Originally Posted By: MDinana
Originally Posted By: Roarmeister
Originally Posted By: picard120
how do I choose the right first aid kit?

let's assume I want 5 days trek, 3 person kit. The kit must have bandages for large wounds.


Kits are one thing, training is another. "The more you know, the less you carry." - Mors Kochanski.

Yes and no. I could carry more now that I know more/have higher medical authority. But, I don't - mainly for practical reasons. No point carrying intubation gear if I don't plan on putting someone on a ventilator, right?

Sometimes, the more you know, the less you should carry.

Pick basic stuff. Blisters, minor bleeding (I gaurantee you'll get more use out of bandaids than trauma pads), some 4x4's, some tape, some neosporin. If you feel like an ACE wrap and a trauma bandage, fine. Otherwise, I'd leave 80% of most kits at home.

If someone stops breathing 20 miles from the trailhead, you're SOL. If you want to try CPR for a while, fine, but that person likely won't be walking out of there. Burns don't need burn dressings, just clean dressings. Bandages can be left in place while you evac someone if it's a decent bleed/laceration/burn/etc. Some cord and a few sticks makes a decent splint; a solid branch a passable crutch.

I carry a AMK 0.9 or some little thing. I threw in 1 ACE, 1 trauma bandage, and a pair of scissors. I've rarely used anything but neosporin or bandaids. If something bad happens, I'll be improving.


It all depends. CPR for example - CPR on a coronary 15 miles up the trails is a losing cause; CPR on a hiker struck by lightning however will save his life more often than not. So don't throw that arrow out of your quiver.

I carry about a pound and a half of dedicated first aid supplies, based on what I need in the event a Scout goes down - I can't in good conscience treat them with an AMK 0.9 and band aids. Its the first aid supplies that I also carry that are improvised from my hiking gear that can make the difference long term - the neck collar traced on my blue pad, ready to cut out and wrap around his neck to help immobilize his spine; the rest of the blue rest pad to use to pad his arm or leg fracture; clothing to cushion splints; my hiking poles for splint materials; warmth, warmth, warmth, to stave off the effects of shock. That sort of thing. Add it all up, you can and should carry a lot more than whatever fits in your little bag with the first aid cross on it.

It depends on what you know, or what you're ready to treat.