Tourist's first aid kit: composition and list of medications

A first aid kit is a must-have item on any tourist’s packing list. On long tourist trips there is even a separate field position for a medic. As a rule, this is the group leader. His task is to identify the disease and treat it with available medications, prevent the illness from developing, or provide the victim with qualified medical care if the case is truly urgent. What should be in the first aid kit: general (for the entire tourist group) and individual? How to pack medicines and dressings? How much medication should I take?

Individual medical package

The main first aid kit is usually located with the leader of the sports group or a doctor, but each tourist should also have an individual medical package with him. Having an individual first aid kit for everyone will make life much easier for all participants in the hike, and an extra bandage never hurts. Since the traveling medic has the basic set of medications and instruments, the tourist’s task is to prepare a small first aid kit for minor injuries and minor ailments.

The composition of an individual first aid kit for a hike is usually as follows:

Patch. You will need at least 20 plates or one roll with a fabric base.
Bandage: sterile, non-sterile, individual dressing package (1 pc.).
Elastic bandage (1 pc.).
Hydrogen peroxide, iodine (it is better to choose in plastic packaging or in the form of a felt-tip pen).
Medicine for colds (“Grippostad S”, “TeraFlu”, “Aflubin”, etc.).
Activated carbon (for two uses at the rate of one tablet per 1 kg of weight).
An analgesic and antipyretic medicine, a remedy for headaches (“Citramon”).
Sunscreen for hikes with long walks in the sun, tablets against “sea” or “mountain” sickness for forays into the water and into the mountains, respectively.
Medicines that you personally need (medicines prescribed by a doctor).

If you have chronic diseases or know about any peculiarities of your body, you may additionally need other medications (point 9). Such means may include:

high blood pressure medications;
inhaler for bronchial asthma;
hygiene products for women;
medicines for stomach pain;
allergy medications.

What should be in a home medicine cabinet

A home first aid kit includes a minimum set of medications that should always be at hand. There is no need to keep a battery of bottles with syrups for different types of cough, fill the refrigerator shelf with products to support the immune system and eubiotics with “good bacteria,” or buy antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription. After all, 24-hour pharmacies are available to almost everyone, and people with chronic diseases themselves know what supplies they need to keep at home.

A universal first aid kit contains what is needed urgently and suddenly, helps to wait for the doctor and can be used by people without medical education.

Disclaimer. Before purchasing and using medications, consult your doctor.

The article indicates the main active ingredients of the drugs. Trade names may differ; hundreds of different drugs are produced with the same active ingredient. Choose your remedy based on your doctor’s recommendations and your wallet, and for convenience, use the service to search for a medicine by active substance.

Dressing

Cotton wool. Bandage. Gauze napkins. Patch. Elastic bandage. Gloves. There are constant challenges with these essential items. Everyone knows that they should be at home. But when they are urgently needed, they cannot be found. And if cotton wool can still be found in a cosmetic bag, then everything is bad with a bandage and napkins. When you get hurt, you have no time to remember where everything is. You need to take dressing material and stop the bleeding, so make sure your first aid kit is stocked with the necessary supplies.

Shoe covers

Do you think shoe covers are not needed at home? Still needed. “They called the doctor, but he didn’t take off his shoes,” “The paramedic trampled in the hallway” - you’ve either heard such complaints, or you’ve uttered them yourself at least once. Give the doctor and ambulance staff shoe covers, this is a cheap solution to a painful problem.

Medical devices

Even the healthiest people should have a thermometer and tonometer. Temperature and fluctuations in blood pressure happen to everyone, and treatment depends on the readings of the simplest devices.

Painkillers and antipyretics

Paracetamol, ibuprofen, nimesulide are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. You need to put all three medications in your first aid kit. They differ in their duration of action and anti-inflammatory activity. Practice shows that if the temperature does not drop from paracetamol, then ibuprofen helps; If ibuprofen fails, nimesulide will help. As remedies for headaches and toothaches, drugs help in different ways, depending on individual tolerance. It is important not to get carried away and not to take all medications with an interval of half an hour, but to follow the instructions in the instructions and dosage.

