Camping First Aid Kits: Don't Leave Home Without One!
By Gary Colvin
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 first aid kit.

Most people think that when they go or hiking they can just grab the first aid kit or box of band-aids from the hall cupboard and that will suffice. Wrong! What if you are out-of-doors and someone falls and breaks their leg? What if you are bitten by a poisonous snake? What if someone gets a bad chill or frostbite? Your little home first aid kit will not have what you need during these medical emergencies. No, you need a or OUTDOOR first aid kit.

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.

Your first priority? Make sure that your first aid kit is well-stocked. After all, if it is going to be of any real use it should have more than just burn cream and band-aids! Your kit should be stocked

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with a variety of bandages, adhesive tape, finger and leg splints, ace bandages, tweezers, scissors, snake bite kit, gloves -- and a comprehensive first aid guide.

The first aid guide, by the way is critical. It contains vital information on the proper treatment for wounds, handling poisoning cases, burns, animal bites, broken bones, drowning, treatment of the unconscious - many topics. If the guide supplied in your kit is not very good, buy a separate guide and keep it with your kit.

A good practice: Purchase a large, metal fishing tackle box, and stock it with the items that you will need. This makes a great first aid kit for a family or scout troop.

Here are some other things to stock in your first aid kit: pain and fever reducers (like Tylenol or aspirin), a pre-paid cellular phone, water purification tablets, emergency matches (in a waterproof case), thermal blankets, and a handheld GPS device. You will not find some of these items in most pre-stocked first aid kits, so you will need to buy them separately and add them to yours.

On a final note: Once you have put your kit all together with the supplies you need, don't forget to inspect the contents at least once or twice a year. You should remove any medicines if they are past their expiration date, as well as any supplies that have been opened or damaged, as that will compromise their sterility. If you use anything from your first aid kit, make sure to replace it. If you don't you may need it later during a medical emergency.

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