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.

A properly stocked first aid kit should have everything within easy reach.

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
• Tweezers and scissors
• Disposable gloves
• Hand sanitizer or Betadine in a small plastic bottle

If you have room, you might also want to consider:

• Instant cold/hot pack
• Ace bandage and safety pins
• Finger splint (especially for the protest crowd)

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.
• If you wear contacts, or eyes dry out all the time, pack extra eyedrops.

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 portable. Any simple canvas pouch will do, and the kinds with zippers & tactical webbing are perfect. There are numerous results online for pouches of all shapes and sizes with complimentary first aid patches. 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.

You will want to keep the case sorted, so that you are not emptying the entire thing out during emergencies trying to find one thing you need. Basic organization in advance (Band aids kept together in one spot, creams in another, etc) helps reduce a lot of aggravation on the field. Some pouches might have internal compartments or slots to put things. Others might be a big open space. Partitioning pouch interiors is easily accomplished with a series of smaller pouches. Military compass pouches work really well for this, but anything thin and compact works.