Antispasmodics

A sharp attack of aching pain may be a symptom of smooth muscle spasm. Most often the head (with vascular tension) and stomach (with spasm of the abdominal organs) suffer. One of the safest drugs that helps in this case is drotaverine. It has few side effects, the main of which is uncontrolled use by patients, which suppresses pain instead of treating the cause of its occurrence.

Antiseptics

Stop smearing yourself with green paint, this is a thing of the past. You can treat the wound so that nothing stings and leaves no traces of dye, using good antiseptics. For example, chlorhexidine. Antiseptics have many more uses. In summer, you can treat your feet and armpits to prevent unpleasant sweat odor. Treat mucous membranes (even with a sore throat). Treat surfaces and various objects if you need to disinfect them. Unlike your favorite hydrogen peroxide, special antiseptics do not dry the skin. They don’t stop the bleeding either, but wounds that can be treated without medical intervention will heal anyway (with the help of a tight bandage), and if stitches are needed, peroxide will not help.

Wound healing drugs

Panthenol should be in the form of a burn spray at home. Contrary to popular advice, burns should absolutely not be lubricated with oil, lard or anything that grandmothers like to use. A burn is one of the most dangerous injuries, which is very difficult to heal. And even special ointment is painful to apply. Let's say thank you to modern release forms that can cope with minor burns and help you wait for a doctor if the injury requires doctor's supervision.

Panthenol or solcoseryl in the form of ointments and gels will cope with minor household injuries, cuts, and abrasions. It’s even better if panthenol is combined with an antiseptic, the same chlorhexidine.

Set of cold medicines

Most often we get sick this way: stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, fever. Fever is treated with NSAIDs (they were written about above); for other manifestations of ARVI, symptomatic treatment is used. A set of basic supplies is needed so that you don’t have to run to the pharmacy when you most want to lie under the covers and just sleep. So, how to save yourself during acute respiratory infections epidemics.

Interferon . Many drugs ending in “-feron” help the body quickly connect antibodies to the fight against the virus. Store candles and sprays in the refrigerator, otherwise there is no point in using them.

Vasoconstrictor nasal drops with oxymetazoline . Have you heard about drug addiction and an eternal runny nose, from which only constant instillation can save you? These are the consequences of using old generation drugs. Modern options allow you to last 5–7 days, instilling the drug only twice a day. Result: the virus receded, addiction did not appear.

Remedies for sore throat with antiseptics . Tablets and lozenges are taken to numb the pain a little and make swallowing easier. Some contain antibiotics that should not be used without medical supervision. Keep medications with antiseptics and enzymes, such as lysozyme, at home. Read the instructions and do not eat for two hours after taking it so that the medications have time to take effect.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are used not only to combat allergic reactions. They also help relieve swelling during colds (and use vasoconstrictor nasal drops to a minimum) and get rid of itching after insect bites (if you apply ointment with the drug to the bite site). Now there are a lot of drugs that do not cause drowsiness, made on the basis of suprastin, dimethindene, cetirizine, in convenient forms and different dosages for children and adults.

Sorbents

Activated carbon is a remedy that is, without a doubt, time-tested. Helps when you've eaten something wrong or caught an intestinal infection. And stories are told about the benefits of coal during excessive alcohol consumption. And they still don’t know how to use it. Drinking two black tablets is not enough, they drink charcoal in packs! The pleasure is doubtful. In the meantime, intestinal sorbents based on smectite and lignin have appeared, which are used one tablet at a time.

Constipation remedies

The best remedy for such a problem is diet. But the diet will work someday later, but constipation happens here and now. The problem can be solved simply. Lactulose syrup acts from the inside (which is prescribed for infants, but which works best on adults), and suppositories with glycerin act on the outside. No addiction, no side effects.

Oral rehydration products

These are true friends of sorbents and antipyretics. In case of poisoning, diarrhea, vomiting or very high temperature, the body needs to restore the water-salt balance. Problems begin when you don’t feel like drinking in this state. Making an effort and drinking one glass of a solution that will restore strength is easier than trying to pour liters of compote into yourself.

