HEALTH &
Wellness
Essentials for an Outdoor First Aid Kit Do you have what you need? BY ROBERT SQUIRE, PHARMACIST AT SPOTRX
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As the weather turns to ideal temperatures for exploring our great outdoors—camping, hiking, and discovering the parks—packing a first aid kit with supplies for simple cuts, scrapes, blisters, bug or animal bites, and splinters is a must.
Begin by first ensuring the kit itself is waterproof. Make use of assorted sizes of resealable plastic bags and bottles while organizing your kit essentials into clearly labeled sections. Although prepackaged kits are widely available, you may need to supplement your kit with additional items, such as prescription medications, and/or medications for conditions specific to anyone in your group—an epinephrine pen for severe allergies, or glucose tablets for diabetics, for example.
• Assorted gauze pads and bandages;
No matter how careful you are in the wild, you will find some of the items inside the kit will be used regularly and should be replaced often, and some may expire before you have the chance to use them. These items include:
• Medications: ibuprofen, acetaminophen, antihistamine, aspirin, and anti-diarrheal.
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• Tape—typically 1-inch in width with at least 10 yards; • Wound strips such as butterfly closures of assorted sizes; • Alcohol wipes and antibiotic ointment; • Moleskin for blister care;
