Personal First aid kit

If you carry a cutting tool and intend to use it, a good personal first aid kit should accompany it. I would also advise attending a good outdoor specific first aid course as it's all very well carrying the right equipment, but it's good to know how to use it too.

Below is my personal first aid kit, the contents of which I have tailored to deal with the most common trail side ailments and injuries I have personally experienced. It is intended for the treatment of me personally, though does get used on others if nothing else is available.

The kit itself is stored in a 17cm x 13.5cm Aloksak heavy duty zip lock bag and weighing only 190g is easily fitted into a pocket. Being so convenient to carry makes it much more likely to be available when needed. In the past I have had some of the black topped Aloksaks split along the top, so now I reinforce the area with Gorilla tape and have not had a problem since. Most of the contents are packaged in zip lock bags together with similar items, making it relatively simple to retrieve what is needed.

The kit is paired with a 4" military field dressing with pressure bar, also known as the Israeli type field dressing.

I would always recommend putting together your own kit rather than buying a pre-made kit as you can tailor the contents to meet your own specific needs and skill level. The quality of items will be in your control and items will be far easier to obtain when the time comes to restock.

  1. 1 pack of 5 gauze swabs 7.5cmx7.5cm. - cleaning wound site, applying medications, padding dressings.
  2. 2 pantiliners - blood absorbing compress for wounds prior to dressing.
  3. 1 Opsite Flexigrid - waterproof breathable film dressing ideal for burns and grazes.
  4. Dressings pack:-
    3 large compeed blister dressings,
    2 small compeed blister dressings,
    Elastoplast cut to size fabric strips x 3,
    2 packs of steri strips,
    3 elastoplast waterproof dressings,
    3 Melolin 5cmx5cm pads.
  5. Cotton buds (Q tips) - applying medications, aids in removing foreign body from the eye.
  6. 10ml syringe with 18g needle stored inside - wound irrigation using clean water/iodine solution.
  7. 4 x Savlon antiseptic wipes - cleaning of minor wounds and hands.
    8 x alcohol swabs - cleaning of tools prior to blister draining/splinter removal, cleaning of skin prior to blister dressing.
  8. Fixings:-
    5cm wide flat packed roll of Transpore tape by 3m - securing dressings, improvised butterfly sutures, blister prevention (over hot spots), stays put when wet.
    3.5cm wide roll of Metolius brand finger tape (zinc oxide tape) - securing dressings, strapping of sprains and strains.
    Mr Bump cohesive bandage 5cm wide - securing dressings, strapping of sprains and strains, reusable, good when frequent dressing changes are needed.
  9. Medications:-
    2 x Benadryl Acrivastine capsules - allergy relief.
    8 x Ibuprofen 200mg - Pain relief, anti inflammatory, can be taken with Paracetamol for additional pain relief.
    8 x Paracetamol 500mg - Pain relief, fever reduction.
    6 x Caffeine 50mg - Pain relief, temporary relief of tiredness.
  10. Povidone Iodine (10% available iodine) in 10ml dropper/application bottle - antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, mixed with clean water for wound irrigation (approx 10 drops per cup of clean water), water purifaction (8-16 drops per 1litre).
  11. Friars' Balsam (tincture of benzoin) in 5ml dropper/application bottle - topical antiseptic dressing for minor wounds and mouth ulcers, topical adhesive for dressings and steri strips, add a few drops to hot water and inhale as a decongestant.
  12. Victorinox classic and safety pin - scissors, tweezers, toothpick, nail file, small blade.
  13. 1 pair nitrile gloves - can also be used as improvised mouth to mouth barrier.