Medicines for hypertension

The most dangerous medicine in the home medicine cabinet is captopril, which is now recommended to be used instead of the popular nitroglycerin. If you do not have problems with blood pressure and blood vessels, you should still have captopril: this is a drug that can be given to a patient in case of a hypertensive crisis (one of the most common causes of death in the world) before the ambulance arrives.

Before buying medicine, study the symptoms of a hypertensive crisis.

Algorithm of action: noticed the symptoms, called an ambulance, put the patient to bed, provided him with a flow of air. If he is taking any medications to lower blood pressure, give them. And only if there are no such drugs, put a captopril tablet under your tongue. Important: tell the emergency personnel what you used. We remember that this is not brilliant green or charcoal, it is strictly forbidden to distribute captopril just like that for “eye floaters”.

make a first aid kit

What is always in your first aid kit “just in case”?

Small travel first aid kit

On short hikes near populated areas where qualified medical care can be provided, you can take a small first aid kit. The list of means and materials that should be included in its composition, in such cases, is limited to medications for providing simple medical care:

Bandage: sterile and non-sterile (1 piece is enough for a group of 10 people).
Elastic bandage (2 pcs.).
Tourniquet.
Hydrogen peroxide and iodine.
Potassium permanganate (a few grains of potassium permanganate can be thrown into boiled water from an open source, and the water will become suitable for consumption).
"Albucid" - drops for the treatment of conjunctivitis, which have a pronounced bactericidal effect and can also be used to treat a runny nose. The medicine is not harmful when used by pregnant and lactating women, as well as for newborns. Analog – sodium sulfacyl.
"Panthenol" (remedy for burns).
"Validol" (for heart pain and stress).
Ammonia (ammonia) is an emergency treatment for fainting.
Broad-spectrum pain reliever.
"Citramon" (headache remedy).
"Fenkarol" (medicine for allergies and allergic dermatoses).
“No-spa” (broad-spectrum antispasmodic).
"Bellalgin" (used as part of symptomatic therapy for heartburn, intestinal colic, abdominal pain).
Scissors.
Cotton wool in alcohol. In a small jar that closes tightly, you need to put 20-30 pieces of cotton wool and fill it with alcohol until it is very wet. The pieces will be easy to separate from each other when needed.

First aid kit at school

A “first aid kit” for first aid “in school classrooms” where various subjects are taught may differ in its composition with an additional set of medications in agreement with the doctor of the educational institution. The “first aid kit” must be located “at school according to sanpin” in the physical education classroom and in the vocational training premises.

The Sanpin does not specify the requirements for the composition of a school first aid kit; it simply states the need for its availability in every educational institution. Determining its list is within the competence of regional authorities.

This list of the contents of a school first aid kit, recommended by local health authorities, is approximately the same.

“First aid kit” intended “for school, composition”:

Antimicrobial agents.
Sanitary napkins.
Adhesive plaster in a roll (1 cm by 500 cm).
Bactericidal and hydroactive adhesive plasters 2.3 cm by 7.2 cm, 4 cm by 10 cm and 6 cm by 10 cm – 30 pcs.
Sterile dressings for application to wounds.
Special plasters for burns.
Sterile bandage (6 cm by 10 cm).
Hemostatic sponge.
The wipes are sterile.
The bandages are elastic.
Medical gloves.
Three-layer masks.
Scissors.
Tweezers.
List of emergency services telephone numbers.

In addition to the above, you can add here: -Medical alcohol. -Iodine. -Cardiac sedatives. -Ammonia alcohol. -Thermometer. -Wound healing ointment.

Emergency kit

A separate first aid kit on a hike is designed to provide emergency care, so access to this package of medications and supplies should be as easy as possible. For a hike (15 people for 2 weeks) in the warm season near populated areas you need to prepare:

"Validol" (minimum 10 tablets).
“Nitroglycerin” (1 pack) is a vasodilator that is used to relieve attacks of angina pectoris, used for acute heart attack, failure and pulmonary edema.
Ammonia (one bottle in plastic packaging).
"Bonin" (1 package) is a medicine that is used for symptomatic treatment of motion sickness, motion sickness, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
Bandages: sterile and non-sterile (1 pc. each).
Sterile wipes (1 pack).
Tourniquet (1-2 pcs.).
Antibacterial patch (60 strips + 1 roll).
Hydrogen peroxide (1 plastic bottle).
Iodine (1 plastic bottle). It is better to leave the iodine in a pencil for an individual first aid kit - such a product is non-sterile after the first use.

