jessica
A first aid kit consists of simple medical equipment and supplies that help provide immediate medical attention for injuries and minor or mild medical conditions. Providing first aid helps to prevent the condition from escalating, which may cause the condition to worsen.
To know how to use these first aid equipment and medical supplies effectively, it’s good to go for basic first aid training. Several institutions will offer you on-site first aid training, equipping you with relevant skills that will save your loved one’s life when they need immediate help.
Here are a few basic first-aid supplies you may need when going to a camp.
- Bandages
Some outdoor activities you will engage in while camping include hiking or trekking. Accidents such as cuts and scrapes due to falling and sliding in rugged terrains or developing blisters are highly possible in such activities. A cotton bandage will be essential in treating and dressing these injuries.
Bandages help you effectively treat and cover cuts and scrapes, preventing further bleeding, and also cover the blister, ensuring they don’t get worse. They also help to provide the needed support in case of dislocated joints until you get further treatment.
Therefore, ensure you include cotton bandages of different sizes in your first aid kit. If you need help using the bandages, on-site first aid training can equip you with essential skills to cover injuries or support dislocated joints.
- Medical Tape
Medical or surgical tape is vital in securing dressing pads or bandages to a wound. Ensure you don’t leave any residue whenever you use it. A good surgical tape should be hypoallergenic as they help to prevent any skin infection and can treat different types of injuries.
In addition, it should be breathable, waterproof, and have a non-irritating adhesive.
- Disposable Gloves
When administering first aid, you have to protect yourself from any infection. This is where gloves come in handy.
Besides, gloves help to protect the injured area from bacteria when cleaning it, which are transmitted by dirty hands. They are also essential when cleaning blood-spilled or up-fluid surfaces.
- Alcohol Swabs
Before dressing any wound or applying any antibiotic ointment, you should clean it first. Alcohol swabs help you to thoroughly and effectively clean wounds.
Further, alcohol swabs can be used to sterilize tools such as tweezers, scalpels, or razors before using them.
- Gauze Pads
Gauze pads can be essential in numerous ways. You can use them as an injury dressing pad, keep the wound clean, treat small cuts, scrapes, burns, and stop bleeding.
Moreover, gauze pads protect the injured areas from debris, which can lead to infection. You can have a wrapped sterile square, saving you the hassle of trimming gauze pads to size.
- Tweezers
Tweezers help remove dirt, debris, or splinters from the wound before treating or dressing it. If a bee bites you, the tweezers can help remove the bee stingers.
- Small Scissors
You will need scissors when dressing the wounds. They help in cutting and trimming the bandage.
Medications Supply
Your first aid kit should include a medical supply, which will help relieve pain and protect against unpleasant reactions. However, you might be required to consult your doctor for further guidelines. Some of the essential medical supplies you need to carry while going camping include:
- Antihistamine Cream
While camping, bugs, and insect bites are inevitable. This could lead to painful bumps and itchy or rashes on your skin. Though these bites may not be harmful, they can be annoying and will interfere with your sleep. Antihistamine cream, also known as itch cream, will prevent swelling and itching, helping you sleep better.
- Pain Relief Medication
When camping, you are likely to experience minor pains and aches, or you may sprain your ankle. This is why pain relief medications are essential. They will help in easing your pain, hence allowing you to continue with your camping.
A pack of paracetamol can play a great role. Apart from relieving pain, it can help in dealing with fever. You can also carry other pain relief medication, such as ibuprofen, which helps relieve pain and inflammation. If you have children, carry their pain relief medication also.
- Antibiotic Ointment
Antibiotic ointments deal with infections caused by bacteria in any injury. It also helps boost the healing process of the wound. When applying antibiotic ointment on any wound, thoroughly clean it with saline solution or running water.
Bottom Line
You should have a first aid checklist when preparing a packing list for your next camp. Ensure you include all the basic equipment and supplies to help you in any emergency.
Additionally, it’s important to have basic first aid training skills, which will help you know how to use the first aid equipment and supply and the immediate action to take.
Brittany
