Ready for Anything: How to Build a First Aid Kit for Wild Camping
If you’re an outdoors enthusiast, you know that wild camping comes with its own challenges. While most of these challenges are part of the fun, there’s always going to be the risk of hurting yourself, and this is not a challenge you want to get the better of you.
Accidents happen, and they are, for the most part, unavoidable. But as long as you’re prepared, you shouldn’t have any issues. And by prepared, we mean having a first aid kit in your camping gear, but what exactly should you include?
Read on for our comprehensive guide to creating a first-aid kit for wild camping. With our tips, you’ll be prepared for anything the wilderness throws your way!
Why you need a first aid kit for wild camping
Wild camping may be a great way to escape the hustle and bustle. However, being prepared for any potential emergency or injury is essential.
That’s why having a reliable and well-stocked first aid kit with you at all times is an absolute must. A proper kit should include bandages for small scrapes and cuts, painkillers, sterile dressings, wound pads, antiseptic wipes or creams, and medication for motion sickness or allergic reactions.
Having everything concentrated in one place means that if any medical need arises, help is just a zipper away!
What to include in your first aid kit
When you’re wild camping, it’s important to come prepared.
While the outdoors is a beautiful place, it can also be unpredictable and hazardous. Therefore, a comprehensive first aid kit should be at the top of your list when putting together your camping gear.
There are quite a few items that you might need to stay safe and healthy during your trip, from antiseptic wipes to band-aids and gloves to keep things clean.
You can even include more specialist tools if you think your trip requires them. We’re talking about medical gear like needles, cutting knives, airway assistance tools, tape, and even temporary teeth fillings, should you think you need them.
Some other essential items include pain relief medication; hand sanitiser; antihistamine tablets for allergies; wound dressings; insect repellent; sunscreen; and even syringes.
Of course, all of this needs to be kept safe and secured inside a first aid kit itself, and it’s well worth taking the time to make sure your package is as waterproof as possible.
There’s nothing worse than needing to bandage up a cut and finding that everything is saturated through.
How to use your first aid kit
Knowing how to use your first aid kit while wild camping is crucial.
Surely, creating an effective and comprehensive first aid kit takes some effort, but understanding when and how to use it effectively can be life-saving.
Careful usage of the right items in the right order can prevent infections and ensure you’re safe while out in the wilderness.
Plus, having a better understanding of each of the items you’ve packed away in your first aid kit gives you peace of mind that should something happen during your trip, you’ll have the resources to take care of yourself or anyone else who might be hurt.
Be sure to educate yourself on what reactions might require professional help and which ones can be effectively handled with the items in your first aid kit so that you’ll know what to do if an emergency arises!
If you need to add a little note with instructions on using some of your first aid gear, that’s probably a good idea. Some people also like to keep a little book or journal with information and knowledge collected over the years that can stay in the first aid kit too!
The Complete Wild Camping First Aid Kit Checklist
Continuing on from the section above, here’s a complete list of absolutely everything you can and could keep in your first aid kit for wild camping. You won’t need everything in this list, but depending on where you’re going, these are all the items you’re certainly going to want to be thinking about.
Personally, we’d recommend starting with a pre-made first-aid kit that comes with all the essentials already. Essentials like;
- Plasters of various sizes & shapes
- Sterile gauze
- Eye dressings (one for each eye)
- Safety pins
- Sterile gloves
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Cleansing wipes (alcohol-free)
- Thermometer
- Sticky tape
- Skin rash cream
- Antiseptic cream
- Cotton swabs
- Painkillers of all kinds
- Antihistamine tablets
- Eyewash and eye bath kit
- Distilled water
- Any drugs or medication you need to take anyway
These are your essentials.
Check out these ready made kits here
On top of this, you can include more specialist items, depending on where you’re going and what you think you’ll need.
- Minor wound kit
- Blister kit
- Military dressing
- Nasopharyngeal airway set
- Syringe
- CPR mask
- A whistle (for attracting attention, if needed)
- Lighter (can be used for disinfecting needles and syringes, and just generally handy)
- Head torch (can never go wrong with one of these)
- Epi-pens
- Emergency blankets
There’s nothing worse than finding yourself stranded in the wild without the proper resources – stock up now and stay safe!
Tips for preventing accidents and injuries while camping
It’s important to take precautions while camping to keep yourself safe and out of harm’s way. Preparation and prevention are always better than cure, and having a first aid kit is one of those things you never want to use but will want to have around if you need it.
Again, while accidents can always happen and can’t 100% be prevented, there are some tips and tricks you can use to increase your chances of being safe while out in the wild.
Firstly, consider learning basic safety skills like emergency navigation, wilderness survival basics, how to respond in an emergency situation, and the basics of first aid.
Additionally, always create (and stick to) an emergency communication plan so that someone knows where you’re going and when they can expect to hear from you.
Lastly, alerting local authorities or outdoor recreation organisations before venturing into remote areas will help ensure someone knows your whereabouts in an emergency situation.
With careful preparation, you’ll ensure that your camping trips remain fun and stress-free!
Where to find more information
There are a variety of great resources to find more information about first aid and wilderness safety.
Whether you’re a complete novice or an experienced adventurer, the right information can be invaluable if anything happens while on your camping trip.
Start with some general research to ensure you’re aware of any basic safety guidelines in your chosen location, as well as the means of obtaining medical help in an emergency situation.
For example, check the weather conditions and any safety messages put out by the area’s management.
It’s also worth looking into courses offered by organisations like St John Ambulance or Red Cross, which provide comprehensive training and instruction in such matters.
Additionally, the internet is abundant with articles, blog posts, and instructional guides providing helpful advice on first aid kits and wilderness safety-related topics – many written by experienced campers who have shared their own stories or tips.
In all scenarios, however, nothing takes priority over professional medical advice; when it comes to your health and well-being, it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
Good luck and happy camping! 🏕️😊