A first aid kit may include other medications; the above is only a general list for your reference.

First aid kit for employees according to order 169n

Order 169n obliged the employer to provide its production areas with first aid kits. According to the new rules, they contain mainly dressings, because the use of drugs and their storage in production requires a license or the presence of a qualified medical specialist in the organization.

What components are on its list?

“First aid kit composition”:

rubber band;
non-sterile bandages (5m by 5cm, 5m by 10cm, 7m by 14cm);
sterile bandages (5m by 7cm, 5m by 10cm, 7m by 14cm);
individual dressing package; — sterile gauze wipes;
bactericidal adhesive plaster (4 cm by 10 cm; 1.9 cm by 7.2 cm);
roll adhesive plaster (1 cm by 250 cm);
device for artificial ventilation of the lungs;
scissors;
antiseptic wipes (12.5 by 11.0 cm);
medical gloves;
three-layer mask;
warm blanket (160 by 210 cm);
safety pins;
instructions for using the first aid kit;
sanitary bag;
notebook for notes;
pen.

These first aid kits are sold everywhere. For example, the “FEST first aid kit” has 4 options. The “employee first aid kit” comes in a plastic case, a soft fabric case, or in the form of a plastic or metal cabinet.

Basic kit in a first aid kit

The list of medications in a first aid kit for a group cannot be compiled at random. On a long hike you need dressings, remedies for intestinal infections, injections, and antibiotics. It is quite difficult for a person without a medical education to understand all this. There is a risk of forgetting an important detail or taking with you a specific drug that cannot be taken without a prescription. Therefore, the main rule for forming the right traveling first aid kit is careful preliminary planning. Many situations need to be considered.

A first aid kit for a hike should include the following groups of drugs, medical products and dressings:

External antiseptics.
Medicines used for damage to the eyes and ears.
Painkillers and antipyretics.
Cardiovascular drugs.
Antiallergic drugs.
Sedatives.
Medicines that are used for diseases of the respiratory system and respiratory organs.
Drugs used for gastrointestinal diseases.
Anti-infective medicines.
Various products for external use (ointments and gels).
Tools.
Injection solutions.
Dressing materials.

As a result, the set of drugs is quite extensive. Why take so many medical supplies with you? All medications on the list are needed just in case, i.e. there are no medications that would be vitally necessary on the list for a general first aid kit. Such medications are considered individual medications and the participants of the trip who require them must ensure that they are available in sufficient quantities.

Packing a first aid kit, general recommendations

If your first aid kit does not contain ampoules or solutions in glass containers, then it is not necessary to pack the first aid kit rigidly (for example, in a container or box). However, it is a good idea to have a small cosmetic bag for medicines. One option is to buy a first aid kit and customize it to your liking.

But the tightness of the first aid kit will not hurt. A small lightweight hermetic bag or durable plastic bag is suitable for these purposes. There is no need to seal the first aid kit with tape - access to medications should not be difficult.

To reduce the size of the tablets, you can remove them from the boxes. I recommend leaving medication instructions in your medicine cabinet, as some medications need to be taken in a specific dosage. It is also possible that not all of the participants are familiar with all the medications in the medicine cabinet.

Important medications can be placed in a separate bag on top of the first aid kit or in the first compartment. In a backpack, it is better to keep the first aid kit closer to the top or in the lower compartment so that you can immediately take it out when necessary.

Pack your first aid kit correctly so you don’t have to call the forest doctor.

Features of the hike

A first aid kit for a hike in the forest is, by and large, the same as for a boat trip, a trip out of town, or to the nearest campsite. In all cases (with rare exceptions), the same ailments can occur during a hike: bruises and abrasions, calluses, burns, poisoning, sprains, fainting, and so on. But when forming a package of medical supplies, it is necessary to take into account the specific conditions of a tourist outing: cold and wet weather in the mountains, a large number of insects in the forest, long walks, heat in the summer, and the like.

