Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Whats in your first aide kit or bug out bag?

The previous thread on light bandages made me think I need to upgrade my first aide kit a couple of notches. Either photos or a list would be nice. Thanks in advance.

I don't have a bugout bag because I can't think of any reasonable situation where I would not shelter in place.

I have been backpacking for over six decades. Every once in a while I sit down try to remember the first aid things/situations that I have actually encountered while backpacking.

Here is what I carry in my backpack first aid kit.

5 ea Bandaids 5/8" x 3" fabric - Minor Cuts
5 ea Bandaids 1" x 3" fabric - Minor Cuts
5 ea Bandaid 1 3/4" x 4" - Abrasions and Cuts
1 pad Moleskin 3" x 4" - Blisters
4 ea Moleskin Donuts - Blisters
1 sm tube Neosporin Ointment - Triple Actibacteria Ointment
1 roll Gauze, sterile - Wound Treatment
2 ea Gauze Pad - Wound Treatment
2 paks Quick Clot - Stop Bleeding
1 ea Battle Dressing - Major Wound
2 ea 2nd Skin, moist burn pads - Burn Treatment
1 sm tube Aquaphor Ointment - Burn Treatment
1 roll Ace Bandage - Sprains
1 roll Vet Wrap - Sprains
1 ea Needle - Splinters & Ticks
1 ea Tweezers - Splinters & Ticks
1 tube Chap Stick - Chapped Lips
4 pills Antacid Tablets, chewable - Indigestion

Plus training on how to use everything in the kit and what else you may need to improvise.

I have a much bigger First Aid Kit for remote expeditions and hunting base camps.

Good list thanks.

I would add a cat tourniquet to that list. In my experience they have proven to be life savers with major bleeding of extremity

If you know a Paramedic have him give you a small roll of sam splint for fx of extremity.

Tylenol and some ibuprofen

I bought a decent sized REI type first aid kit, took half the things out of it and replaced with what suits me and my family. Pretty standard stuff, with extras of our prescription meds, epipens, etc. On a pocket on the outside the pack I have an easily accessible QuikClot bandage. A tourniquet would be a good idea to have with it.

I have a trauma kit and boo boo kit in the truck that is very complete. In my pack always is:

2 primed compressed gauze
2 triangular bandages
1 quik clot combat gauze
5, 1/4"x4" steri strips
1 T of B applicator
5 assorted bandaids
1 xl sam splint

My wife carries her own Epi pen

Total weight in a 1 gal. zip lock is 10.5 ounces


mike r

The closest thing to a first aid kit or a bugout bag that I carry is a roll of electric tape and asswipe.

I'm sort of stunned guys don't carry Super Glue. My "first aid" kit is pretty minimalist, but I'd never be without it.

Super Glue is always in my kit as well. Multiple uses for it also.

I have some Liquid Bandaid in my bigger First Aid Kit for base camp. Same thing.

Large alcohol pads. Large, as in 3x4" or bigger. They're great if you get into poison ivy/oak/sumac as alcohol takes the toxic acid right off. The little ones work but you need a handful of them to do the job.
This summer we tested one on a guy who got into poison oak. His hands were turning bright red and burning. 1 pad and 30 min and the red was gone with no after affects.

Good info.

I have a separate kit for thorn country with medical grade tweezers and Ichthammol. Also for base camp Arnica gel. The black drawing oil actually works sometimes within a few hours. I have had thorns that have taken months to remove so I like to get them as quick as possible. The Arnica works well for any bruises, wounds or pain. It can make even bad bruises heal in a couple of days.

I am also going with the synthetic skin type band aids. They don't get as dirty and seem to work faster. They work on blisters where sometimes mole skin seems to increase the pressure on them.

It should be in your field kit.

Never had luck sealing a cut w super glue.

I knew a guy who brought dogfood on his pack trips. Didn't have a dog. Said that he wouldn't eat it unless he was in a really desperate situation and then it might save his life.

My personal kit includes a CAT tourniquet, Quikclot combat gauze, an ace wrap, and a roll of gauze. After 20 years and 3 tours as a combat medic who has carried way too many supplies, I only focus on carrying what's needed to save my life. Comfort can wait until later.

PM me if you're in need of Quikclot combat gauze. My Dad bought a whole box thinking he would use it. Luckily that's not been the case.

Thanks, Dinny

Check out SWAT tourniquets. They can be found on amazon. I recently went through a Stop The Bleed course and these were recommended. Over time they stay tighter than other windlass type tourniquets and I believe they may be lighter too.

My son burned his hand on a wood stove this elk season.
Went through 6 first aid kits in camp looking for burn ointment.
No one had one. Put that on the list

I always have a couple of anti diarrhea tablets and
some kind of cold meds and some analgesic.
In blister packs it's nearly zero weight and takes
nearly no space. Been sick out in the bush and
alone before and needed medication. I was sick
enough so as not being able to make the drive
back home


Anyone packing a tourniquet needs to have the
training to use it properly and the judgment to
not use it except when definitely needed.

Neosporin