FIRST-AID KITS
First-aid kits should be designed according to the environment to be encountered, number of travelers, medical training of the party leaders, and distance from sophisticated medical care. The following lists include items that could be included to deal effectively with the most common problems. They are not camping lists (shelter, food, toiletries, and the like). Basic survival supplies must be adequate. The more multipurpose your selections, the less the weight of your pack.
In all cases, what you should carry depends on your predetermined needs. As you review the sections of this book, you will be able to decide what to carry. For instance, a day hiker need not carry a portable traction splint, but a rock climber on a lengthy expedition should consider bringing one along. A scuba diver should carry a bottle of vinegar to pour on a jellyfish sting. Select the items that make sense for your group or expedition. Carry a realistic quantity of supplies; you should be prepared to treat more than one person at a time. Specific medications to choose from are described in Appendix 1 and throughout the book. Remember to bring along pediatric doses (in liquid form, if necessary) when traveling with children.
An excellent selection of first-aid kits is available in stores and by mail order from Chinook Medical Gear, Inc. (www.chinookmed.com).
GENERAL SUPPLIES
• Pencil or pen with small notepad
• Needle-nose pliers with wire cutter
• Disposable scalpels (#11 and/or #12 blades)
• Paramedic or emergency medical technician (EMT) shears (scissors)
• Swiss Army knife or Leatherman-type tool
• Sharp-pointed surgical scissors
• Standard oral thermometer: digital, mercury, or alcohol
• Low-reading hypothermia thermometer
• Wooden tongue depressors (“tongue blades”)
• Rolled duct tape (3 in × 1 yd, or 91 cm)
• ⅛- to ¼-inch-diameter braided nylon cord (minimum 10 ft, or 3 m)
• Water bottle (such as Nalgene ½ to 1 liter)
• Blue “baby bulb” or “turkey baster” suction device
• Waterproof flashlight (such as Pelican MityLite)
• Headlamp (and spare batteries)—preferably with floodlight and flash settings, able to withstand moisture and temperature extremes
• Cyalume fluorescent light sticks
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) mouth barrier or pocket mask (such as a Microshield X-L Mouth Barrier or NuMask CPRKIT)
• Sterile (hypoallergenic or latex) surgical gloves; if you are allergic to latex, bring other (such as nonlatex synthetic) nonpermeable gloves
• Fine-mesh head net or travel tent to repel insects
• Oral rehydration salts or Cera Lyte 70 oral electrolyte powder
WOUND CARE—PREPARATIONS AND DRESSINGS
• Elastic bandages (Band-Aid or Coverlet), assorted sizes (strip, knuckle, and broad); cloth with adhesive is preferable
• Adhesive strips for wound closure (Steri-Strip or Cover-Strip II), assorted sizes (such as ¼ in × 4 in, ⅛ in × 3 in, ½ in × 4 in), reinforced (plain or impregnated with an antimicrobial) or elastic
• 3 in × 3 in or 4 in × 4 in sterile gauze pads (packets of 2 to 5) (such as Nu-Gauze highly absorbent)
• 5 in × 9 in or 8 in × 10 in sterile gauze (“trauma”) pads (packets of 2 to 5)
• Nonstick sterile bandages (Telfa), assorted sizes
• 1 in, 2 in, 3 in, and 4 in rolled conforming gauze (C-wrap or Elastomull)
• 1 in × 10 yd (9.1 m) rolled cloth adhesive tape
• 1 in × 10 yd (9.1 m) rolled paper or silk (hypoallergenic) adhesive tape
• 1 in × 10 yd (9.1 m) rolled waterproof adhesive tape
• ½ in × 10 yd (9.1 m) rolled waterproof adhesive tape
• Blist-O-Ban blister bandages (assorted sizes)
• Moleskin Plus (4⅛ in × 3⅜ in)
• Spenco 2nd Skin (1.5 in × 2 in, 3 in × 4 in, 3 in × 6.5 in) and Spenco Adhesive Knit Bandage (3 in × 5 in)
• Aquaphor moist nonadherent (petrolatum-impregnated) dressing (3 in × 3 in)
• Hydrogel occlusive absorbent dressing (4 in × 4 in × ¼ in)
• Tegaderm transparent wound dressing (also comes in combination with a Steri-Strip in a Wound Closure System)
• Sterile disposable surgical scrub brush
• Cotton-tipped swabs or applicators, sterile, 2 per package
• Syringe (10 mL to 60 mL) and 18-gauge intravenous catheter (plastic portion), for wound irrigation (do not use plastic disposable syringes to administer oral medications, as the small caps can dislodge and inadvertently eject into the patient’s throat)
• Tincture of benzoin, bottle or swabsticks
• Benzalkonium chloride 1:750 solution (Zephiran)
• Povidone iodine 10% solution (Betadine), 1 oz bottle or swabsticks
• Suture material (nonabsorbable monfilament nylon on curved needle, suture sizes 3/0 and 4/0; consider sizes 2/0 (thicker) and 5/0 (finer)
• Stainless-steel needle driver
• Disposable skin stapler (15 staples)