First aid kit

Experienced tourists know that for outdoor activities in a backpack, you definitely need to find a place for a hiking first-aid kit. Even during a one-day trip, the unexpected can happen, and medical care will not be available. Therefore, it is necessary to independently choose the composition and pack all the medicines.

Formation of a first aid kit

At the stage of preparation for a hiking trip, planning the duration and route of the trip, all the features of the tour and its participants are taken into account. This affects the composition of what should be in the first aid kit. Tourists should consider how close to the route there are settlements that have medical facilities, whether there is a mobile connection or Internet access. Those who go to the deep forest, where there are no people within a radius of hundreds of kilometers, should take into account that they will have to cope with emergency conditions on their own.

When compiling a hiking first-aid kit, a tourist takes into account what chronic diseases all members of the group have. Preparations to help in case of exacerbation should be in an individual first-aid kit. Separately, a group kit is compiled, which includes the most necessary medicines and dressings.

The contents of the first-aid kit depends on the time of year, climate zone and place of travel. If the tour passes through hot Asian countries, it is necessary to take into account the increased risk of intestinal infections and the poor quality of the water. Therefore, the list must include drugs for diarrhea. They will be needed in other regions as well. But in a temperate climate, one pack per person is enough, and in a risk zone, it is better to take 2 packs.

Traveling in the cold season, rafting on water carries the risk of hypothermia and the development of colds. Therefore, you need to take the following groups of drugs with you:
cold remedies - vasoconstrictor drops that will help ease breathing;
from temperature - antipyretic drugs in tablets or complexes in the form of a soluble powder;
cough medicines - medicines that will help clear phlegm from the lungs or suppress a dry cough;
antibiotics in tablets - necessary on a long hike, if after the appearance of signs of a severe cold or pneumonia there is no way to quickly return to the city.

Packing Requirements

The first aid kit is part of the tourist's equipment. So that it does not weigh down the backpack and does not interfere with the journey, it is important to properly assemble and pack it. All medicines must be carefully packaged, following certain rules. The packaging should be tight enough not to damage the medicines. To do this, use special plastic containers, some take ready-made car kits. Good packaging does not deform when placed in a backpack or when it falls. It is sealed so that it does not let water or damp air inside. The camping kit has a good clasp so that in case of an accidental fall, the medicines do not crumble and are not lost.

The minimum list of necessary medicines on a hike

The list of necessary medicines for the trip depends on the duration of the hike. Even for a one-day tour in the forest, you need to take a small first-aid kit. It includes the following medicines:

- Insect repellents - spray or cream against mosquitoes, in autumn and spring in the forest you need anti-tick preparations;
- dressing material - bandage, plaster, sterile dressings;
- means for the skin - ointments for bruises and sprays for burns are considered necessary;
- external antiseptics - a solution of iodine, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine to treat the wound.

If you plan a hike for 2 days or more, the distance to the nearest settlement will be more than 4 hours on foot, you need to take a large first aid kit. Her list could be as follows:

- Painkillers are tablets, powders from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include Diclofenac, Nimesulide, Ketorolac, Ibuprofen, which also have an antipyretic effect;
Allergy remedies are needed in any hike, even if there were no allergies before. Help to overcome itching after an insect bite. It is better to use Cetirizine, Loratadine, Phencarol, which do not cause drowsiness;
-drugs for diarrhea - you need enterosorbents Smecta, activated carbon, Polysorb, as well as antibacterial agents Nifuroxazide or Furazolidone, a remedy for dehydration;

Ammonia, scissors, tweezers, pipette are placed in the group equipment. On a hike, you may need a tourniquet to stop the blood, tablets to disinfect water. If you are planning an extreme trip, you can take sedatives and heart medications with you. Active tourism is not always safe, even a simple trip to the forest can lead to damage, and while relaxing by the fire, burns will appear due to negligence. Everyone can provide first aid, it is enough to stock up on medicines in advance.