Hey MM Community!
One thing we often hear discussed are First Aid kits. What should go in them? Should you change them for the type of trip/activity? What are the ‘must have's’ vs ‘nice extras’? With her extensive experience, we reached out to our long time mentor, outdoor educator, and ski patroller, Kate Inch for her thoughts!
Disclaimer - this is written by a community member, not a medical professional or a mountain guide. The knowledge contained within this blog does not to replace formal training or education* on the subject.
When it comes to backcountry kits, there are many people who purchase pre-assembled First Aid kits and figure they are good to go. I often find in those kits (from MEC, Canadian Tire, etc) there are excess supplies (like way too many bandaids!!) and usually they are missing a few vital pieces that I like to have. Making your own kit not only saves you money, but you can personalize it for each trip. Packing it piece by piece means you also know exactly what’s in there, and how to use it. This will make you more prepared when you actually have to pull it out (the day will come, if it hasn’t already!)
There are a few factors to consider when you are building your First Aid & repair kit -- Where are you going (including environmental conditions)? How long are you going for? How many people are in your group? How are you carrying the kit (ex. kayaking vs. ski touring)? And what do you actually know how to use? Although many of the ‘staples’ remain the same, I adjust my kit for each type of trip. I don’t want to be carrying too much or too little for the circumstances.
If I am on a simple day hike or mountain bike ride with friends, my kit fits into a small zip lock bag. If I am teaching a course, the kit gets larger and may fill a 5-10L drybag. If it is a week-long expedition with a large group of people, the main First Aid kit stays with me, but additional first aid and repair items will get spread among the ‘group gear’. Either way, make sure your kit is waterproof (ziplocks work well if you don’t want to buy waterproof sacs), and adjust the quantity of supplies based on the factors above.
My ‘typical’ KIT would include:
- Antiseptic wipes
- Assorted sizes of bandaids
- Steri-strips
- Sterile non-stick gauze pads
- Roller gauze
- Large triangular
- Blister treatment (5mL benzoin tincture, cotton swab applicator, 2nd skin, piece of mole skin, adhesive medical tape)
- Tensor bandage
- Safety pins
- Emergency/Space Blanket (can be used for cold-related emergencies, emergency shelter, reflecting/signalling for help)
- Ibuprofen
- Antihistamine
- Sam Splint
- ‘Quick Calories’ (energy gel(s) or ‘Stingers’)
- Multitool
- Lighter
- Duct tape / Gorilla tape (can wrap around ski/hiking pole/water bottle/lighter)
- Ski straps (have saved many a ski touring trip!)
- Zip ties
- Small amount of bailing wire (.032-in, about thickness of paperclip)
- Nylon Cord (1/8-in) (Zip ties, ski straps, wire & cord can help secure broken bindings, splint broken kayak paddles, help with torn tarps/tents, give friction to broken/non-sticking ski skins, secure damaged hiking boots, and the list goes on).
- Water purification tabs
- Whistle (on me or my pack)
- Headlamp
- Spare batteries
- Sun care (sunscreen & lip balm)
- Wrist watch (for tracking remaining daylight, submersion time, recording vitals, etc.)
- Small notepad with pencil (waterproof is ideal, but not necessary)
Make sure you’re familiar with the ’10 Essentials’ as outlined by North Shore Search and Rescue here. These should be carried on every trip into the backcountry. You can read more about the 10 essentials here.
If I’m travelling in a larger group, I bring a few more items such as:
- Sterile gloves
- Tweezers
- Abdominal pads (wound care)
- Tampons/pads
- Epi pen (x 2 if possible, so it can get you out of the backcountry and onto care)
- Extra tensor & triangular
- Wire mesh splints (these are the same as SAM splints without all the bulky foam that takes up so much space)
I realize this may seem like an extensive list and perhaps it looks like a lot of stuff to carry. But consider the possibilities of what could go wrong in the backcountry on a multi-day trip with a group of people. If you split the weight between your group, and only bring small quantities of what you need (not the whole roll of tape, for example), it’s actually not that much weight or space in your pack. Plus, just consider it a little extra fitness training! 😊
Having a first aid kit is awesome, but it’s also important to have the skills and confidence to deal with situations that arise in the backcountry. For example, knowing how to make a proper splint and sling, building up a ‘donut’ for someone with a bad blister, or knowing how to strap an ankle can help mitigate the impact of these injuries on your group. Not to mention, the importance of knowing how to respond to emergency situations in the backcountry. Taking a Wilderness First Aid course is a great way to develop these skills and build a cognitive ‘tool-kit’ for when emergencies do arise.
And lastly, while it is important for groups to self-manage and deal with minor-moderate first aid situations and emergencies on-trip, this is no replacement for the trained and professional help that can get you out of the backcountry and onto medical care quickly. Carrying a communication device to access 911 (they will connect to the local SAR team) is an important consideration. Waiting too long to call for help is often what makes the situation more dire. Be smart, plan ahead, carry the proper equipment, but if things do ‘go south’ beyond your group’s emergency response capacity, call for help. There’s no reason to be a wounded (or worse yet, a dead) hero!
Continue to get out and explore the beautiful BC backcountry (safely and responsibly)!
-Written by Kate Inch
*Mountain Mentors works closely with Coast Wilderness Medical Training for our wilderness first aid. We strongly encourage everyone to have the basics in first aid training, so reach out to them if you are keen on taking a course.
On course with Coast Wilderness Medical Training. Photo provided by CWMT as well.
On course with Coast Wilderness Medical Training. Photo provided by CWMT as well.
On course with Coast Wilderness Medical Training. Photo provided by CWMT as well (and yes they even create fake wounds to treat!!)