READERS COMMENTS

Oh, yeah...I forgot to add. The article says ultimate first aid GUIDE...NOT ultimate first aid kit!
Posted: Feb 21, 2011 unseenat17

I like the marines IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit)
(Minor FA Kit)
10 bandaids
5 2x4 bandaids
triangular bandage
bottle of 10% iodine
water treatment
sutures (butterfly or sinew)
hemostatic powder
Quik Clot Gauss

(Trauma Kit)
CAT Turnoquet
2 Cinch tight trauma bandages
Nasopharyngeal Airway
Decompression Sryinge

This is off the top of my mind...I think its pretty close. Jus tweak a bit to fit your needs (add meds, scalpal blades, or whatever) and your good!
Posted: Feb 21, 2011 Unseenat17

More antihistamines! Add that to your basic kit. There are very few things on this list that can save someone's life, but an antihistamine can, in the case of a bee sting gone wrong. A bad reaction will need an epi pen, to be sure, but either way you'll need benadryl or similar.

You don't need syringes. Just use a squeezy water bottle.
Posted: Jan 04, 2011 Geoff

if you have a broken bone you are better off using tylonal not motrin as motrin (ibuprofen) stunts new bone growth and is counteridicated
Posted: Oct 16, 2010 army medic

2x36" OR lashing straps, 1 roll athletic tape, 1 roll ace wrap, couple pads of gauze, moleskin, closure strips, 1 bottle iodine tabs, small used container of ibuprofen, aspirin, acetominophen, and psueudo ephedrine, 1 small used container of water proof strike anywhere matches and steel wool, 1 medium swiss army knife, ball of fishing line and hooks, small container of hand sanitizer. All weighs less than 9oz and fits in a quart ziploc heavy duty freezer bag, with room to spare for the TOOB and a regular lighter for everyday use. Duct tape and 40 feet of 300lb line goes in bottom of pack. This should all keep anyone healthy in the wilderness. A plastic flask of good whiskey makes for great first aid too, but it's usually gone after 1 night and I can never remember where it went.
Posted: Sep 30, 2010 wanderer

Relax, people. This is clearly an "ultimate" kit for people with first aid training, but not health care providers (although it's a good start!). It also depends how light you're determined to pack. I absolutely agree that at least one (I'd argue two) triangle bandages should be added - small, very light, about 8,000 uses. The heavier drugs should only be used by people who really know what they're doing - the last thing you want is to use it when you didn't need it, and end up treating horrible side effects or, God forbid, anaphylaxis.
Believe it or not, the more training you have, the less you need the "fancy" stuff. Syringes are vital for wound irrigation (use boiled water). I'd probably add some skin glue rather than steri strips and Friar's balsam. I'd consider some larger sutures for when glue/steris won't cut it (use the pliers on your multi tool as a needle driver), depending on the location & length of the trip. Lots of your basic splinting material can come from the world around you!

Dexamethasone and diuretics? There are very few instances I'd consider carrying these. I doubt this kit is supposed to be considered "all-inclusive" for physicians leading long-term expeditions. Most of them won't be looking at backpacker.com to see what to pack! :)
Posted: Sep 17, 2010 Sarah

I just take duct tape, an ace bandage, and a few drugs. The duct tape can be used for wound closure, slings, splinting, etc.
Posted: Sep 17, 2010 lis

@ Migs
I agree, syringes are incredibly important as wound irrigation tools. Easier than filling a ziplock and poking a hole in it. The big list has one btw, just not the small list. Why, i don't know.

Dexamethasone is useful against anaphylactic shock, which almost killed a girl i was dating one time.

I am an EMT/nurse with wilderness training and I would also add a few tablets of Cipro to this list. But that one may be a little excessive unless you're going out of the country. Then again it has saved me a few times.
Posted: Sep 17, 2010 Jason

@Migs
No syringes?
Are you serious? Most people are not trained in that kind of medicine. And even an EMT Paramedic with wilderness training would not tote that kind of stuff except on a rescue. It isn't day packing fare.
Posted: May 21, 2010 Matt

I would put at least one antihistamine in the basic kit. It is one of those things that is light and can prevent complete misery.
Posted: May 21, 2010 Matt

I'd add one item, a 1 36”x 36”x 56” Triangular Bandage. As a former U.S. Army medic this thing has a multitude of uses from a head dressing to an improvised sling.It's probably the most used and abused part of our aid kit. It's compact and light so should not be too much of an issue to add it to your kit.
Posted: Apr 14, 2010 Mark

I believe this kit is for a light hiking weekend. What kind of outdoor activities are you doing if you need syringes and dexamethazone? I guess you can pack the ambulance in your pack if you really need too...
Posted: Apr 12, 2010 Anonymous

I wonder why you call it "ultimate"?
Where are the strong anti-inflamatories, the dexamethazone? Many of the important medicines are missing ? No syringes? Diuretic? No powerful analgesics? How is ibuprofen going to help a broken bone?
Posted: Nov 22, 2009 Migs

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