Building Personal First Aid Kits

Building your own first aid kit will ensure you have all the necessary tools to take care of yourself in case you sustain some sort of an injury or require medical attention during your hike, bike ride or kayaking trip. This will allow you to customize it for your specific activity, instead of buying one already created, which will most likely have bandages, but few of the other supplies you need (such as bite relief medication, calamine lotion and Neosporin).

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Determine what activities you will need the first aid kit for. Hiking will need different items than if you were paddling a canoe.

Step 2

Think about exactly where you will be going. Riding your bike through the woods of Michigan will be different from riding a bike through the rain forest in South America. You will need different kinds of medication to protect yourself, so plan accordingly.

Step 3

Purchase a waterproof pouch or bag to hold all your first-aid items. This will allow you to travel through water without wondering if you are damaging your first-aid kit.

Step 4

Pick up a wide selection of different bandages--from small ones for a cut on the finger to butterfly bandages for larger knee cuts. Gauze is good to have to because it will allow you to wrap cuts in awkward positions.

Step 5

Look for products that specialize in cleaning wounds. These can include Neosporin and peroxide. You may also need a few cotton swabs or cotton balls to help with application.

Step 6

Buy medication for bug and animal bites. From mosquitoes to small animals, this is important to have. Know your surroundings to make sure you purchase the correct items.

Step 7

Scissors are good to have. These can be used from cutting the gauze to shearing clothing off in case of an emergency.

Step 8

Make sure to pick up some calamine lotion. This will help reduce the itching of poison ivy once it has come into contact with your skin.

Step 9

Look into picking up a small book on plants, bugs and animals. This will help you determine whether the vegetation you stepped into will cause itching, or if the snake in the river is poisonous.

Tips & Warnings

It will also be a good idea to pick up some medicine for upset stomachs, diarrhea and headaches.

Article Written By Greyson Ferguson

Greyson Ferguson is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in film and television. He currently resides in Lansing, Michigan where he works on independent film projects and writes for numerous publications. Ferguson primarily focuses on computer and electronic articles. Greyson produces TheDailyUpbeat.com, focusing on only upbeat news stories with daily updates.

Editor's Pick

Backcountry Camping Tips

You've already tried car and RV camping. You've camped at commercial campsites that had a convenient restroom and water supply. Now, you want to explore the road less traveled. Backcountry camping, also known as primitive camping, is a wonderful way to explore the remote...
More Backcountry Camping...
Popular Article

Beach Camping Near Pismo Beach, California

Pismo State Beach, California, has many attractions and activities including camping, swimming, hiking and wildlife viewing. Birdwatching is one of the primary activities in the area. The park also has the largest over-wintering colony of monarch butterflies in the natio...
More Beach Camping...
Featured Video

Common Sense Hiking Tips

The first and most fundamental thing is never hike alone. There are too many situations, especially as an unexperienced hiker, where you may find yourself without anyone to help you. So the buddy system works and applies very much in hiking.
More Camping Basics...