“Better safe than sorry”. You must have heard it many times before but when it comes to safety on a hike, it is of utmost importance. This is why you must carry a First Aid Kit when going on a hike. Easier said than done! What do you actually need to put in your kit and what are these items used for? Here is a hiking first aid kit checklist to clarify it all and make it easier for you.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will get a commission at no extra cost to you.
I remember this old backpack. It didn’t have a hip belt, meaning all the weight was on my shoulders. The shoulder pain would have made me cry. I could not move my arms. I was like paralysed. It was during our trip to the Lake District, on the last day. If it wasn’t for my friend who was carrying a first aid kit with pain killers in it, I don’t even know how I would have been able to end this walk.
Please note that I am not a doctor and the below pieces of advice are based on research and personal experience. Always seek medical advice.
At a glance: Hiking First Aid Kit Checklist
In a hurry? Download my Hiking First Aid Kit Checklist by entering your name and address in the boxes below. I go into more details about each one of these items in this article.
Why a First Aid Kit?
For a little incident or a more serious one, you need to carry a first aid kit with you. As part of your 10 hiking essentials, a first aid kit is your saving grace when you are far from the nearest hospital.
How to chose what to put in your First Aid Kit
It depends on the following factors:
The size of the group: The bigger the group, the bigger the first aid kit. If you are the one in charge of carrying the kit, make sure to ask your hiking buddies prior to the hike if they have any medical condition, prescribed medication, or allergy in order to carry the necessary material.
Length and duration of the hike: For a day hike, a basic first aid kit would be sufficient. But if you are planning a multi-day hike, you would need to carry a much bigger kit with you.
Location of the hike: Some of the risks involved with the location can be bugs, ticks or even poisonous plants. With more than 130 varieties of poisonous plants in the UK which can mainly be found near river banks and woodland edges, you can never be too cautious. The same goes for ticks. They can be found all around the UK and some species can be infected with Lyme disease.
The difficulty of the hike: The more difficult, the more likely someone can hurt themself. An even path walk compared to mountain climbing with some scrambling near the top does not involve the same risk.
Pre-Packed or DIY?
You can find a plethora of pre-packed first aid kits containing the essentials. They are really helpful for a start, especially if you have no experience in first aid kits and wouldn’t know where to start.
However, as explained above, you need to adapt it based on the hike you are planning to do and who you are going with. My recommendation is to buy a pre-packed first aid kit and personalise it based on your needs.
To start with, here are a few options:
Adventure Medical Kits AMK Mountain Series
The best compromise. A compact first aid kit with all you need for 2 people for up to a two-day trip. It is a great value for money.
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .5
The lighest. If you are an ultralight backpacker, this one is for you. With a waterproof case, it weighs only 3.86 ounces (104 g) and contains the essentials for 1 person for up to a two-day trip.
FAO-440 Outdoor First Aid Kit
The most complete. An all essentials for outdoor activities kit. It contains 205 pieces and weighs 15.2 ounces (430 g). This fully packed first aid kit is a bit more pricy than the other two but more complete.
Hiking First Aid Kit Checklist
Get my Hiking First Aid Kit Checklist below to be sure not to forget anything.
Wounds Care
Sterile Gauze Roll: In case of a cut, use sterile gauze to stop the bleeding and clean the wound.
Lidocaine Numbing Cream (Anaesthetic): Once you have stopped the bleeding, you need to clean the wound. But to do it you need to numb the tissue so that you can clean the wound without your friend screaming out.
Antiseptic Cream or Wipes: Once you have cleaned the wound use an antiseptic cream or wipe to help heal the wound. You can also use it to treat burns.
Adhesive Bandages or Plasters: For a small cut, plaster would be sufficient to cover the wound. Opt for a pack with multi sizes plasters to adapt to every type of cut.
Butterfly Bandages or Closure Strips: If there should arise an occurrence of a deeper cut and you don’t know how to make stitches (or don’t have the tools to do so), butterfly bandages or closure strips can become really handy to cover the cut.
Anti-Blister Tape: There is nothing else that can break your hike more than blisters on your foot. To avoid them from appearing, use blister tape, roll your toes in it one by one and you can hit the trails with peace of mind. Moleskin is the go-to brand for blister tape and they also have packs of pre-cut blister dressings available.
