I was just wondering as to what most people would consider the best contents of a First Aid kit for hillwalkers. Having seen most of the commercial ones in outdoors stores I've come to the conclusion that the value of the contents probably add up to about half the price of the kits. Any suggestions for a DIY First Aid Kit?

3 triangular bandages.
3 dressings (2 large, 1 small).
Zinc oxide tape.

All the other stuff is a waste of space - you can use triangular bandages for anything that might be serious (i.e. for immobolizing limbs or holding dressings in place). Zinc oxide for cuts, broken fingers, in lieu of safety pins.

You should of course seek professional advice - anyone got a copy of Langmuir to hand as it may have advice. My choice comes from doing several weeks first aid training and the typical injuries I seen out and about.

I'd add some of those antiseptic wipes, just for getting the gunge off rock grazes and stuff like that; some Compeed if you're prone to blisters (or more likely enjoy giving plasters away to your mates; possibly a suture kit, especially since it'll weigh next to nothing anyway.

If you're trekking in remote areas, the whole thing is a slightly different proposition.

Langmuir includes sutures, a triangular bandage, zinc oxide, Melonin gauze squares (which I also carry) wound dressing gauze, antiseptic, scissors and that's pretty much it.

If mountain accidents are serious, you're pretty well stuffed unless the MRT get there pretty quick, so you may as well carry stuff to deal with the treatable.

Indeed, there is a difference between First Aid Kit and generally useful stuff (I also carry compeed and antiseptic wipes).

However the critical stuff needs to cover the following scenarios:

1) ABC failure
2) Trauma (i.e. invasive damage)

For both, the most important thing to carry is "KNOWLEDGE" - i.e. training. Triangular bandages and dressings help with stopping blood loss and shock.

On the courses I did, they kept reminding us that First Aid = Avoiding Death, leave the next stage to MRT/Paramedics - this is important in relation to moving the casulty (i.e. don't move them unless they'll cop it for some other reason).

I also take an elastic support stretchy thing in a medium size. Bit of comfort for less serious sprains. In colder weather I carry an ultra-light sleeping bag for hypothermic casualties (doesn't take up much space) - you can even wrap it around your shoulders on ultra-cold lunch breaks.

I also stick in some plasters (stops the blood getting in your sarnies) and substitute Micropore for Zinc Oxide tape cos I'm allergic to the stuff. Safety pins can be useful, but not normally for actual first aid!

Si

I’d would also include mild pain killers such as aspirin/ ibuprofen (can also help with mild stroke/heart attacks and inflammation). But obviously use one you know you have no allergies to.

Cheapest place to buy a first aid kit is Superdrug - they're about half the price of the outdoor store ones. Yes, you end up paying more per plaster if you get them in a kit, but then you're not left with loads of half-used boxes cluttering up the house.

I think it's best to carry one or two of everything - it's Sod's Law that the day you leave behind your triangular bandage/blister plaster is always the first day of your life you actually need it, and most of these things weigh next to nothing. You can leave behind the scissors if you've got some on your knife/tool, and iodine drops double as water purifier and antiseptic.

Nobody's mentioned ibuprofen/paracetomol/aspirin and loperamide/imodium yet, but it's a good idea to have a few of each, even if they only get used as hangover cures.

I carry a different selection of stuff abroad, at least in wilder places, than in the UK. I'd add Tinazadol or Metronazadol (or whatever the Flagyl-type anti-giardia drugs are called, plus a wide spectrum anti-biotic and, yep, imodium, though I've never used the latter as a hangover cure... Don't fancy your hangovers Joan.

Not strictly a First Aid item, but my Blokka bag (as given away by Trail with a subscription offer) came in useful to wrap up a casualty on a very wet November day on Tryfan - well, actually the casualty was a dog, but she collapsed and had to be carried down in the bag, which kept her warm and dry

Joan, thanks for the tip on Superdrug, they have a pretty good £9.99 kit, which I bought and added a few bits too. It costs double that for a kit of similar spec in an outdoors shop.

I was going to buy a case and make my own up but the only case I saw was £12 in the outdoors shop, and couldn't see anything to improvise with.

The case that the Superdrug kit comes in seems quite good, so not bad value. Thanks.

I have a superdrug kit which is quite heavy and over spec'd but it does a good carry case and stripped of some stuff and added to with others has done me well. (Pretty much as listed above)

Fortunately I have never had need to use any of it, not even for blisters...

Trail are giving away a lifesystem kit free with the subsription offer at the mo...maybe worth a look.

just don't flaunt it outside your pack!

hmm how much is a trail sub? now that OTH has died... I'm looking for a new mag and trail may be worth investigating

Trail is generally worth looking at...SOME really good writing...I think the sub for a year is about £35.

The american gear manufacturers Outdoor Research www.orgear.com do a variety of first aid kits of varying sizes; the advantage is that they will sell you the bags without the contents so you can make up your own.
Tend to use a smaller kit these days, containing:
-analgesia (paracetamol plus an NSAID like diclofenac or piroxicam - which dissolves in your mouth leaving a dreadful taste)
-a couple of plasters, a square of tulle graz type gel mesh dressing that won't stick to wounds and keeps them clean
-a piece of melolin and some gauze
-a roller and a triangular bandage (of pertex!)
-an aspirin (in the event of finding someone in the throes of a heart attack)
-a ventolin inhaler (for me)
-a whistle and foil bag
-green oropharyngeal airway
Size is a micro stuff sack; and weight about 200g. This seems to cover most common minor ailments and a couple of life threatening ones, lest - god forbid - something bad happens. Worked well the other day when my companion tried to amputate his thumb on the French Ridge below Aspiring...

Having said that should probably admit that the main medical kit I carry when at work weighs in at 15kg and only just fits in a 60 litre bag, so I can't really advise on lightweight kits...
:-)

Ben, what do you do for a living?

I'm guessing you're either a paramedic (or similar) OR what you do is flippin' dangerous!!!

Si(C)

I'm an ITU dr by trade, but the great thing about this year in NZ is scooting about in the rescue helicopter - people pay good money to go on scenic flights, and I seem to be paid to do it. It's a tough job but someone has to do it eh? :-)

Ahh, all makes sense now.

My heart bleeds for you, SO much hard work.

Mutter, mutter, grumble, grumble!

Si(C)