What should be in the first aid kit, based on the nature of the hike? For example, for a short trip to the Moscow region you will not need any specific medications. But a first aid kit for a trip to the mountains must contain good ointments for stretch marks and bruises. For a comfortable overnight stay in the forest, you need to stock up on mosquito repellent and allergy repellent. A first aid kit for a water trip should contain a remedy for motion sickness and medications that will effectively and quickly help in case of poisoning. In summer, you need to stock up on sunstroke remedies and sunscreen.

Travel first aid kit for a tourist, personal and group: what is the difference?

The difference is that each person has his own personal illnesses and predispositions. This could be motion sickness, vegetative-vascular dystonia, diseases of the cardiovascular system, hypertension or hypotension, allergies, asthma.

Although the group's public first aid kit contains medications for the above problems, each participant must inform the leader of their illnesses and specific medications, and take these medications with them to their personal first aid kit.

It is advisable for experienced tourists to take first aid courses.

Group hiking first aid kit: composition

Corvalol . I do not recommend taking validol, since it does not contain anything to help if a person has a bad heart condition, except mint and menthol. Corvalol contains phenobarbital (barbiturate) - an antiepileptic, sedative, sedative substance. Now Corvalol can be bought in tablets at any pharmacy. Also suitable if you can't sleep after a hard day.
Nitroglycerin . Used for angina attacks (sharp chest pain). Reduces the load on the heart and dilates blood vessels. Last resort.
Losartan (50 mg), papazole . Remedies for high blood pressure. Papazole is also an antispasmodic.
Caffeine . Remedy for low blood pressure.
Smecta (powder in sachets). A quick and reliable drug for diarrhea, bloating, heartburn and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Papaverine or drotaverine . Antispasmodic (gastrointestinal tract, bronchial muscles).
Ketorolac (ketanov, ketonal, ketorol, etc.). Strong pain reliever. For any pain.
Ibuprofen . Pain reliever for mild pain.
Doxycycline or amoxycycline. First aid and prevention of borelliosis for tick bites. Antibiotics have a fairly broad spectrum and can be used against other microorganisms.
Chloropyramine (suprastin) or analogues. Bee stings, allergies, anaphylaxis.
Activated carbon . Poisoning. You can replace it with polysorb, but it is a little more expensive, although according to reviews it is more effective.
Theraflu, Antigrippin in sachets. A quick remedy for incipient flu and acute respiratory infections. A couple of bags in the first aid kit has never been too much.
Aspirin . For a hangover.

Several compartments in the first aid kit are convenient for packaging medications by urgency group

Ointments, gels, etc.:

Ortofen, ketoprofen . Sprains, pain in muscles, ligaments, injuries, sciatica, arthritis and swelling. Anesthetizes, cools, has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Ointment "Rescuer" . My personal recommendation. Wound healing and restorative agent. It is used for burns, frostbite, wounds, cuts, abrasions, hematomas, sprains. You can treat open wounds! Ideal as a compression bandage. It costs a penny.
Ointment "Star " For symptoms of acute respiratory infections, runny nose, headaches. Classics of the genre.
Acyclovir. Experience has shown that during a hike, immunity quickly drops and such unpleasant things as herpes appear.
Wipes with ammonia . In case of fainting, loss of consciousness.
Alcohol gel for treating hands and abrasions.
BF glue for sealing and disinfecting cuts and abrasions.

You can always find an alternative to glass vials. Ammonia has long been produced in individual lightweight packaging (disposable soaked napkin)

Help for injuries, wounds and sprains:

Packaging of sterile bandage.
Compression bandage with clasp and mesh.
Cotton swabs.
A means for washing the wound (but you can also use clean water). Chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide. Pour into small plastic bottles.
Strong plasters to tighten the wound.
Plasters of various shapes and sizes for calluses and abrasions.
Needle and thread. If you don’t have the skills to stitch wounds, it’s better to try to seal it, but if it’s really bad, then sew it up anyway. Sold in pharmacies and medical equipment.
Small scissors. For cutting bandages.
Iodine or brilliant green. Sold in pencil form. Very convenient to smear.
Alcohol. Psychological help.

