When I was preparing Episode 131 (Ultralight First Aid Kit Strategies) of the Backpacking Light Podcast, I wrote down in my research notes to document a summary of how frequently I use my first aid kit supplies. So here it is – based on my trip notebooks from the past seven years or so.
I rarely use first aid kit supplies on an overnight trip, and only occasionally on weekend trips. However, on longer (5+ day) trips, I almost always dip into my first aid kit. Here are some trends I’ve identified after reviewing my notes from trip journals:
- If the trip involves intense bushwhacking, I almost always require first aid resulting from cuts and scrapes from brush, downed timber, or allergic reactions to plants.
- If the trip involves a lot of rock scrambling of Class 2 or higher AND bad weather, I almost always require first aid resulting from scrapes on rocks resulting from slipping.
- If the trip involves young children, I almost always dip into my first aid kit.
- If the trip involves very high mileage days – off trail – in very hot or very wet weather, I’m managing hot spots and sometimes, blisters.
These are the most common injuries I treat. I’ve made some additional notes for context where appropriate below.
Otherwise, I note frequency as “never” (I haven’t used this item on any trip in the past 7 years), “rarely” (I use this item less than once a year), “infrequent” (I use this item once or twice a year), and “frequent” (I use this item on more than 50% of my trips longer than 5 days).
This list is taken directly from the free spreadsheet resource we distributed with the podcast mentioned above, which outlines my first aid kit supplies for trips of various types and lengths.
- sterile gloves – frequent (for performing wound care on others)
- antiseptic wipes – frequent
- analgesic wipes – infrequent (but often loan them to others for minor scrapes and burns)
- triple antibiotic ointment – frequent
- 2-octylcyanoacrylate – frequent (blisters and larger cuts)
- suture strips – rarely
- band-aids – frequent
- gauze pads – frequent
- gauze roll – infrequent
- hydrogel pads – frequent
- hemostatic dressings – rarely (used on others)
- surgical tape – frequent
- athletic tape – infrequent
- tincture of benzoin – frequent
- compression bandage – infrequent
- antihistamines – frequent
- anti-diarhheal – rarely
- anti-inflammatories – frequent
- analgesics – frequent
- antibiotics – rarely
- epinephrine – never (thank goodness)
- irrigation syringe – frequent
- scissors – frequent
- pen & paper – rarely (emergency documentation, recording vital signs, etc.)
- tweezers – frequent (splinters and cleaning grit out of scrapes)
- trash bag – frequent (for first aid trash)
- dental kit – rarely (loaned to others)
Performing this analysis validated the composition of my first aid kit. Based on the above, there’s little I would change. I also made notes about “things I wish I had in my first aid kit”. Over those seven years, I only made a few requests to myself while on a trip:
- “Non-expired OTC meds”
- “Two rounds of antibiotics (azithromycin)” for group trips longer than a week (infection management for wounds, mostly)
- “More potent analgesics”
I’ve been more committed to keeping my OTC medications up to date, but I haven’t committed to the latter two changes, because the need hasn’t revealed itself more than once.
What are your first aid supply usage patterns? How frequently do you use your first aid supplies? Do you run out? Do you carry too much? Do you carry too little?
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