Do You Carry A First Aid Kit While Paddling? For years I didn’t bother. The rivers being ran were relatively close to help but it still could take time get it. This had to change.
For the last few years I have been using Adventure Medical as my main first aid kits. I stumbled upon them when I was trying to find an ultralight kit for mountain biking. Since then I have purchased several Adventure Medical First Aid Kits and they can be found in my rucksacks and now in my kayak as part of my “When it all goes wrong kit“.
The thing I really like about the Adventure Medical First Aid kits is the packaging. The outer pack is made from nice and bright yellow nylon. This stores a number (depending on the size of the pack) of waterproof/airtight pouches to keep all of the first aid items safe and dry. In the earlier first aid kits these pouches are made by Aloksak and are branded as Aloksak. Newer first aid kits have the Adventure Medical branding but I presume they do exactly the same thing. Aloksak pouches are a must have, they are so good they are even used by the US Navy. I use the same pouches for my car keys and phone when on the water.
I currently have a 0.5 as part of my kayaking emergency kit which is designed for use with groups of one or two. When with a larger group I like to carry an Adventure Medical 0.9 which has a much larger range of kit.
The 0.5 shown above contains one Aloksak bag that houses the following bits and bobs:
Medical Information / Instrument / Medication
1 x Splinter Picker/Tick Remover Forceps
2 x After Bite® Sting and Itch Relief Wipe
3 x Safety Pins
1 x Aloksak™ Waterproof Bag, 4.5″ x 7″
Wound Care / Burn / Blister
1 x Moleskin, 3″ x 4″
2 x Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 3″ x 3″, Pkg./2
2 x Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 2″ x 2″, Pkg./2
1 x Dressing, Non-Adherent, Sterile, 3″ x 4″
1 x Bandage, Conforming Gauze, Non-Sterile, 2″
2 x Bandage, Butterfly Closure
3 x After Cuts & Scrapes® Wipe
1 x Tape, 1/2″ x 10 Yards
4 x Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, 1″ x 3″
2 x Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, Knuckle
For some reason my 1st aid kit also contains a small roll of gaffa tape. This isn’t listed in any inventory for the 0.5 but is a superb edition that I would have added anyway.
What do you carry? Nothing, a home made kit or something off the shelf? We’d love to hear.
I have a small LifeVenture one I take hiking, I’ve added extra bit & bobs (Zinc oxide tape, tic, tweezers etc)
My kayak one is pretty much home made – plasters, zinc oxide tape, electrical tape, painkillers, Israeli Dressing, assorted dressings, boil in the bag meal & heater pack, water filter, creams, blizzard bag….. and a few other bits. All in separate waterproof bags in a LOMO 1st Aid Dry Bag.