What to put in a First-Aid Kit??

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Robin D
25/05/2007 at 19:34
hi there..

I have a first-aid kit for walks but I think I may have too much stuff.. and was wondering what you all take out for first-aid kits..

also where can I get a truely waterproof first-aid bag?

thanks in advance
Reiver
25/05/2007 at 19:58
I used to carry quite a lot of stuff, and then I sat down and considered every single item as to do i really need this, my first aid kit (for day walks) consists of just one item now .. this .. Can't really think of anything else that would be necessary
Old n Grey
25/05/2007 at 20:30
Having recently completed a 4 day First Aid course I had a look at my FA kit and found that the “Outdoor” kit was fairly close to useless. As a result I have ditched most of it, keeping only the medical wipes, fabric plaster strip, triangular bandage and Ibrufen tablets. I have bought 2 medium size wound dressings, these are a 120mm x 120mm absorbent pad with a bandage attached (very similar to an Army shell dressing).

These, a bit of knowledge, ingenuity and a mobile phone (when it gets a signal) should deal with most incidents.
Robin D
25/05/2007 at 20:43
thanks.. I'll give some idea of what I currently have in my kit..

sissors
Tweezers
spray plaster
Spray antiseptic fluid
2 x CPR breathing barrier
4 x pair latex gloves
6 x fabric strip plaster
assorted waterproof plasters
2 x tri-angular bandage
4 x 50mm streach bandage
4 x 75mm woven bandage
2 x eye pad/bandage
12 capsules Anadin
various safety pins
4 x large inadine gauze pad (iodine impregnated)
2 x fast healing gauze (non stick)
3 x padded non-stick dressings 120mm x 120mm
1 x antiseptic cream (tube)
2 x survival blanket (foil type)
and the knowledge to use it all..

but it takes up allot of room in my pack and I know most of it will prob never be needed (as all first-aid kits should be) and on top of that.. it's heavy!!

Edited: 25/05/2007 at 20:48
Reiver
25/05/2007 at 21:50
That sounds like the kit you would carry as party leader or search and rescue duties. The first question you ned to ask yourself is, is the first aid kit to treat myself or to treat others.
Tom Ganderton
25/05/2007 at 21:59
The ready made first aid kits sold in outdoors shops are fairly useless - it is better to make up your own kit from proper stuff from chemists. I keep all my first aid kit in the small sized aloksak bag. It consists of; second skin blister gell, roll of micropore tape, small bandage, antiseptic wipes, plasters for cuts and/or blisters, 3 safety pins, paracetamol and ibrufen and included in my knife are scissors and tweezers.

The fact is that no matter how much you take, you will never be able to account for every eventuallity and so perhaps the most important bit of first aid kit is (arguably) a mobile phone
Robin D
25/05/2007 at 22:22
thanks Tom..

the kit I have I made up.. and true not everything can be planned for.. guess I'm just a bit paranoid..

you see my kit is so big because, when I was younger (in my teens) I done alot of hill walking and when in a compatition ended up with hypotheria, the other two with me ran for help, one fell and staved his ancle.. the other got lost.. was shear chance we were found in time.. I spent 3 days in hospital, when I got out.. I was asked by one of the guys running the comp for my non-existant first-aid kit.. the docs told me I would have been alot better if I had a blanket. and the other guy could have walked for help if he had a bandage..

so I try to cover what I think can go wrong.. it's a mind thing.. and so I'm not trying to cut down.. but if left to my thoughts I'd prob end up adding to it lol..

so thought I'd look for some sugestions :)

so far I think I may be ok removing about half..

where I walk I never get a signal.. on any network, so my phone is no use :(

though thanks for the list knowing what is in your kits helps.. thanks
Ian Mackenzie
25/05/2007 at 22:39
I agree it's best to make up your own. I don't know who decides what goes in the made up ones, but they don't seem to have been near a hill.

Mine's much the same as Tom's. Two other things I've made a lot of use of: small tube of cream for insect bites, partic useful if camping, and a small phial of sterile saline for eyewash (I always seem to get muck in my eyes...).

I don't bother with plasters. I always keep a few feet of duck tape wrapped round a walking pole for running repairs to groundsheet etc. In combination with a bit of gauze, it does fine as sticking plaster, too.

Oh, and sunblock, and a small tin of vaseline, though they are not exactly "1st aid". Antiseptic handwash lives in a pocket so there's never an excuse for not using it before food prep.

jonno
25/05/2007 at 23:05
I think we,ve been here before ,for what its worth ,the best first aid kit is carried in your head. Without the ability to react properly any "tools" become useless, then the realisation that a gigantic kit is by and large pretty much useless by itself .
A few plasters, a couple of bandages, iboprofen and aspirin (although strictly speaking you can only give them to yourself ) and all else is window dressing.
By the way ,why 2x CPR breathing barriers expecting a plane crash?
Incidentally ,they have changed it again, less breaths more compressions.
jonno
25/05/2007 at 23:15
If someones heart stops on a mountain , it would be hard to imagine anyone keeping the blood pumping to their brain via first aid techniques long enough for the emergancy services to get there.
So ,realisticly first aid on mountains is for keeping someone breathing whose heart as not stopped, stemming blood flow from cuts etc and keeping break or fall victims warm and out of shock till MRS arrive,anything less and the best thing is to get em off the hill asap.
Mal Mawr
25/05/2007 at 23:45
"Incidentally ,they have changed it again, less breaths more compressions."

