Buying a first aid kit: everything you need to know

Standard supplies

A survival blanket, sterile compresses and bandages, plasters, disinfectants, disposable gloves and scissors are all crucial parts of a first aid kit. Just having these basic supplies already puts you in a good position. Check the kit before each trip to ensure nothing’s missing.

Many kits contain instructions for giving first aid or have them printed on them. If not, be sure to add them. You should also include important emergency phone numbers or ways to stem bleeding – you’ll be glad to have written down this vital information in the chaos of an emergency.

Additional supplies

You might need to supplement your kit’s basic supplies, depending on your adventure. Blister plasters could be a great addition for trekking or hiking tours. For long-distance trips, it’s worth adding an extra hand sanitiser to ensure you’ve got plenty for everyday use and for in an emergency. Tape can come in handy on various types of trips, for example for supporting sprained joints.

If you’re heading off to very remote areas, it’s crucial to include a splint to support fractured bones. You can get small, light metal splints that can be bent into different shapes. It’s also worth packing signalling devices, like a whistle or a mirror, to attract attention in regions far from civilisation and without mobile phone reception. Signal flares can also be useful, but be sure to check beforehand whether you’ll be allowed to bring them.

First aid kit characteristics

Packing size

You want your first aid kit to be as compact as possible to prevent your luggage from becoming unnecessarily heavy. However, it’s better to pack too much than too little – if disaster strikes, you don’t want to run out of compresses and dressings. It’s also important to make sure you have enough supplies for the number of people on the trip; follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to calculate this. If you’re travelling as a group, pack several kits and discuss this during the planning stage. Tip: if you’re a big group, it’s more convenient to carry several small kits than one large one. If the group splits up en route, you can divide the kits amongst yourselves – and share the weight, too.

Medication

In addition to a first aid kit, you should also pack a travel first aid kit containing medications. While a first aid kit is designed to help you look after wounds in emergencies, this kit is more about medicines: what medications do I need for a trip? What should I consider when packing them? You can find answers to these and other questions here:

Assorted tips

• Store your first aid kit in an easily accessible place in your luggage, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Remember that everyone in your group needs to know where to find it.

• Check regularly whether its contents are still in date and intact. Sterile compresses, in particular, have an expiry date and should be replaced when this is reached. You should also replace adhesive plasters if they’ve become less sticky than they should be.

• A first aid kit is no substitute for knowledge: a basic grasp of wound care and first aid is essential. Otherwise, even a well-stocked first aid kit is useless. Ideally, you would attend a course or learn about this from an experienced individual.