2nd Skin Plasters: In case you forgot to roll your toes in anti-blister tape and get blisters, 2nd skin plasters are your saving grace. They calm the burning sensation and cover the blister so that you don’t feel anything anymore and you can carry on walking as if nothing happened. Compeed is the best brand for quality 2nd skin plasters. They soothe and speed up the healing process.
Duct Tape: It might sound unusual yet it definitely has its place in your first aid kit. In case you don’t have blister tape or 2nd skin plasters (or run out of them), duct tape will do wonders on your blisters. The last thing, if you are planning on doing a multi-day trek or camping, duct tape is a MUST. It can help repair damaged gear such as tears on your rain jacket or on your tent and it is waterproof.
Elastic Bandages: On the top of the gauze you can use an elastic bandage. It comes with a closure system, most often with metal clips. Use it to hold the bandage in place and improve the blood flow. You can also use it to hold an ice pack on the wound.
Triangular Bandage: It is really useful should you or someone in your group harm their shoulder or arm. You can use it as a sling to hold the limb. Remember to take with you safety pins to hold the bandage in place.
SAM (structural aluminium malleable) Splint: Recommended if you are doing a hike that involves some risks such as potential falls. The malleable splint is used to immobilize and provide pain relief to injured bones after an accident.
Antibacterial Gel/Sanitiser: I don’t need to introduce you to this item as it has now become part of our daily life. So in case you don’t put it on your hip belt pocket for easy access after touching a gate, don’t forget to add it to your hiking first aid kit. Remember not to treat any wounds without sanitizing your hands first.
Medical Tape: Cleaning and disinfecting a wound is one thing, but after you need to patch it. To secure the bandage around the wound you would need medical tape.
Eye Pads and Eyewash: Use the eyewash to clean the eye and the pad to support the healing process.
Tools
Blunt Tip Scissors: They are perfect to cut gauze and bandage to the size you need. With their angled tip, you can also cut through dressing without damaging the skin when the bandage needs replacement.
Medical Gloves: When attending to your friend’s wound, remember to use gloves to prevent infections. Avoid latex gloves as they can be a source of allergy for both yourself and your hiking buddy.
Tweezers: Being up on the hills is not the time to pluck your eyebrow. However, you would find tweezers are really useful when it comes to removing splinters or ticks.
Safety pins: As mentioned above, you need to carry safety pins with you to hold the triangular bandage. Moreover, when going on a long trip, you can use them to create an emergency shelter or repair tears on your tent.
Irrigation syringe: The purpose of an irrigation syringe is to clean the wounds without touching them. Fill it with clean water (drinkable water) and sprinkle it on the wounds. If the cut is deep, use the syringe to go as far as you can to clean it.
Plastic Resealable Bags: This is to be used for the disposal of contaminated and blood-soaked bandages.
Waterproof Bag/Case: Remember to keep your first aid kit in a waterproof bag, if not bandages won’t be sterile anymore and the tape won’t stick.
Medication
Anti-acid and Anti-diarrhoea: Sometimes our stomach does not agree with what we ate for lunch. But having diarrhoea on the trails is the last place on earth you want it to happen to you. With anti-diarrhoea pills, you can stop the problem and be able to carry on walking.
Ibuprofen/Paracetamol: They are both efficient pain killers for headaches all the way to a sprain. However, Ibuprofen helps reduce inflammation where paracetamol doesn’t.
Aspirine: Similar to Ibuprophen, Aspirin is used in response to a heart attack. If someone shows signs of a heart attack, call the emergency service and give them a pill of Aspirine to suck.
Prescribed medication: Chances are that you or some of your hiking buddies have a medical condition. This can translate by the need to carry an Epi-pen for example. Make sure you check with everyone and don’t forget to bring your own medication!
Hydrocortisone: This is to be used in case of an insect bite or a plant allergy. It reduces the sensation of itchiness so that you don’t scratch it until it bleeds (which can lead to infection). It is also recommended for people who suffer from eczema.