These markers contain brilliant green, iodine and even hydrogen peroxide!

Tourist's personal first aid kit

The individual first aid kit of a hiker must contain emergency supplies and hygiene products:

sunscreen with a value of at least SPF 30. Getting a sunburn in the mountains is easy, even if the temperature outside is not very good.
hygienic lipstick.
fatty cream or Vaseline. When hiking, sometimes a very strong wind blows, and the water in mountain rivers is cold, so you will get a chapped face and hands already on the second day.
rescue thermal blanket made of foil. Hypothermia can lead to death, but such a blanket, the size of a small smartphone, can really help out.
bandage, iodine or brilliant green (marker pencil), plasters.
pills for pain and heart problems.

This set is quite enough to feel confident on the route, even if you are a little behind the group.

Very often, as part of a camping first aid kit you can find ampoules with medicines, however, many injection medicines require storage at low temperatures and under certain conditions, which will not be easy to ensure on a hike.
In addition, it is necessary to have the skills to administer intramuscular and intravenous injections. If you have a doctor on your team or you know how to give injections, then you can pick up several emergency medications in ampoules. Among such drugs are dexamethasone and prednisolone - drugs for shock, anaphylaxis and cerebral edema.

Calculation of the number of drugs

What should you put in your first aid kit on a long hike? The same as on a short tourist outing to the nearest campsite. The only difference is the number of medications and dressings that you need to take with you. This question usually causes the most difficulty when putting together a first aid kit for a hike.

The following principle can be recommended: medications intended for the treatment of victims whose condition requires transportation should be taken on the basis of two victims and transporting them from the most distant point of the route.

For other groups of medications, the likelihood of spreading the disease must be taken into account. This usually applies to intestinal infections and colds. In the first case, you need to take more medications for abdominal pain, especially if there are newcomers in the group (usually they are more likely than experienced travelers to get poisoned) or if you are planning a trip to regions with an unfavorable sanitary and epidemiological situation (southern regions, Asia, the North Caucasus). You will need to take more cold and antipyretic medications if the weather is wet or cold during your hike.

General tips and tricks

It’s good if there is a qualified doctor or an experienced nurse on the trip, but, as a rule, the responsibilities of a doctor are taken on by a person who is far from medicine in everyday life. In this case, the principle works: the more time is devoted to preparing a first aid kit for a hike in the city, reading the instructions and the procedure for providing first aid, the fewer problems there will be on a tourist outing.

The medic and the group leader must know the first aid kit thoroughly, and the other participants in the hike should at least become familiar with it in general terms. All members of the group are familiarized with the procedure for providing first aid and the correct actions in emergency situations. It is advisable to find and print instructions for each case in advance. The first aid kit itself should also contain instructions for the use of all medications that are available.

The first aid kit should be divided into emergency and general. Access to a first aid kit should be as easy as possible, while a general one will be used mainly at rest stops.

You need to monitor the contents of your travel first aid kit: promptly replace expired medications, syringes with worn-out packaging, opened bottles of drops, and keep track of how much ointment and ampoules are left. Some medications are sensitive to heat or cold, so be sure to purchase new ones before each trip.

The ampoules that are in the first aid kit should be packed in boxes with cotton wool so that they do not break during the hike. It is advisable to stick another label on top of the printed inscription on the ampoule or simply cover the inscriptions with transparent tape, since they are quickly erased. Plates with pills should also be covered with tape: the foil often falls apart and the pills spill into the medicine cabinet, so the name of the pills may be erased.

Tablets that have been poured into the first aid kit should never be used. The same rule applies to ampoules with erased inscriptions.

General recommendations

The general rule is to store the medicine in a dark, cool place, away from children and animals. When storing, each medicine should have its name and expiration date written on it, and it is highly desirable that it be in its original packaging and along with the instructions.

Once every six months or so, it is necessary to inspect all medications in the medicine cabinet, replenish supplies and throw away those with expired expiration dates.

It would be most convenient to organize a universal first aid kit according to the principle of “what and for what disease.” On medicine boxes or on pieces of paper (attached with an elastic band), write the name of the medicine, what it is for, and how to use it. This will make your life much easier in an emergency. You can stick a piece of paper on the first aid kit from the telephone number of the clinic, family and other medical services and pharmacies you need.

