First-Aid Kit

I've been reading on some other forums about what people put in their First-Aid Kits. I'm trying to get mine down in size and weight. Right now I have a First-Aid kit and a "foot care" kit. I want to cutdown and combine the two into a small package.

So, what do you carry?

The big kit has all kinds of stuff that I would hope I never needed. Ready for snake bites to broken bones and butterfly tape thingys. I know several that carry the epi pens for an unexpected insect reaction.

The kayak/ backpack version is more like
Q tips good for getting something out of an eye to cleaning a wound),
Tape, also multi function
small scissors
tweezer
anti biotic creme

Always have sealed wipes. this stuff weighs little. They make a quicky small bandaid if needed. Some friends swear by and bring super glue for closing boo boos

the foot kit would be a good idea. And the knife I normally carry serves some first aid duties.

Pre fabs often have stuff you wonder if you would ever use ,and strange sizes... way too much or too little. Also important to keep any medicines or ointments up to date...expirations. The little packets can stil dry out if too old. Make friends with a drug rep and they can get ya sample size of useful stuff.

Haha, back when I used to help out an organization take groups on hikes, we carried one of the big AMK First Aid kits, but it had crap in it that were worse case type things (i.e. a SAAM splint). Anyway, here it what I'm working with right now:

2 - 3"x3" moleskin
6 - Dr. Sholl's Callus Cushions (the pads w/ hole in the middle)
4 - regular band-aids
4 - wound closure strips
~1/4 roll athletic tape (around pill bottle)
~10ft Duct tape (around whatever it'll fit on)
12 - ibprophen (sp?)
6 - Imodium
4 - tri anti-b packages

Note: Pills go in pill bottle ()

Your thoughts? Add? Take away?

willky:
Mine is geared primarily for foot care, but I do carry a few other things for general first aid.
Mine usually includes the following:

2' - 1/2" athletic tape rolled around a piece of straw.
2' - Leukotape rolled around same straw
2' - duct tape around another piece of straw
1 piece moleskin
1 pkg SecondSkin blister pad
3-4 BandAids
Razor Blade
Needle
Tylenol PM, Aleve, Advil (Amount depends on length of trip)
1 vial Tincture of Benzoin (put on your skin around a blister area to make the taping adhere better - very sticky)
Spare Contacts
2 Individual packs of Neosporin

This kit will typically weigh around 1.5-2.0 oz. for an average 2-3 day trip. You can certainly add to this any specific things that are unique to your needs.
UL

Wilky
The same you listed plus: an ace bandage for any sprains / breaks, a few benadryl for any allergic reactions, and a few alcohol wipes for disinfecting wounds / cleaning glasses ect.

I roll 10 ft of duct tape up below the handle on one hiking pole and wind 30 ft of parachute cord around the other with the ends taped off. Works well. The tape is for what ever ie. tent repair and I typically use the cord to hang my food bag.

HBH

That sounds good to me. Here is what usually goes in mine.

5 - tea bag coffee packets just in case I ever run out
3-4 - band aids
duct tape wrapped around a lighter for blisters and hot spots
1 - small bottle of Alcohol gel
4 - ibueprofin tablets
2 - tripple antibiotic packs
1 - small moleskin

I always have a bandana for anything that would require a major compress and it also has my maps on it thanks to trailhankies.com

Sometimes I carry strike anywhere matches too, just in case

willky:
I get those really small ziplock bags that you can get at places like Hobby Lobby for storing small craft items. This is what I put my pills in. Takes up a lot less room than a pill bottle.
Probably only one piece of Moleskin, unless you're going to be out for several days.
Duct tape around your trekking poles work great.
2 antibiotic paks unless out for several days.
Overall looks real good, just needs a little tweeking.
UL

UL,
Lots of good stuff in your kit. I think I will need to add to my kit a couple of things. The extra moleskin is because, except when it is real cold, I like to hike in my chacos. While there are a lot of good reasons to hike in these, the down side is more blisters. The straw is a great idea. I can use that instead of the bottle and save a little weight.

PM,
The coffee is a great idea, because I'm what you might call "addicted" to coffee (and yes this is coming from a drug counselor). I get a headache if I don't have some before noon. Maybe not a good idea for the first aid kit, but this is surely a must each time I go out.

My coffee stays in my food bag, but these packs stay in my first aide kit just for emergencies

Thanks for bringing this up, I went and put me together a kit and it is in my pack now.

I don't see antacid on anybody's list

ED:
I usually don't carry any for a 2-3 day trip, primarily because I don't take much in the way of spicy food. For week-long or longer trips then I would probably take some chewable Pepto and some Tums along, just in case. On these longer trips, I would also include some Imodium for any diarrhea problems that might arise.
UL

I was camping one time and thought I had set the tent on level ground, long story short- I wound up sleeping with my head slightly down hill without me realizing it and I woke up with a very bad case of indajestion that lasted all day without eating spicy food. I would have given 100 bucks for an antacid.

besides a couple tablets don't weigh much and you could maybe make a hundred bucks off of them.

Haha, good point ED. I've only had indajestion once, but I never want it again. I did finish my kit last night, and here's whats in it:

4 - wound closure stirps
7 - band aids
2 - 3"x3" moleskin
6 - Benadryhl
6 - Anti-di
12- Ibprophen
6 - Excedrin
6 - Corn Cushions
1 - 5' roll duct tape
1 - 5' roll athletic tape
6 - Alcohol prep pads

Thats all I can remember. I'll probably add or take some stuff away depending on the specifics of the trip, but this is a jumping off point. I'm still looking for some trip-anti-biotic ointment packages, and I'll add a 3-4 of those when I find them. Its all in a quart size (didn't have any small ones) ziploc bag. All of this weighs about 2 oz.