The first aid kit is an essential gear to complete the things you pack before going on an adventure. It contains medicine and materials that can assist someone to mitigate cuts and injuries.
It is important to have a first aid kit because with this equipment, you can apply basic treatment if the ambulance and hospital are far from your vicinity. Your first aid kit should include bandages, medicine, etc.
What we enumerated are a few things that we will discuss in this article. We will also talk about the reasons why it’s important to have a first aid kit when hiking, the 5 main aims of a first aid kit, and a checklist. Let’s go!
A first aid kit is one of the most essential items that you need to bring whenever you’re planning to go hiking. Whether it’s a quick backpacking trip or a week-long family camping trip, having the right first aid kit can help you with injuries. If you’re not sure which kit to get, we have a few recommendations of the best first aid kits for hiking.
Why it’s important to have a first aid kit when hiking
First aid kits are important to treat wounds and injuries. They are used to reduce the extremity, and avoid worsening physical trauma. When hiking, accidents may occur, so it’s better to bring this kit with you.
Hiking leads a person to several places and unexpected encounters. It is understandable that before a person hikes, they don’t have any idea of what will happen, and what kinds of terrains they will go through. The main reason why you should completely pack your gears and equipment is to respond to any of your potential needs in isolated places.
The potential dangers that a hiker may encounter while hiking include the following:
- Fatigue
- Dehydration
- Injuries, cuts, bruises, or lacerations
- Insect and animal bites
- Illness, diseases, or body pain
In isolated places, such as in the forest and mountains, you won’t find any malls, hospitals, nor pharmacies. That’s why there are guides and tips on every hiking topic that you should bear in mind. And one of the most essential things you should pack is the first aid kit.
Why the first aid kit? Simple. They are utilized to alleviate injuries and cuts.
Remember that you can’t call an ambulance while hiking, so the best thing to do if an accident occurs is to be prepared for the engagement you’ll be taking. Applying first aid to someone who is experiencing injuries can prevent its severity.
There is a huge possibility that trees and rocks can scrape someone’s skin accidentally, even if we aren’t seeking it. If you are unable to pack some bandages or any cleansing materials to treat the wound, then what will happen? It can get infected, and even worse, it will aggravate into a more serious cut.
To clarify, first aid kits do not only contain alcohol and bandages. You can also bring over-the-counter drugs that may help you with headaches, or any pain that you are enduring that does not require a doctor’s prescription.
We will be enumerating the medications you need to include in a first aid kit as we go on with our discussion.
Sometimes, encountering problems while you’re out hiking cannot be avoided. They can be as simple as painful blisters or as serious as dehydration and fatigue. Read our article to learn about the most common hiking problems and how to avoid them.
Five main aims of first aid kit
The 5 main goals of a first aid kit are to preserve life, to prevent severity, to help recover, to relieve pain, and to secure the unconscious. Before you start applying first aid, you should recall these objectives to convey appropriate treatment and avoid accidents. Your attention is always remedy and prevention.
Now, let’s talk more about the aims of the first aid kit.
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Life preservation
Let’s say first-aid can’t fully cure the injury, but targets to be the best option for remedy.
If you are experiencing lacerations due to accidental circumstances, all you need to do is clean the wound, and enclose it with a bandage. But, in terms of fatal mishaps, performing first-aid procedures can preserve and rescue someone’s life.
It is the only move you can do before you head to the hospital.
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Severity prevention
As we previously mentioned, it will hamper the escalation of the injuries’ degree. Remember that if you experience illness and just ignore it, it will lead to deeper consequences.
So, applying treatment early will prevent the injury from getting more severe, and sometimes, it can even heal it.
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Recovery
Applying primary medications to injuries or wounds is the first step toward recovery. This may go on until it is fully treated, as you constantly give follow-up maintenance to the injury. We recommend soliciting continuous treatment as far as the person is capable to put in to result in an immediate healing.
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Pain reduction
If your injuries are treated, the pain you will experience will either be reduced or relieved. Using first aid kits does not only highlight the common factors that people know, it can also lessen the ache and discomfort caused by a certain mishap.
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The security of the unconscious
There are numerous dangers that we are vulnerable to. First aid goals is not only to limit physical harm, but also to protect the people involved in the accident — whether it is the victim, or the one operating the treatment. Before you practice first aid, make sure that you are in a safe place and away from any danger.
Note that you are focused on the recovery and cure, so always be wary of everything that surrounds you.
What to put inside your first aid kit
Before you pack your first aid kit, you should create a checklist. We made a shortlist, and set down three categories: basic first aid kit materials, medications, and tools. These are important components in order to be prepared properly before you go on an adventure.
Basic first aid kit materials
- Adhesive tape, non-stick dressings, and roller gauze
- Elastic bandages and band-aids
- Cold and hot packs
- Cotton and cotton swab
- Alcohol and sanitizer
- Betadine
- Petroleum jelly and ointments
- Medicated wipes
- First-aid guide manual
Medications
- Eye drops
- Medicine for diarrhea, cough, and colds
- Pain relievers and antihistamines
- Oral rehydration solutions
- Laxatives
- Prescribed medicine if you are under medication
Tools
- Tweezers and scissors
- Knife
- Eye-shield
- Tourniquet
- Superglue and duct tape
- Latex gloves
- Mask
- Thermometer
We also advise you to include every important medicine you are taking. There are instances for which you’ll be needing it, especially since woods and rocks are the only dominant objects you’ll see in the mountains. It is substantial to avoid experiencing illness without aid.
Another suggestion we would like to add is to consult a medical expert or doctor on the medicine you are planning to pack. It can greatly guide you to have an effective and fast remedy. Strong pain relievers usually require a medical prescription, so consult your doctor for advice and explanations.
Conclusion
From all of the topics we discussed, the major idea that we should focus on before everything else is safety.
Even though you packed a complete set of the first-aid kit, don’t be complacent and just trust everything with it. These items are only used for remedy and preservation, but do not act as a replacement for the full treatment that you can get at the hospital. Always be vigilant and prepared, because not all of the accidents can be reduced by applying first-aid.
Follow the tips mentioned above on your next endeavor. But we also recommend you to read online reviews about hiking experiences, because with such, you can formulate your own way of protection and warnings.
