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Before preparing your kit kindly take your doctor's advice
Always
carry a first-aid kit designed for the type of trek and the number of people in
your group.
A variety of first-aid kits are
available for day hikes, family hiking trips or backpacking treks. Kits should
be tailored to your trekking terrain, weather, the ages of hikers and your
group's special medical needs.
It is important to know how to
use everything in your first-aid kit beforehand. You won't have time in the
middle of an emergency to read an instruction manual.
Before you go, learn about any
possible hazards at your destination, such as poisonous plants, snakes and
insects. Ask local officials or park rangers what special gear or clothing might
be needed. Locate the road and public phone closest to your campsite or trail,
so you know where to summon help if it is needed.
Some organizations offer
wilderness first-aid courses targeted to outdoors enthusiasts. Be sure to
practice what you learn and share it with others in your party.
Good first-aid kits are available
in a wide range of prices, and specialty kits are available for mountain bikers,
canoeists and others.
The following items should be
considered when outfitting a basic first-aid kit:
1
elastic-roll bandage
Aspirin
or ibuprofen
Adhesive
tape
Antacid
Antihistamine
Antiseptic
ointment
Adhesive
bandages, assorted sizes
Bug
repellent
Bulb
irrigating syringe
Butterfly
bandages
Chemical
heat and cold packs
Dry-wash
pads or wipes
Diarrhea
medicine
Gauze
pads
Hydrocortisone
cream (soothes allergic skin)
Mirror,
small and unbreakable
Moleskin,
1 or 2 packets
Cotton
swab, sterile, packaged in pairs
Safety
pins
Scissors
(Swiss Army Pen Knife has scissors, small blade and nail file)
Sunscreen
Triangular
bandage
Tweezers
Inspect the contents before every trip and make sure the tools are clean and supplies in good condition. Replace expired medicines and add items you wished y ou had brought on the last trip. Make sure the container is durable and waterproof and stow it in an accessible compartment of your backpack.
Bandages
,Plasters & Padding.
Medications & Skin Protection.
Medical Equipment.
Water Purification.
The size of your medical kit will depend on the size of your party and the length of time you plan to be trekking without access to other medical help. Talk to your own doctor, especially if you are pregnant, as some of the suggested medications should not be taken during pregnancy.
BANDAGES, PLASTERS AND PADDING
Assorted sticking plasters, Elastoplast
or Band Aid
Elastic bandages in various sizes
for binding sprains
Steri-strips or Butterfly
sutures for taping wounds closed
Surgical tape or Micropore
for taping on dressings
Blister plasters, circular type (see patent blister
treatment above)
Corn plasters, Scholl
type
Netolast, finger size
for binding finger injuries
Alco'wipes or Sterets
for wiping round wounds and grazes
Cotton-wool balls
Gauze pads
Gauze ribbon
Melolin dressings
MEDICATION AND SKIN PROTECTION
Aspirin (enough for locals and porters too)
Brufen 200 milligram, an
anti-inflammatory (not for those with stomach ulcers)
Piriton 4 milligrams, antihistamine
for allergic reactions
Antiseptic liquid and ointment such as
Savlon
spray and ointment
Antibiotic such as
ciprofloxacin
500 milligrams or septrin for bacterial
diarrhoea with temperature
and chest infection Metronidazole for
treating amoebic dysentery and Giardia Pivampicillin
antibiotic for treating streptococcus sore throat Imodium
2 milligram capsules, for symptomatic relief of diarrhoea Rehydration
salts (ORT) such as Dioralyte
Chloramphenicol eye drops (enough for treating the locals too) Mebendazole
100 milligrams for treating worms
Diamox 250 milligrams
for mountain sickness (ask your doctor)
Mosquito repellent
Flea powder
Total sun block and high-factor sun screen
Lip protection
Zinc oxide ointment for noses, lips, other sticky-out bits
and for blister treatment
MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT
Eye bath
Cotton buds
Forceps and scissors
Disposable scalpels
Space blanket
First Aid handbook
AIDS protection kit
Safety pins and paper clips
Thermometer (if you think it helps to know what your
temperature is)
Disposable needles and syringes in case you need an
injection at a local clinic
WATER
PURIFICATION
Hydro Clonazone, Micropur or Puri-tabs Iodine, one bottle with dropper per person Hp K water filter
Water-home diseases are your greatest enemy while abroad or trekking. Their onset is sudden and their effects debilitating, sometimes even life threatening. An attack of dysentery can halt a trekking party for days, destroying schedules and ruining the holiday. Yet these diseases are easily avoided, provided scrupulous care is taken over water purification.
Take your water from the purest source available and purify it in your water bottle with Hydro Clonazone, Micropur or whatever tablets you have, following the instructions. After the stipulated time for the purification tablet to work (ten minutes to one hour), add one drop of iodine to kill off any cysts, then pour the water through the H2O K filter, back into the water bottle. This filter is extremely effective in getting rid of the taste of the tablets and iodine. Add Isostar or Tang to the finished product to improve the taste.