What should not be in the first aid kit

It makes no sense to stock a traveling first aid kit with a huge amount of medicines for all occasions. And a person who does not have a medical education is unlikely to understand all the many medications that are offered by modern pharmaceutical companies. As a result, you can take outdated medications, medications with a large list of contraindications and a high probability of allergic reactions, medications with a limited list of indications for use, or simply unnecessary or specific medications.

According to some experts, the following medications should not be in a tourist first aid kit: Levomycetin, Analgin, iodine (medicine has already doubted the need to treat wounds with iodine - hydrogen peroxide is enough), Phthalazol. These products have strict indications for use and are long outdated. The use of such drugs by non-specialists will in most cases do more harm than good.

For a similar reason, you should abandon the popular Rescuer ointment. Firstly, there are now many analogues with a similar design, but a completely different mechanism of action. Secondly, “Rescuer” is bad precisely because of its versatility, while on a hike you need a quick and reliable result. Need to treat a burn? Use Panthenol. Hurt your knee? Anti-inflammatory ointment will help. Did you cut yourself? Treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide and cover it with a bactericidal bandage. But it’s better to leave “Rescuer” at home.

Composition of an individual first aid kit

In addition to regularly taken medications, it’s worth investing here in your “favorite” first aid products for problems that most often arise on a hike - calluses, cuts, upset stomach, burns.

A pair of elastic bandages or knee pads . Thing number one on my personal list, since getting bandages for each participant is almost impossible. They fix the joints of the legs and arms, reducing the load on them during long walks on uneven terrain (they will help support the knees on descents). Knee pads are more expensive, but they are less likely to slip – they are tailored to your individual size. Bandages are cheap and versatile; if applied too tightly, they rub at the bends of the limb. If you are not sure that you can correctly apply an elastic bandage on your own, call the instructors for help.
Plaster : in a roll and bactericidal in plates. Some people have a skin allergy to the glue used in a regular roll plaster; we recommend using paper or silk. Its scope of application is almost limitless - from fixing cooling compresses and hemostatic bandages, to fixing the temples of glasses and gluing the mouth of a snoring neighbor in a tent. Plates in separate packages are convenient for covering small wounds, abrasions, and burns. For calluses, the eternal companions of wet feet and unworn shoes, special silicone pads have been invented.
Gauze bandage . For dressing wounds and burns, fixing a cold compress for a bruise, medicinal bandage with antibacterial ointment. It is advisable to cut and apply the bandage with clean hands, making sure that small fibers from the edge do not fall into the open wound. When there is nothing else at hand, strips of bandages torn along the length will work instead of laces and other vital ropes.
Skin protection : sunscreen with SPF 50+, chapstick. At altitude, the sun “burns like a child,” so take a product with the highest factor. Don’t be afraid, you will be able to stay completely without a tan while hiking, as long as you hide from the sun on purpose. And its intense radiation, cold river water and strong winds lead to the skin on the face (especially lips) and hands becoming chapped, peeling and cracking. Cosmetic Vaseline or fatty cream in a small tube will come to the rescue. All these products should be applied even on a cloudy day, preferably in the morning before leaving the camp. Do not forget to renew the cream after a couple of hours of intense walking or swimming - water and sweat wash away the protective layer.
Earplugs . Small foam “pellets” come in handy on particularly windy nights or when your neighbor snores. Some people are initially hypersensitive to sounds. In unusual conditions it increases. Earplugs are a personal item just like a handkerchief and lipstick and should not be shared with others. With one hand you need to roll up a roll of earplugs, with the other you need to pull your earlobe up and back so that the ear canal straightens. You should insert only with clean hands, in the absence of pain or unusual discharge from the ear. Simple polyurethane foam earplugs do not protect against water; a rubberized version has been created for diving.
Vitamin C effervescent 1000 mg. Needed to support immunity and activity under conditions of increased stress. Soluble tablets are convenient to crush into a bottle and drink throughout the day. Please note that vitamin C breaks down at high temperatures. It’s not worth dissolving it in a mug of freshly brewed tea.
2-3 packs of activated carbon . This is a sorbent; it absorbs and removes toxins and microbial waste products from the body. The first remedy for poisoning, loose stools, overeating “something unhealthy.” For the medicine to work better, the tablets should be chewed rather than swallowed whole. The standard dosage for adults is 1 tablet. per 10 kg of weight, therefore, take a little more than 1 package.
Girls and women - hygiene products for critical days. Even if your cycle is as precise as a Swiss express, under unusual conditions (altitude, change of regime, physical activity) the body can get “confused” and “those days” will come earlier. What exactly to take - choose for yourself, but remember that pads can rub the delicate skin in the groin area with active movements, and be sure to change tampons every 6-8 hours. It wouldn't hurt to pack some wet wipes to perform hygiene procedures with clean hands.

