DIY Backpacking First Aid Kit

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1		DIY Backpacking First Aid Kit Checklist
2	Packed	Type	Item	Description & Use	Day Hiking	Overnight	Multi-Day
3	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Aloe vera gel	To relieve sunburn, rashes and chaffing	Optional	Suggested	Suggested
4	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Antacids	To treat acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion and coughs.	Suggested	Suggested	Suggested
5	☐	Basic First Aid	Antibacterial ointment	Ointments such as Neosporin, Bacitracin, Polysporin and Germolene help to prevent infection.	Critical	Critical	Critical
6	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Antidiarrheal pills	To treat the symptoms of diarrhea.	Unnecessary	Suggested	Suggested
7	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Antifungal foot powder	Because multiple days on the trail can turn your feet into a happy (and pungent!) breeding ground for fungi. We recommend Desenex Foot Powder.	Optional	Optional	Suggested
8	☐	Basic First Aid	Antihistamine	To treat allergic reactions to foodstuffs, pollen, dust, animals, plants etc.	Suggested	Suggested	Suggested
9	☐	Basic First Aid	Antiseptic Wipes	Necessary for disinfecting/sterilizing wounds, cuts and scrapes. BZK (benzalkonium) wipes are preferable but alcohol-based wipes will also do the trick.	Critical	Critical	Critical
10	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Aspirin	Can be used to treat pain, fever, inflammation, or to stop an impending heart attack.	Critical	Critical	Critical
11	☐	Basic First Aid	Assorted Adhesive Bandages	Varying lengths and widths to cover different sizes of cut or wound. Fabric bandages adhere better than plastic.	Critical	Critical	Critical
12	☐	Basic First Aid	Blister treatment	Pads such as Dr. Scholl’s help to heal and prevent blisters.	Critical	Critical	Critical
13	☐	Basic First Aid	Butterfly bandages	Used to assist the closure of small wounds and cuts.	Critical	Critical	Critical
14	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	Cleansing pads with topical anesthetic	To clean out wounds. The anesthetic properties numb the area while you clean.	Critical	Critical	Critical
15	☐	Basic First Aid	Compound tincture of benzoin	Acts as an extra adhesive on bandaging and helps to seal cuts and wounds.	Optional	Optional	Optional
16	☐	Tools & Supplies	Cotton-tipped swabs	For cleaning wounds or applying ointments.	Optional	Optional	Optional
17	☐	Tools & Supplies	CPR mask	Aids resuscitation during CPR.	Unnecessary	Unnecessary	Unnecessary
18	☐	Tools & Supplies	Duct tape (small roll)	Useful for securing splints or bandages (or making gear repairs).	Unnecessary	Unnecessary	Optional
19	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	Elastic wrap	To compress strains and sprains.	Critical	Critical	Critical
20	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	Finger Splint(s)	To immobilize and protect injured fingers.	Optional	Optional	Suggested
21	☐	Basic First Aid	Gauze pads (various sizes)	For cleaning wounds and applying ointments.	Suggested	Suggested	Suggested
22	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Glucose or other sugar solution	To treat hypoglycemia.	Optional	Optional	Optional
23	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Hand sanitizer	To sterilize hands prior to treating an open wound or cut.	Critical	Critical	Critical
24	☐	Tools & Supplies	Hand warmers	A very welcome addition should one of your team develop signs of frostbite.	Unnecessary	Unnecessary	Optional
25	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	Hemostatic Gauze	Seals wounds more effectively than powders or creams.	Optional	Suggested	Suggested
26	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	Hydrogel-based pads	Protect dry or dehydrated wounds and minor burns.	Optional	Optional	Optional
27	☐	Basic First Aid	Ibuprofen or other painkillers	For use in a variety of situations, ranging from headaches, toothaches and menstrual pains to relieving pain in sprained ankles or wounds.	Suggested	Suggested	Suggested
28	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Injectable epinephrine	To treat life-threatening allergic reactions.	Optional	Optional	Optional
