BACKPACKING FIRST AID KIT

Item: Generic
Description & Purpose Solo Kit Group Kit
(Common Name)

DON'T FORGET

Research beforehand the conditions, identify

The thing between risks, make conservative decisions, & respect
Critical Critical
your ears your limits. Also, be resourceful when a first aid
situation occurs -- you can't plan for everything.

MEDICATIONS

Pain relief and anti-inflammatory; fever and

Ibuprofen (Advil) Suggested Suggested
headache reducer. NSAID. Potential allergen.

Acetaminophen Pain relief; fever and headache reducer.

Optional Suggested
(Tylenol) Substitute for NSAID, or combine for extra relief.

Heart attack prevention. Need correlates to age

Aspirin Depends Depends
and health of individual(s).

Loperamide Antidiarrheal. Can be a trip-saver: improves

Suggested Suggested
(Imodium) comfort, prevents dehydration.

GI back-up is common after long flights & drives

Herbal laxative Depends Suggested
to trailheads. Alt: laxative pills or powders.

Fast-acting heart burn relief. Usually a known

Ranitidine (Zantac) Depends Suggested
issue beforehand. Alt: Tums.

Diphenhydramine Anti-histamine, for acute allergic reactions.

Suggested Suggested
(Benadryl) Doubles as a sleep aid - same drug & dosage.

Non-drowsy relief from seasonal allergies. Alt:

Cetirizine (Zyrtec) Depends Depends
Zyrtec-D or Loratadine (Claritin).

Epinephrine For known anaphylaxis reaction to bee sting,

Depends Depends
injection (EpiPen) peanuts, etc. Rx only; use needs physician okay.

Prefer coffee, but pill is fast & effective. Full pill

Caffeine (No-Doz) Optional Suggested
can be very strong; try quarter or half.

WOUNDS & INJURIES

Bandages (Band- Run-of-the-mill cuts & scrapes. Assorted sizes &

Suggested Suggested
Aids) finger/knuckle. Breathable fabric longer-lasting.

Skin closures Substitute for stitches. Practice beforehand -

Suggested Suggested
(Steri-Strips) need to get these right.

Sawyer ChitoSAM Fast-acting blood clotter for severe bleeding from

Depends Depends
Active Dressing knife, firearm, fall, etc. Alt: Celox granules.

Part of repair kit. Quickly seals cracked skin on

Krazy Glue Suggested Suggested
fingers & feet. Avoid more extensive use.

Dressings & DIY bandages. 2-in roll is functional,

Roll gauze Optional Suggested
compact. Alt: gauze pads or clothing.
BACKPACKING FIRST AID KIT

Item: Generic
Description & Purpose Solo Kit Group Kit
(Common Name)

Triple antibiotic Fights infection. Single-use packets or squeeze

Optional Suggested
(Neosporin) tube. More critical on longer trips.

Nitrile disposable Prevent body fluid transmission and wound

Optional Suggested
gloves contamination, from group member or stranger.

More adhesive than med tape. Put 12-in strips on

Leukotape P Suggested Suggested
discarded mail label paper. In group, add roll.

Very versatile. Stabilize joints & secure

Cloth tape Optional Optional
bandages. Alt: Leukotape roll.

Improve adhesiveness of bandages & tapes. Store

Benzoin tincture Suggested Suggested
in dropper bottle. More critical for foot care.

Combat chafing, but not a substitute for regular

Bonnie's Balm Suggested Suggested
butt-washing. Double-duty for foot care.

TOOLS

Cut tapes, gauze, clothing, cord, etc. Solo:

Scissors Suggested Suggested
Victorinix Classic. Group: Fiskars Blunt Tip, 5-in

Precision For splinters, ticks, cactus needles, etc. For tick-

Suggested Suggested
tweezers infested areas, consider additional tick ring.

For hands, tools, and possibly wounds. Decant

Hand sanitizer Suggested Suggested
into 1 oz bottle. Alt: Dr. Bronner's + water.

WORTH CONSIDERATION, BUT DOES NOT MAKE MY CUT

Take this or iburpfen. Need less naproxen, b/c it's

Naproxen (Aleve) Unnecessary Unnecessary
longer lasting. Not as fast-acting though.

Same active ingredient & dosage as OTC med for

Sleep aid Unnecessary Unnecessary
acute allergy relief, diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

Transparent film Super Band-Aid: waterproof, see-through, barrier.

Unnecessary Unnecessary
(Tegaderm) Reundant with bandages & tape, usually overkill.

Clean dirt, rocks, & organic matter out of wounds.

Irrigation syringe Unnecessary Unnecessary
Improvise with H20 bottle. Also consider: Q-tips.

Self-adherent tape Stabilize joints, secure bandages, protect skin.

Unnecessary Unnecessary
(Coban) Stretchy, reusable. Redundant with tapes.

Sling or stabilize bones or joints. Need is unlikely.

Triangular dressing Unnecessary Unnecessary
Can be improvised with clothing & gear.

Protects rescuer. Lightweight but bulky; low

CPR mask Unnecessary Unnecessary
chance of use; can be improvised with glove.

A nice-to-have for unlikely injury. Alt: MacGyver

SAM splint Unnecessary Unnecessary
one from poles, pads, clothing, cord.