First Aid Tips


Prepare before you leave home.
An ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure.

 Consider a ready-made first aid kit. Even though part of the joy of camping is forgetting something, first aid items are not the things to forget. Rank them up there with the toilet tissue. Always carry a first-aid kit designed for the type of trek and the number of people in your group.

The following items should be considered when outfitting a basic first-aid kit:
1 elastic-roll bandage
Aspirin or ibuprofen
Adhesive tape
Alcohol swabs
Antacid
Antihistamine
Antiseptic ointment
Adhesive bandages, assorted sizes
Bug repellent
Bulb irrigating syringe
Butterfly bandages
Chemical heat and cold packs
Dry-wash pads or wipes
Diarrhea medicine
Gauze pads
Hydrocortisone cream (soothes allergic skin)
Mirror, small and unbreakable
Moleskin, 1 or 2 packets
Cotton swab, sterile, packaged in pairs
Safety pins
Scissors (Swiss Army Pen Knife has scissors, small blade and nail file)
Sunscreen
Triangular bandage
Tweezers
Inspect the contents before every trip and make sure the tools are clean and supplies in good condition. Replace expired medicines and add items you wished you had brought on the last trip. Make sure the container is durable and waterproof and stow it in an accessible compartment of your backpack.

It is important to know how to use everything in your first-aid kit beforehand. You won't have time in the middle of an emergency to read an instruction manual.

When an accident occurs, ... you need to be prepared. Often very basic first aid knowledge can help to save a life. Completing a First Aid Course is a sensible investment and it's really interesting and fun too.

Locate the road and public phone closest to your campsite or trail, so you know where to summon help if it is needed.

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