by Jared Garrett

Created on: April 16, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

If you have ever been camping, you will be familiar with the common wisdom that anything that could go wrong, does go wrong. Be it weather, campsite, the tent or the food, something is going to go wrong. Unfortunately, sometimes a person gets injured in the going wrong. So what do you do? You turn to your trusty camping first-aid kit! Here are the things you want to have in this kit, including a rationale for most of them.

*Bandages: Have all types of bandages. From band aids to a roll of sterile gauze, all will come in handy. In fact, have at least one ace bandage and a large, triangular cotton cloth as well.

*Wound disinfectant: This comes in all shapes and sizes. You could add a bottle of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide and those should serve you well. In my kit you will find a small bottle of the rubbing alcohol as well as a big pile of sterlizing wipes.

*Iodine: This stuff makes you feel comfortable that the wound got clean and will stay clean. It is dark and will stain, so be careful.

*Neosporin or other antibiotic ointment: Good for small wounds and burns.

*Water purification tablets: You never know when you will need more water than you have in your bottles and packs, so be sure to have these along.

*Painkiller: I have usually gone with Tylenol. This is because Ibuprofen is a little rough on the stomach and I don't want to take chances. So Tylenol it is for me.

*Sterile swabs: These come in incredibly handy when treating a bad cut. You can get them at almost any medical supply store.

*Packets of dissolving energy drink: This may come as a surprise, but these are actually very important. These drinks are usually loaded with electrolytes, which help the body recover from dehydration faster. Plus, they make boiled water more palatable.

*Scissors: Along with the scissors I have found it useful to have tweezers (for splinters). You will need the scissors to cut bandages. Keep the scissors in the kit and use them for no other task.

*Gloves: Have these in order to avoid contamination of wounds.

*Caladryl lotion: For poison ivy and other itchy nasties.

*Pepto Bismol

*Motion sickness pills

Some other items I keep in my kit, but you can keep anywhere include my bug repellant and my gel spritz that kills the pain from stings and bites. Keep these items in a case that can be firmly closed and latched. Be sure to keep an eye on expiration dates.

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