It’s always better to be prepared for when something goes wrong than to just hope that nothing bad happens on your camping trip and not be prepared.
Having first aid supplies on hand is one of the best ways to prepare for emergencies and unexpected situations while you are out camping. You must take extra precautions when camping that you would not normally take because your resources are limited, and it may take longer to get professional medical treatment in case of an emergency.
First, you want to have a well-stocked first aid kit. The kit should contain:
- Gauze
- Medical Tape
- Plasters
- Scissors
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Forceps
- Pain reliever
- Cleansing Wipes
- Saline Solution
- Any personal medications you or your family members may be taking.
There are other things you could add to the kit as well, but above are the essentials. You want to be able to treat most kinds of minor injuries without having to make anything from scratch. Before you go on any camping trip, ensure that the kit is stocked, and everything is working like it should be. Keep your kit clean and in a dry place so that it will be usable when you need it.
General First Aid Knowledge
It’s also a good idea to know how to use all the items in your first aid kit. You can give yourself a refresher if this is knowledge you have learned or researched previously. You can also look up guides online for how to use everything in a first aid kit.
It’s also a good deal to have a field medical guide or access to first aid resources on your camping trip. You could download an app on your phone or bring a first aid book with you.
Train Your Team
Make sure that everyone in your camping group knows how to use the first aid kit and knows where the kit is kept. Ensure they are familiar with all the items in it, as a situation could aspire where you are unable to assist and need treatment yourself from someone else in your group.
Make sure they have the same resources available to them that the group leader has. It’s not a bad idea for everyone in the group to take a short first aid training lesson before going out on a camping trip together. That way, everyone will be able to help each other out in the event of an emergency.
Know When to Stop & Wait
There may be times where you cannot help fully. Some situations will be too serious, in these cases you will need to stabilise a camper as best you can while you are outdoors. You should be prepared to keep the camper safe until medical professionals can assist you, even if you can’t fully treat the person on your own. Do not try to stitch a wound or set a broken bone, but you can wrap an injury and create a splint from resources in your kit and in the environment around you.