First Aid Kit

The best first aid kit is one that is never used. In each group one person should carry a comprehensive kit, while the others carry the basics. We separate our medicines from the first aid kit. Oh, the first aid kit is an essential.

Packing Comments

Bandaids

We each carry a few assorted sizes. You never can tell when you might need to contain or manage the escaping blood from an open wound. After all we are hiking in the mountains, cuts and scrapes happen.

Gauze

For make your own bandages. Gauze can be wrapped around or folded in place to stop bleeding. Finish off the gauze with tape.

Tape

You can use any tape. We generally use sports medicine tape, but duct tape would work also. The tape is not in contact with the wound, a bandage or gauze covers the area.

Wraps

The self sticky elastic wraps are great. Instant support for an ankle, knee, elbow, or wrist.

Blister Bandages

We like the Spynco bandages that are applied as preventative measures. Once a blister is formed or ready to form, then the Second Skin seems to be effective.

Cleansing Pads

A cleanser for open wounds. Kills bacteria and preps the area for dressing. We have used a variety, none seems to work better than the other.

Triple Ointment

An antibiotic used to assist in the healing.

Sams Splint

A lightweight splint that should be in the comprehensive kit. Easy to use and can shape any need.

Clotting Aids

Blood clotters help prevent the loss of blood in a serious accident. It seems logical to have it in the comprehensive kit.

Post-Trip Comments

We carried first aid kits with us on every climb, but did not use them often. Every now and then we had a scrape that we had to bandage to stop the bleeding. The one major calamity was when I dislocated my finger - we devised a splint to support it. The Second Skin worked very well for most scraps and dog injuries.