What are the essentials in a First Aid Kit?

[golok]

Yesterday, I came across a First Aid Kit pouch. I was on the verge of buying it when I suddenly had a mental block regarding its contents.

I know of a few like some plaster, some bandage and maybe some iodine but what else can you put into a pocket pouch specially designed for the trekker?

 

[akabu]

2 elastic bandage's 2 inch .Your walking over non stable terrain; sooner or later your going to strain or twist a limb .They can also be used a spirile{sp} puttee to keep the trash out of low boot's or protect your lower leg's if your wearing short's. http://www.orgear.com/ http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/ http://www.donrearic.com/firstaidkit.html

 

[SteelDriver]

I patterned my first aid kits after some suggestions at http://www.equipped.org/medical.htm . In a pocket pouch, I'd take some bandaids and a few packets of antibiotic ointment and povidone iodine solution for the minor stuff. A large kerchief or triangular bandage is quite versatile, and along with some self-adhesive roll gauze and wound closure/suture strips you can handle more serious flesh wounds. A SAM splint is great for joint and bone injuries, but is probably too bulky for a pocket pouch. Tweezers are useful for removing splinters and ticks. A small bottle of painkillers and antibiotics is also nice.

I'd customize the pocket pouch depending on your environment and how far you are from professional medical aid. For example, I carry a Sawyer Extractor for snakebites but nothing for mosquitos or black flies. I don't carry antibiotics because I hike not far from the city. If you travel with a companion then you can customize your pouch even further and still cover your bases. Good luck with your kit!

 

[JDMSMBACPA]

I patterned my kits after the one's to which SteelDriver linked, too.

For my backpacking kit, I trimmed it down quite a bit based on my uses and substitutes I carry anyway (e.g. sharp blade for razor blade, SAK scissors for "real scissors", duct tape for first aid tape, etc.). My home/Family camping kit is more comprehensive than Doug Ritter's example. I added syrup of epicac, activated charcoal, pedialite and other children's medications.

I also add a few repair and survival items to my "Emergency Kits" (not just for first aid)--Barge Cement or something similar, duct tape, stainless steel lock wire, storm matches, a Spark Lite and tinder, water purification tabs, etc.

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

Thanks guys...and yet another great question by golok too!

Mel

 

[marsupial]

Yep,I must concurr,Golok asks or poses some of the best and most interesting questions!

 

[PipeyCain]

JDMSMBACPA: Why lug Ipecac and Charcoal around? I have over 13 years experience in emergency medicine and I can count on one hand the times I have administered it. You must like to carry excess weight for no good reason. Cheers!

 

[beezaur]

You are a paramedic?

 

[PipeyCain]

Yep!