First Aid Checklist

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Basic care: Prepackaged first-aid kits available at REI typically contain many of the following items:

• Antiseptic wipes (BZK-based wipes preferred; alcohol-based OK)
• Antibacterial ointment (e.g., bacitracin)
• Tincture of benzoin (bandage adhesive)
• Assorted adhesive bandages (fabric preferred)
• Butterfly bandages/adhesive wound-closure strips
• Gauze pads (various sizes)
• Nonstick sterile pads
• Medical adhesive tape (10-yd. roll, min. 1" width)

• Blister treatment (e.g., Moleskin, 2nd Skin, Glacier Gel)
• Ibuprofen/other pain-relief medication
• Insect-sting relief treatment (e.g., AfterBite)
• Antihistamine to treat allergic reactions
• Splinter (fine-point) tweezers
• Safety pins
• Comprehensive first-aid manual or information cards

Comprehensive care: Carry all of the basic items listed above; add items below based on anticipated needs.

Note: The list below is intentionally extensive; rarely will a single kit include every item shown here.

Wound coverings

• Rolled gauze
• Rolled, stretch-to-conform bandages
• Elastic wrap
• Hydrogel-based pads
• ______________________
• ______________________

• First-aid cleansing pads with topical anesthetic
• Hemostatic (blood-stopping) gauze
• Liquid bandages
• Oval eye pads
• ______________________
• ______________________

Medications/treatments

• Hand sanitizer (BKZ- or alcohol-based)
• Aloe vera gel (sun exposure relief)
• Aspirin (primarily for response to a heart attack)
• Antacid tablets
• Throat lozenges
• Lubricating eye drops
• Loperamide tablets (for diarrhea symptoms)
• ______________________
• ______________________

• Poison ivy/poison oak preventative
• Poison ivy/poison oak treatment
• Glucose or other sugar to treat hypoglycemia
• Oral rehydration salts (e.g., CeraLyte)
• Antifungal foot powder
• Prescription medications (e.g., antibiotics)
• Injectable epinephrine to treat allergic reactions (e.g., EpiPen, Twinject)
• ______________________

First-aid

• Knife (or multi-tool with knife)
• Paramedic shears (blunt-tip scissors)
• Safety razor blade (or scalpel w/#15 or #12 blade)
• Finger splint(s)
• SAM splint(s)
• Cotton-tipped swabs
• Standard oral thermometer
• Low-reading (hypothermia) thermometer
• Irrigation syringe with 18 gauge catheter
• Magnifying glass
• Small mirror
• ______________________
• ______________________

• Medical/surgical gloves (nitrile preferred; avoid latex)
• Triangular cravat bandage
• Steel sewing needle with heavy-duty thread
• Needle-nose pliers with wire cutter
• Headlamp (preferred) or flashlight
• Whistle (pealess preferred)
• Duct tape (small roll)
• Small notepad with waterproof pencil or pen
• Medical waste bag (plus box for sharp items)
• Waterproof container to hold supplies and meds
• Emergency heat-reflecting blanket
• ______________________
• ______________________

Personal care, other items

• Sunscreen
• Lip balm
• Insect repellent (plus headnet, if needed)
• ______________________
• ______________________

• Biodegradable soap
• Water-disinfection system
• Collapsible water sink or basin
• ______________________
• ______________________

Selected from a more extensive list published in the book Medicine for the Outdoors by Dr. Paul S. Auerbach.

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