Antihistamine: It is used to block a substance call histamine which is the source of allergy symptoms such as running nose, watery eyes and itchy skin. Antihistamines are very useful in case you suffer from hay fever or hiker’s rash. Unlike hydrocortisone which is an anti-inflammatory, the antihistamine acts to reduce the symptoms and the discomfort so that you can continue your hike.
Related content: What is hiker’s rash?
Oral Rehydration Salts: Dehydration can happen when hiking in the heat if you are not drinking regularly or are running out of water. These tablets are composed of electrolytes and carbs. Dissolve them in water and drink the solution to rehydrate your body
Related Content: 10 Tips for Hiking in Summer
Throat Lozenge and Cough Medicine: Caught cold hiking up in the mountains or by the windswept coast? No problem because you are prepared and you have in your first aid kit throat lozenges and Lemsip® capsules to help treat your cold from the very first sneeze.
Broad-spectrum Antibiotics: Because you are no doctor (or maybe you are), you might not be able to tell what you or your friend is suffering from. Broad-spectrum antibiotics act against the two groups of bacteria. They provide some temporary relief until you can go visit the doctor on your return.
Additional items
Tampons and Sanitary Napkins: Ladies! As sometimes periods can arrive when we don’t expect them, it is worth taking a few with you, just in case. And who knows, some girl in the group might not be as prepared as you and would need some.
Aloe Vera gel or Body Glide®: Have you heard about chaffing? It is when a piece of clothing rubs against your skin, or skin to skin, and creates a red patch. To avoid this from happening, you can apply Aloe Vera gel or Body Glide® balm on your skin before starting the walk.
CPR Mask: To avoid cross-contamination when performing CPR, you can use a CPR Mask. You don’t need formal training, however, you can check with the British Red Cross if you are interested in training courses.
Cotton Tip Applicators: In order to apply ointments after cleaning a wound, you can use a cotton tip to avoid touching it with your hands.
Ice Pack: In case of a sprain, applying ice can provide some temporary relief. You can find squeezable ice packs which are really handy: squeeze it and it turns cold.
Water purifier: When going for a long hike, to ensure that you never run out of water, take a water purifier with you. They eliminate the bacteria in the water to make it safe for your to drink and avoid waterborne illnesses. LifeStraw is the recommended brand for water filters.
Related Content: Hydrations Bladder vs Water Bottle
Small Multi-Purpose Knife: In the event that you are not a tweezer type, you can opt for a multi-purpose knife. Make sure it comes with a tweezer to remove splinters. It will give you more tools that could turn out to be useful than a simple pair of tweezers. Victorinox® is a highly recommended brand for swiss army knives for the quality and durability of their products.
Bug and Insect Repellent: Depending on where you go hiking and the season, you might find carrying a spray of bug and insect repellent useful.
Thermometer: You can also add to your kit a no-touch digital thermometer should someone starts having a fever in the group.
Pen and Notebook: Should someone suffers from fever in the group, you might need a pen and a notebook. This will help you record the evolution of the temperature and the time any medication was given
Emergency Foil Blanket: When hiking in cold weather, take an emergency foil blanket with you. It can be used as an extra layer on the top of the sleeping bag to prevent hypothermia. Alternatively, it can make an emergency shelter should you get lost or can’t go further due to weather conditions.
Next of Kin Details and Medical Information Card: In the event that you are going hiking alone or with people who don’t know you on a personal level, here is a tip. Put a card in your kit with your next of kin details on it and any medical information that could be useful to anyone administering care or the emergency services.
Final Thoughts on the hiking first aid kit checklist
To conclude this hiking first aid checklist, having a first aid kit is one thing, but if you do not know how to use the items in it, it would be pointless to carry one. This is why it is important that you read a First Aid booklet before going on a hike. Pre-packed first aid kits come with a booklet but if you chose to make your own, you can purchase one for as little as £1.05 from St Johns Ambulance.
Finally, if you are interested in learning more about first aid, you can find Outdoor First Aid courses near you. For Londoners, React First offers Outdoor First Aid courses in Shadwell and Earlsfield.
Are you outdoor first aid trained? Have you ever administered first aid when hiking? Let me know your story in the comment section below, I would love to read about your experience.
[…] Related Content: Hiking First Aid Kit Checklist […]