This list is a beginning point for a personal First Aid kit, which each Scout needs to have with them at all times when camping. Feel free to add items that you think you will need (for example, if you have contact lenses, don't forget some saline solution for cleaning and inserting your lenses!). Be careful about deleting items from the list, as experience has shown that each of the items listed is pretty important.
You can often find a commercial First Aid kit that contains several of these items, but you will probably want to add several more items, so make sure you have a large enough container.
For the lotions and liquids, a few foil packets or a very small plastic bottle or tube will work best. Don't pack a large or glass bottle. The items nearest the top are the ones found to be needed most often!
Note for parents: if you think your Scout should not be taking any medicines on his own, you can skip the pain and stomach tablets - the Scouter's (adult leaders) have a supply in the larger First Aid kits taken on all activities.
| (check if in kit) | Item | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| sun screen (SPF 30 minimum) | preventing sun burn (and skin cancer later in life) | |
| insect repellent (Off, Deet, etc.) | preventing insect bites | |
| anti-itch lotion (Calamine, Benadryl, Bactene, etc.) | relieving itches from bites, rashes, poision ivy or oak, etc. | |
| pain tablets (Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, etc.) | relieving minor aches and pains | |
| bandaids - 5 each of small, medium, large (flexible water-resistant 3M "Active" bandaids are best we've found recently) | covering minor scratches and cuts | |
| mole skin | covering beginning blisters before they get bad | |
| upset stomach tablets (PeptoBismol, Tums, etc.) | relieving tummy aches | |
| latex rubber gloves | required for doing First Aid on another person! | |
| large tough plastic bag (1 gallon food food storage bag) | keeps the other First Aid items dry and together, can be used as emergency rescue breathing saliva barrier or as a quick-to-put-on glove | |
| wound cleaning pads in foil packets (alcohol or antiseptic) | cleans cuts and scrapes; prevents infection | |
| tweezers | removes splinters, cactus needles, or insect stingers | |
| adhesive tape (1" wide at least) | secures dressings and splints, wraps sprains | |
| sterile dressing pads or sponges (2 pads, 3" or 4" square) | covers burns or larger bleeding wounds | |
| gauze tape | wraps irregular shapes, like fingers or toes | |
| triangular bandage (40" on a side) | secures splints and dressings, supports sprains or dislocations | |
| cotton-tip applicators | cleans ears and noses, applies liquids, cleans foreign objects from wounds |