies, dehydrated fruit snacks etc.
• If you're asthmatic, pack your inhaler.
• If you have serious allergies, pack an Epipen.

There is no “right” case for a first aid kit, except for whatever is most practical in the place the first aid kit is going. If your first aid kit is going to be mounted to a wall at you might want it in some kind of small cabinet, where everything inside is within easy reach without having to fish around.

Most of you building first aid kits will probably be taking them out into the field, or leaving them in your cars. In this case you will want something a lot more portable. Any canvas pouch will do, and the type used for tactical webbing is perfect. There are numerous results online for pouches specifically with first aid in mind, and some of them come with intermediary “rip away” panels, that allow them to be quickly detached from your backpack without having to undo the PALS/MOLLE straps.