australia:firstaid
first aid kits for camping and hiking
Introduction
a basic first aid kit should be carried by most hikers
a more extensive one can be carried in your car
whilst you can buy an off-the-shelf kit, you probably should think a bit more logically and strategically about what is really needed for your likely needs
Minimum components of a first aid kit
For longer trips, consider adding the following
First Aid manual
blister care dressings
open wound / laceration repair kit such as:
sterile saline
sterile forceps to avoid contaminating the gauze with fingers
gauze to dry the wound and also some to cover it
skin glue (supaglue will do if you are stuck - but it must be applied to the OUTSIDE of a dried, closed wound)
steristrips
additional bandages
burn management gear
surgical gloves - preferably sterile
paper clip or similar can be used heated by a flame to melt a hole in a nail to release the painful, pulsating pressure of blood under the nail
EpiPen even if no one in group has known allergies
antibiotics to treat skin infections if there will be delay of some days getting to medical help
dental repair kit to manage unexpected broken teeth (dentists are hard to find on weekends let alone in in rural areas) from biting down on those hike nuts or from a fall
sphygmomanometer
stethoscope
oxygen saturation finger probe
digital thermometer
blood glucose tester
urine test kit including pregnancy test (abdominal pain in a female hiker could be pregnancy related)
source of oral glucose
suture pack with sutures, antiseptic solution, sterile saline, needle holder, etc
scalpel to lance boils, etc
splinter removal forcep
aluminium padded splint
bag valve mask (BVM), Guedel airways
needle and valve for tension pneumothorax
nasal pack for severe epistaxis
topical steroid cream / antihistamines for contact allergies
Doctor's bag medications:
epinephrine or Epipen
stronger analgesics - oxycodone, Penthrane, etc
prednisolone for asthma, croup, etc
salbutamol inhalers with spacer
antiemetic such as ondansetron
aspirin
antihypertensive such as a ACEI
laxatives?
additional antibiotics:
cefalexin for most skin infections, UTIs, etc
augmentin
metronidazole suppositories - can be used with augmentin or cefalexin to conservatively manage appendicitis if there is delay to care
special gear for high altitude hikes over 2500m such as bottled oxygen, acetazolamide, dexamethasone, nifedipine, salbutamol inhalers,
australia/firstaid.txt · Last modified: 2021/08/08 23:54 by gary1