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First Aid Kit: Duct tape. Pain Killers. Antihistamine. If I'm out for a few days, antiseptic and a couple sterile bandages.

If it can't be treated with that and a little ingenuity, you're pretty much screwed no matter what you are carrying.

man, i would always carry aspirin with me. if you come across some old dude that is having a heart attack, you could save his life!!

PraiseNClimb wrote:man, i would always carry aspirin with me. if you come across some old dude that is having a heart attack, you could save his life!!

Us old farts appreciate the concern!

Haven't seen it mentioned yet, but if you have a military surplus near you, you can pick up their kits and pick/choose what you want from them. Everything from small kits to insanely overkill. They're dirt cheap.

spiritualspatula wrote:They're dirt cheap.

For a reason. The only thing I've kept from a military emergency kit was the Pencil Flares. I'm not sure if thye're available in the surplus stores yet, I got mine from a freind who packed emergency kits into ejection seats.

Great for getting helo'attention, or for the 4th of July.

Also handy is for getting attention: A small container of Toluene based laquer thinner (used is better). You can pour it out onto an nonflamable (rock) surface, ignite it, and it will give off a breif fire with gobs of black smoke. Use with caution.

20 ft of rope can help get someone out of a pretty crappy area... also you can make plenty with it.. use it to help immobilize... shelter.. ect. I guess i woud put it more in survival gear.. but hey it works.


As a EMT and soon to be Wilderness EMT I agree with many of the above, dont go overboard.

Iboprofen (for pain / swelling)
Benydryl (Allergies and to make someone sleep who cant for whatever reason)
Psudefed (decongestant and colds)
Tylonel (goes well with iboprofen to help pain / swelling)

a few bandaids
a few 4x4 dressings
3 inch kling
SAM splint
a few Triangle Bandages
Tape
Gloves
Trauma shears
50cc shringe (for irrigation)
moleskin
tweezers

that is about it... 4x4's i like because i can cut them up to fix small things.. and if i need anything more than one or two 4x4's to fix something.. you better be on the way to a ER... This kit will cover the red stuff with white stuff.. and what is moving and shouldnt is able to be made still.... Other than that it is KNOWLEDGE! Get actual training and practice it. It is amazing how much the wilderness has to offer. I only carry one small SAM splint because in the wilderness you have plenty of splints (limbs from trees), or whatever else you can come up with.

Pyroman9 wrote: I only carry one small SAM splint because in the wilderness you have plenty of splints (limbs from trees), or whatever else you can come up with.

SAM splints are something I have never carried. Even if you are above tree line, you probably have something that will work in your pack: tent poles or pack stays would work great.

very true but the sam splint is so versatile and works much better than anything else without sacrificing your tent or something. It is pretty light and i am willing to carry that extra weight for some quick conveniance without having to improvise.

I get my stuff from
www.mooremedical.com

Pyroman9 wrote:very true but the sam splint is so versatile and works much better than anything else without sacrificing your tent or something. It is pretty light and i am willing to carry that extra weight for some quick conveniance without having to improvise.

True. That is the tradeoff with everything: You need to decide what you are willing to carry vs. what you are willing to improvise or do without.

Anyway, as you said previously, the real issue is knowledge. The ability to use your brain is much more important than what you carry.

duct tape. what else do you need?!

tigerlilly wrote:duct tape. what else do you need?!

Duct tape rocks, for so many purposes (wilderness first aid is but the beginning).

For example, if you lost your bathing suit, you could whip up a fetching duct tape bikini...

I haven't tried a bikini yet....but it did "cover my ass" on this occasion:

http://www.summitpost.org/image/542921/ ... chick.html