Or no breaths, just compressions.

A few plasters, sticky bandage for bad ankle sprain, Ibuprofen and paracetamol (one is pretty useless without the other for musculo-skeletal stuff), metal foil blanket, tick tweezers and bite/sting cream.
jonno
25/05/2007 at 23:55
The no breaths option ,follows that the compressions themselves draw in enough oxygen to the lungs to survive.
The wife (a nurse ) told me about that one ,they were told it a year or so ago now.
But a month ago at a first aid refresher ,I broached the subject and the trainer ,basically ignored me and changed the subject ,so I had another punt thinking he had misunderstood me ,but he clearly did not want to go down that route and muttered something about "some evidence suggests but" , shut up Jonno I suspect he was thinking.
It was a red cross course, previuosly I have attended Wymas courses (first of which was a four dayer).
ALoveSupreme
26/05/2007 at 00:04
Blimey Highlander, that is a small hospital!

What about rehydration salts eg Dioralyte?

Robin D
26/05/2007 at 00:40
I agree with the "Without the ability to react properly any "tools" become useless" so all I have I can use and use on an almost daily basis with exception to the CPR barrier..

as for rehydration I carry Salt and sugar with me and mixed correctly with water it will replenish the bodys salt requirements and give glucose to boost energy, making rehydration faster and better..

the mix should be 250ml water - 1 dessert spoon of sugar - 1/4 tea spoon of salt mixed and disolved then drunk as close to body temp as possible.

was told of it by a surgen friend and a freind who plays alot of rugby, then some years later while in Holland I found a scoop to measure the amounts more accurately.. doesn't taste too bad either.

though as for the first-aid pack I think I'll remove alot of it, or at least get another set-up for day walks..

any sugestions on where to get a sutable red water proof bag/case to put it in? the one I have. well it holds all the above and isn't water tight (found out the hard way.. )

"Cunning" Duncan
26/05/2007 at 00:49
any sugestions on where to get a sutable red water proof bag/case to put it in? the one I have. well it holds all the above and isn't water tight (found out the hard way.. )

I got mine from BPL.co.uk

Recently went through mine and split it between first aid kit (which I can't be *rsed listing n being forced to defend myself over) and blister-kit. The blister kit was most used and grew after stops on the Southern Upland Way.

I think it is the one bit of kit that gets added to even if you never use it. Just in case.
Lighthiker
26/05/2007 at 06:14
Please go to this link to check my selection for first aid and two links for further info.
jonno
26/05/2007 at 09:40
Someone do the link for the previous thread on this , I would but am useless at the computor.
No defence required Duncan, every one must take what they are comfortable with.
A little or a lot ,with knowledge any is commendable and thoughtful to others.
ptc*
26/05/2007 at 09:58
Firstly, I hope Reiver was joking...

The best kits are Adeventure Medical Kits, tiny wee things with the bare essentials.
I always carry climbers finger tape as well. It closes wounds, repairs feet, will hold your rucksack and tent together. Indespensible.
Always carry Ibuprofen, Paracetomol and Rennies too.

I always carry a sachet per day of proper (High5 or SIS) isotonic drink mix on overnighters as well.
morph
26/05/2007 at 12:37
cling film!

has a multitude of uses, including bad burns! - weighs next to nothing, keep it clean tho!

i also carry a variety of analgesics, anti inflammatries etc,

if people are concerned about having an MI carry some aspirin!

as for cardiac arrests the single most important thing you need is professional HELP. without it they will not survive despite your most valiant efforts.
John Burley
26/05/2007 at 14:40
There's a strange kind of logic at play that states the size of a first aid kit should depend on the number in the group. Admittedly, the more there are of you and the longer you are out there, the more likely you are to need a first aid kit... but the kind of wound that may need treating is largely independent of these variables. Putting it another way, the likelihood of needing the kit goes up with the number of people, but the kinds of accidents to anticipate are equally likely for all equally susceptible people. Much more important than scaling your medical kit to the group is scaling it to the accessibility of proper medical care and adapting it to the environment you are in. When trekking & travelling in the developing world, I carry a strerile needle set (despite my phobias!) - but when in the UK it is more important to carry a phone and get help fast.

In the end you have to make a cost-benefit decision - how much weight, space and funds are you prepared to give to cope with something that should never happen. And there's little benefit in carrying something you have no idea how to use. Better to invest in good first aid training and make decisions to reduce the risk of injury.

That being said, there are several good lists, one of the most comprehensive coming from Dr Keith Conover http://www.pitt.edu/~kconover/ftp/Everyday%20Emergency%20Kit.pdf

Thats a start... leave out whatever seems like overkill to you, but don't econimise on knowledge!

Speaking of which, that reminds me to get on a refresher course...

Edited: 26/05/2007 at 14:43
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