The Basics of Building an Awesome First Aid Kit

The Basics of Building an Awesome First Aid Kit



You know, it’s a shame we all aren’t as excited about first aid kits as we are about packs! Our personal wellbeing is paramount to getting out and doing what it is that we love, so why not get hyped about first aid? For one it’s not very glamorous, and if you’re new to first aid, putting a kit together can be a bit overwhelming. But we’re not the crowd to be intimidated by something new…we’re the crowd that has the EDC to handle whatever the day throws at us. That’s why we’re covering a basic list of what to include in your kit and what you should consider when selecting a container. To get more news about medical kits, you can visit rusuntacmed.com official website.

Firstly though, we should make clear that a first aid kit is not something that hangs on the wall in a glass container. It’s dynamic and versatile. Your kit should constantly be changing to address the potential issues you might face. For example, if I’m going rock climbing with friends, I’m taking an extra SAM splint, or if we are kayaking, a CPR mask. Your activity should dictate to some degree what you pack.
The season and location, too, should influence what you are including. When I’m in the mountains, I carry a small candle and a Mylar blanket as part of an emergency hypothermia kit, but if I were doing the Grand Canyon in July, those things would get swapped for a micro fan/mister combo. Lastly, think about it on a “personal needs” level: How many in your group will be wearing contact lenses? Does anyone get heartburn easily? Is anyone on any prescriptions? Is there a diabetic in your group? It’s easy to see how the particulars of each trip will influence your loadout.

Once we’ve figured out where we are in regard to potential issues, we are going to create a supply list and really stay on top of keeping the kit up to date and fully stocked. The last thing any of us wants is to arrive on scene with our kit and first aid knowledge and not have any gauze, or be in the backcountry with some uncontrollable stomach bug without any loperamide. Yikes.

I have a small check list of what I carry in my kit that caters to my specific needs (contact lenses, Rx heartburn meds, etc.) so to start you off, here is a PDF version of my generic contents list. Customize it to what works for you and keep a few printed near where you store your kit and your overflow supplies. Any time you head out for an adventure, cross the items off the list and BOOM! Adventure in confidence.

Daily, I find a full kit to be too much to carry, so I pare down and opt for a basic trauma kit and a basic medical array, which all fits nicely into my ever-versatile Pelican 1020. It’s been with me everywhere from the rivers of Appalachia to the peaks of the Cascades. It’s been my survival kit, my fire kit, my phone-keys-wallet box, and day-to-day as a micro first aid kit. It’s clearly seen better days, and the hinges are starting to wear, but it’s small enough that I don’t mind carrying it, and it keeps my equipment protected. The 1040 is just a little larger and probably a better do-all type case. The Pelican cases are certainly lacking in the organization department, but they more than make up for it in their accessibility and durability. The 1020 has lived in the bottom of my pack for over five years and continues to get the job done.