I've always carried one of those commercial kits put together for campers or even paddlers.
Someone mentioned taking an EpiPen, which can be life saving for anaphylactic shock from bees, fire ants and other bugs. I used to carry two, which cost me a co-pay of $20 or so in 2004, but I tossed them when they became 10 years old, and got a new prescription from my doctor for a trip last fall. The cost for a two-pack under my Medicare Part D drug plan was about $250, which means they aren't really covered at all. I passed.
HERE'S an article on the skyrocketing cost of epinephrine.
Canoeists who wish to reproduce the authentic and "minimalistic" wilderness experience -- in addition to abandoning wimpy electronics and petroleum based materials -- perhaps need nothing more in a medical kit than
Ötzi the Iceman did. Just a thought.
I go the anti-minimalist route as often as not and sometimes bring two different 1[SUP]st[/SUP] aid kits.
I have a small, personal go-to one in my essentials bag containing two small mesh (so I can see what’s in there where) zippered pouches. One with Band-aids, sundry dressings and anti-biotic ointment. And an empty sandwich bag for the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] aid trash, so I can see what I need to replenish after a trip. That’s the minor boo-boo pouch side of my personal kit and contains I use most often.
The other mesh zippered pouch in that same container holds mostly tools, dressings and drugs. Benadryl, Epi-pen*, moleskin, toll of skin tape, finger splint, whistle, micro-hemostats, teensy Swiss Army with scissors, and a lady’s make up compact with mirrors on both sides. Ooou baby, cosmetics isle of Wal-Mart; hot pink with white polka dots, I’m not losing that mirrror in the leaf litter.
Seriously, it’s hard to see facial wounds without a mirror, and having two allows you to see around, atop and behind. For a solo 1[SUP]st[/SUP] aid kit I think a mirror is an essential item, and a two mirror compact even better. Cut a nose, cheek or forehead solo and you’ll know why. Facial wounds bleed like a mofo, and crap, I can’t even see where to clean and what to bandage.
It may be a vestige from years of group trips with novices, but I still bring a full-sized 1[SUP]st[/SUP] aid kit on many trips. Hell, I bring it in the truck every time, and if I’m heading off somewhere lake or river remote without a carry, why not. If I’m with a companion or two I definitely want it along.
That full-sized kit is contained in a roll-out three compartment nylon Mil-surplus medic’s bag, stored inside a bright yellow (and marked in bold letters “1st AID”) 10L drybag. The three compartments in the roll out are boldly Sharpie labeled “DRUGS & OINTMENTS”, “WRAP, TAPE & TOOLS”, and “DRESSINGS AND BANDAGES”. There is a sleeve in the bag labeled CONTENTS LIST, with a laminated list of what is in each compartment, so when I need something I know exactly where to look instead of root though three pouches.
I’ve added and subtracted from that kit over the years, and revised the index list, but there are still some odd items I wouldn’t do without.
Dressings and Band-aids: Roll gauze, gauze pads (assorted), Band Aids (assorted), Moleskin, Newskin, tampons, alcohol pads, another empty zip lock trash bag.
Wrap, Tape & Tools: Ace wrap, skin tape (1” and 2”), soap, disposable gloves (replaced occasionally as they degrade), bulb syringe (used more than you would think), finger splint, cotton swabs, tongue depressors, safety pins, EMT scissors, lighter, whistle, Surveyor’s tape, small strobe light.
Drugs and ointments: Epi-pen*, Benadryl, After-bite, Anbesol, anti-diarrheal, Ex-Lax, cortisone cream, Neosporin, Lotrimin, sun block, nasal spray (the latter two used most often).
Since a friend’s evac incident there’s been a god-forbid Quick-clot trauma pack loose at the bottom of the dry bag. That was a gift to my bag from him; one of his companions had a trauma pack along and it saved his arse, or at least his leg.
And small bottles of aspirin and ibuprofen loose on top, so they are uber accessible. The whole thing, roll out kit and contents in dry bag with a stainless carabineer attached weighs just over 3 lbs. I have needed more than a few things in that “group” kit, and I’m down to nothing I want to reduce.
*Epi-pens – I have two paddling companions who are allergic to bee stings. They replace their Epi-pens some on schedule (I’m not sure how much is covered, but they want “unexpired” ones) and I carry their old ones until their next substitution.
I didn’t know one of those companions was allergic until we had done several trips together. That’s not good. As the tripper population ages out that known medical history sharing becomes more important.
In case I ever trip with any of you, most of my complaints and symptoms can be treated with a dose or two of cold IPA.
I've not opened them very often other than for band-aids and antibiotic. I take my prescription meds, of course.
Glenn, I don’t know what is commonly contained in the commercial kits, but if they include over the counter meds you may want to look at the expiration dates. I hadn’t needed Benadryl for anyone in a long time, and when I looked the little blister packs in my kits a few months ago they were long expired.
Keeping a first aid kit current and replenished is the toughest part. The sandwich “litter” bag of what I used helps, but the OTC stuff needs an occasional expiration inspection.
).... I know I can use my thermarest or a foamy, but then I need to sleep on the ground, and that is not an option. Also, in the case you need a head/neck immobilization, Sam is a great thing to have!! You would have to pry my Samsplint out of my cold dead hands
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