Additionally

These products are not necessary, but will make your life much easier when away from your home medicine cabinet.

Proven painkillers . Yes, on our hikes you will be offered a certain assortment of analgesics, but different people have low or high sensitivity to the active substances. If you know which drug works best for you, take several tablets in a package. Girls experiencing periodic pain - be sure to take “your” medicine and a couple of warming patches.
Disinfectants in the form of markers: iodine, brilliant green, peroxide. Suitable for prompt treatment of wounds, abrasions, and minor burns literally on the go. Zelonka and iodine should not be applied to an open wound, only to the edges! The marker is convenient to use and open without staining everything around it, and you don’t have to look for a cotton swab or swab.
Medicine for motion sickness . You often have to get to the starting point of a hike along mountain serpentines or dead roads. To pass this test with honor, stock up on Dramamine, Aviamarin or homeopathic Cocculin, Vertigohel. Medicines prevent dizziness, nausea, and gagging from shaking. You need to take the pill half an hour before your trip. Remember that these products have contraindications - if you are too lazy to go to the doctor for clarification, read the instructions carefully.
Panthenol in the form of cream or spray. Soothes sunburned skin, heals small cracks, moisturizes and nourishes. The product is packaged in a group first aid kit, but, as practice shows, among the participants there are those who like to “fry”, and the bottle quickly runs out. Use it instead of cosmetic cream, it will be 2 in 1.

First aid kit packaging

Special requirements are also put forward for packing a first aid kit on a hike. Medicines should be stored in a dry place, protected from direct sunlight. Depreciation should also be provided. Here are some requirements for packing a first aid kit:

Rigidity.
Sealing.
Shock absorption.

Medicines must be placed in packaging that retains its shape and does not deform and closes tightly. Plastic containers crack and break easily in the cold. But packaging in soft containers will not protect the contents from falls or moisture. You need to think about this point, guided by the characteristics of the hike, weather conditions and other specific factors.

Between the blocks with medicines and around the first aid kit inside the backpack, it is recommended to make soft shock-absorbing pads, for example from clothing. Checking the quality of packaging is simple - a first aid kit dropped in a backpack from a height of several meters onto a hard surface should not break. This is especially important for drugs in ampoules.

In some cases, it may be necessary to transport the first aid kit outside of the backpack. For convenience, the packaging should be equipped with a comfortable strap or handles. The appearance of the first aid kit should be different so that it can be easily found in a backpack. Traditionally, first aid kits use red packaging with a white cross.

All medications must be labeled and the expiration date must be indicated on each package. Be sure to include instructions with all medications: a list of indications and contraindications, dosage.

Buying a ready-made first aid kit

In tourist stores you can often purchase ready-made first aid kits with contents. As a rule, a purchased first aid kit for a 20-day hike does not contain all the medications that may be useful. Of course, the cost of such a first aid kit is usually lower than what you get if you assemble it yourself, but the price is not the main thing here. A factory first aid kit will never be able to fully take into account the specific conditions of a particular hike, the health status of the group, the complexity of the hike and other factors.

Will an unqualified physician be able to properly dispose of the medications contained in such a first aid kit? Hardly. Should you prefer a store-bought first aid kit or take the time to prepare it yourself? Of course, it is better to complete the first aid kit yourself, but if we are talking about a short outing into nature (within one or two days), the factory version may be quite sufficient.