Now that temperatures are getting up to a comfortable temperature for outdoor activities, it’s time to start everyone’s favorite activity: hiking! Boise boasts one of the best local trail systems across the United States for hiking and mountain biking. A lot of people choose to take advantage of this, but forget the crucial activity of packing a first aid kit. Having a first aid kit on hand is extremely important for even short hikes because you truly never know what can happen. So, what should you pack in your kit? We at Idaho Medical Academy have outlined the most important items to keep packed in a kit for hiking. Read below to learn more!
Bandage Material
When packing your first aid kit, it’s important to put plenty of bandage material and wraps in your kit. Cuts are probably one of the more common things you’ll encounter on a hike depending on the intensity of the hike. This means you should have butterfly bandages, regular bandages, gauze, and sterile pads.
Cleansing Products
Equally as important as the bandages to cuts are the products you use to clean the wounds. Even if a wound is covered up by a bandage, it can easily become infected if it is not cleaned prior to applying the bandage. Consider packing some antiseptic wipes, hydrogen peroxide, and antibacterial ointment when putting together your first aid kit.
Medication/Topicals
Something you’ll be extremely happy you packed in your first aid kid when your out on the trail is some medication. Whether you got hurt somehow, or just have a small headache, having ibuprofen on hand can prove to be extremely useful. You should also have antihistamines, antacid tablets, and any prescription medications you use.
Another very important item to think about are topicals. These can be a lifesaver when out on the trails. You should pack blister cream, sunscreen, and anti-itch cream to name a few.
Tools
It’s important to consider the tools you may need when administering medical treatment on a hike. Will you need to cut gauze? What about pull out a splinter? Having tools for these jobs can make your life easier if medical treatment is needed. Some items that could prove to be useful are a knife, scissors, and tweezers.
These are just a few of the items that are important to pack in your first aid kit, but there are many more that can be extremely useful in certain situation. At Idaho Medical Academy, we realize you can’t prevent every potential injury, but you can be prepared for them. We instruct courses for EMT’s, basic medical training, CPR, and many more. Be sure to contact us with any questions you might have on our medical courses, we are always more than happy to answer your questions. Check out Idaho Medical Academy today!
