Camping First Aid Kits: An Outdoors Essential

As an Eagle Scout, former Junior Assistant Scoutmaster and camp staff employee, some of my fondest memories were the outdoor adventures we had as a young man. But I also learned that ANYTHING can happen in the outdoors. The Scout motto (Be Prepared) is very good advice. And I'm here to tell you: if you go outdoors, you need to take along a good camping first aid kit.

But your first question may be: "Why can't I just use the first aid kit that I have at home?" I'll tell you right off: that won't work. How come? Because outdoor adventures can cause outdoor medical emergencies - like broken bones, frostbite, or snakebite. And typical home first aid kits just don't have the supplies that you will need for those situations. You need one that has been specially stocked with all the supplies you will need there.

Which reminds me: if you have a child enrolled in the Boy or Girl Scouts program, one of the coolest (and practical) gifts that you can give them is a good first aid kit. Ditto for someone who is in to wilderness excursions or survival camping. These kits have been known to save lives - and that's not marketing hype.

Of course, your primary concern here is to make sure that your camping first aid kit is well-stocked. It ought to contain more than just burn cream, towelettes and band-aids! Your kit should include such things as a variety of bandages, adhesive tape, finger and leg splints, ace bandages, tweezers, scissors, snake bite kit, gloves -- and especially a comprehensive first aid guide.

By the way, a good first aid kit is an absolute must. In the home kits these are merely little more than large brochures, but the better ones will explain how to handle case of animal bites, poisoning, broken bones - even what to do if someone is drowning or you find them unconscious. If your first aid guide is not very helpful, then buy a good one and keep it at all times with your kit.

Here's a good tip: Buy one of those sturdy metal fishing tackle boxes (the ones with the fold out trays) and stock it with the items that you will need. This would make the perfect camping first aid kit for a scout troop or for family use.

Some other items to consider for your camping first aid kit: How about some pain and fever reducers (like aspirin or Tylenol)? A pre-paid cellular phone is also handy to have at times, in order to contact medical authorities or emergency assistance. Water purification tablets, emergency matches (in a waterproof case), thermal blanket and handheld GPS device can also be added to round out your kit.

One final note: once you have your kit assembled, make sure to inspect the contents at least once or twice a year. Remove any expired medicines, and replace any supplies that have gone beyond their shelf-life or that have been opened or damaged (opened or damaged items are no longer sterile). And as you use the supplies, make a note to buy replacements. You don't want to wait until you are in an the middle of nowhere, in the midst of a medical emergency, to find out that you are missing something!

Article Source: http://www.myaddirectory.com

Author: Gary Colvin offers his opinion on camping, the outdoors and Coleman Camping Stoves Learn more aboutFolding Camping Trailers by stopping by his website.

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