Camping First Aid Kits – Prepared Campers are Happy Campers
Kiwi’s and camping, they go together like a BBQ banger and tomato sauce in a slice of white bread.
Every summer hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders load up the car and hit the road ready for adventure. There’s always plenty to remember to pack
- the chilly-bin
- boogie boards and
- the mozi’ spray!!
But sometimes the most important items can get over-looked. One of these is a good reliable camping first aid kit.
We tend to think “it’ll never happen to me”, when it comes to accidents and mishaps, and while it’s great to be optimistic, it’s even better to be prepared in case something does go wrong. From minor scraps, bumps and bruises to more serious fractures and infections, a well-equipped camping first aid kit can help to ensure your much anticipated quality time in the great outdoors isn’t cut short.
Some things to consider when preparing your Camping first aid kit:
- How isolated you’ll be, and how long you’ll be away will impact on how extensive your kit should be.
- The terrain you’ll be camping in. e.g. if you’re heading out in cold conditions or mountain climbing, a thermal blanket is a really good idea.
- The activities you’ll be doing; higher risk activities like mountain biking and snow sports will require a more comprehensive camping first aid kit than if you’re just going tramping or staying close to base.
- The number and ages of the people you’ll be camping with and any allergies or medical conditions they may have. For example, insect bites or bee sting allergies are fairly common, so it’d pay to include an antihistamine cream and an epi-pen in your camping first aid kit.
Where to start your Camping First Aid Kit
For simplicity and cost effectiveness sake, we recommend starting with something like one of our pre-prepared kits. These have been set up to provide all the essential items and are then stocked according to the number of people who are likely to need them. They are then packaged in a container to suit the environment they will be used in.
Camping First Aid Kit Recommended Specialty items
Once you’ve got the basics sorted, we then recommend adding these items (assuming they are applicable to your camping experience):
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Splints –Take these when you are, for example, tramping over rough terrain, mountain biking or playing fun physical sports that involve twisting and turning like touch rugby. Ideal for supporting and immobilising suspected fractured, sprained, or strained limbs.
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Burn Gel– Pack these in your camping first aid kit if you are likely to be doing anything that involves heat. For example, cooking over that back country campfire, sipping a morning coffee, getting sunburnt after a little too much of that harsh NZ sun, or tending the BBQ.
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Saline solution – If you are going to be getting down and dirty, you will definitely need some of this in your camping first aid kit. Saline is the perfect solution for cleaning and sanitising wounds and flushing out impurities from eyes.
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Antiseptic wipes – If weight is a consideration for you, a lighter alternative is to pack some extra antiseptic wipes. They will protect your patient against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Most first aid kits include a limited supply of these.
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Splinter Probes – Pesky prickles, log splinters and that nasty gorse may leave their mark, but these single use probes will help you get them gone from your skin in no time. They are hygienic and ever so handy.
Pro tip:
- Consider using Compact design first aid containers so you can take the necessities with you wherever you go, while keeping a more extensive kit back at base.
- Keep your kit up-to-date and replenish regularly, so you don’t end up with expired items or without the things you’ll need if something does go wrong.