29	☐	Basic First Aid	Insect sting relief treatment	Pads or wipes which contain some form of antiseptic, analgesic, anesthetic or antipruritic and reduce irritation and inflammation.	Suggested	Suggested	Suggested
30	☐	Tools & Supplies	Irrigation syringe	To irrigate and cleanse wounds. An 18-gauge catheter is preferable.	Optional	Optional	Suggested
31	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	Liquid bandage	Ideal for protecting cuts, scrapes and wounds on areas where bandages and plasters are liable to fall off, i.e. finger joints, elbows and knees.	Optional	Optional	Optional
32	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Lubricating eye drops	To treat eye infections and injuries. More likely to be required in arid, dusty terrain and in the case of photokeratitis (snow blindness).	Optional	Optional	Optional
33	☐	Basic First Aid	Medical adhesive tape	To secure bandages and dressings. Waterproof varieties recommended. A ten-yard roll with a minimum 1” width should suffice.	Critical	Critical	Critical
34	☐	Tools & Supplies	Medical gloves	For sterilization and treating someone else’s wounds (nitrile varieties are best)	Suggested	Suggested	Suggested
35	☐	Tools & Supplies	Medical waste bag	To dispose of used items.	Critical	Critical	Critical
36	☐	Basic First Aid	Nonstick sterile pads	Protect wounds from infection and can be removed without re-opening the wound.	Optional	Optional	Optional
37	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Oral rehydration salts	To prevent and treat dehydration. Also useful for staving off cramp and muscle fatigue.	Optional	Suggested	Suggested
38	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	Oval eye pads	For protecting and treating eye injuries.	Critical	Critical	Critical
39	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Poison ivy/poison oak treatment	Barrier creams such as IvyBlock will help to prevent developing a rash. Cortisone creams or calamine lotion will help reduce itchiness should a rash develop.	Optional	Optional	Optional
40	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Prescription medications	Antibiotics, insulin, antidepressants etc	Optional	Optional	Optional
41	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	Rolled Gauze	For wrapping wounds and other injuries. A 4”x 4-yard roll will cover longer trips and weighs next to nothing.	Critical	Critical	Critical
42	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	Rolled, stretch-to-conform bandages	An upgrade on rolled gauze, these allow for greater movement in injured areas such as elbow joints, knees or fingers.	Optional	Suggested	Suggested
43	☐	Basic First Aid	Safety pins	For securing bandages, slings and dressings.	Critical	Critical	Critical
44	☐	Tools & Supplies	Safety razor blade/scalpel	For minor field surgery.	Unnecessary	Unnecessary	Optional
45	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	SAM splints	A lightweight and more versatile means of immobilizing bone and soft tissue injuries.	Unnecessary	Unnecessary	Optional
46	☐	Tools & Supplies	Scissors (blunt tip)	To cut dressings and remove clothing from injured areas.	Critical	Critical	Critical
47	☐	Tools & Supplies	Small mirror	To assist with eye and facial injuries.	Critical (if solo)	Critical (if solo)	Critical (if solo)
48	☐	Tools & Supplies	Suture needle and thread	To stitch larger wounds.	Unnecessary	Unnecessary	Suggested
49	☐	Tools & Supplies	Thermometers	A standard oral thermometer and alow-reading thermometer to gauge fevers and hypothermia respectively.	Unnecessary	Suggested	Suggested
50	☐	Medicines & Treatments	Throat lozenges	Lubricates irritated throat tissues. Particularly useful at high altitude or in very dry or cold climates.	Optional	Optional	Suggested
51	☐	Wraps, Splints and Wound Coverings	Triangular cravat bandage	To create slings, tourniquets and protect head and eye injuries.	Suggested	Suggested	Suggested
52	☐	Basic First Aid	Tweezers	To remove ticks and splinters.	Critical	Critical	Critical
53	☐	Tools & Supplies	Waterproof container	To protect supplies and medication.	Critical	Critical	Critical
54	The above list is a suggestion based on our experience. When assembling your first aid kit, please consider your health, fitness and the likely condidtions of your trip. We hold no responsiblity for your safety or health.
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