Preparing for Emergencies

Req 2b — First Aid Kits

2b.

Using checklists provided in the First Aid merit badge pamphlet or ones approved by your counselor, do the following:

This requirement has two parts: building your own personal first aid kit for hiking and backpacking, and then inspecting a larger shared kit (your unit’s, a vehicle kit, or a home kit) with your counselor.

Requirement 2b1: Build a Personal Hiking First Aid Kit

2b1.

Using checklists provided in the First Aid merit badge pamphlet or ones approved by your counselor, do Assemble a personal first-aid kit for hiking and backpacking. Demonstrate the proper use of each item in your first-aid kit to your counselor..

A personal hiking first aid kit is small, light, and built for the specific hazards of outdoor activity: blisters, cuts, sprains, insect stings, and the occasional more serious injury. Think of it as the kit that’s always with you, even when you’re far from the troop’s gear bag.

Core Items for a Hiking Kit

Use the BSA’s official checklist as your starting point. Here are the categories to cover and why each matters:

Wound care:

Assorted adhesive bandages (multiple sizes — a tiny bandage won’t cover a heel blister)
Gauze pads (2" × 2" and 4" × 4") for larger wounds
Medical tape (athletic or medical-grade — holds dressings and supports rolled ankles)
Antiseptic wipes or solution (to clean wounds before dressing)
Antibiotic ointment packets (single-use)
Moleskin and a blister treatment (foam or gel pads)

Tools:

Tweezers with sharp tips (for splinters, ticks, cactus spines)
Small scissors (cutting tape, clothing around wounds)
Safety pins (slings, securing bandages)
Digital thermometer (know when a fever warrants evacuation)

Medications (confirm with parents/counselor before packing):

Antihistamine (diphenhydramine) — for mild allergic reactions, insect bites
Pain reliever (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) — injury management and fever
Anti-diarrheal medication — stomach illness in the field

Protection:

Nitrile gloves × 2 pairs (infection control — see Req 1c)
CPR face shield (one-way valve for rescue breathing)
Emergency mylar blanket (shock management, hypothermia prevention)

Documentation:

A small card with emergency contacts, your blood type, and any known allergies

What “Demonstrate Proper Use” Means

Your counselor will ask you to show them each item and explain when and how you’d use it. This isn’t memorization — it’s practical. For example:

Moleskin: Show how to cut a donut shape around a hot spot before it fully blisters, and how to apply it so it relieves pressure.
Tweezers: Explain the correct angle for removing a tick (straight out, no twisting).
Gloves: Demonstrate how to put them on and take them off without contaminating yourself.
Gauze and tape: Show a basic wound dressing — gauze over the wound, taped down at all four edges.

Personal, Family, and Troop First Aid Kit Checklist (PDF) BSA's official checklist covering personal, family, and troop kit contents — the authoritative reference for assembling kits that meet counselor expectations. Link: Personal, Family, and Troop First Aid Kit Checklist (PDF) — https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/Requirement%20Resources/First%20Aid/Personal%20Family%20Troop%20First%20Aid%20Kit%20Checklist.pdf First Aid Kit Checklists and Buying Guide Scout Life's practical guide to assembling and customizing first aid kits for different Scouting activities. Link: First Aid Kit Checklists and Buying Guide — https://scoutlife.org/video-audio/4937/first-aid-kit-buying-guide/

Requirement 2b2: Inspect a Shared First Aid Kit

2b2.

With your counselor, inspect a unit, home, vehicle, or camp first-aid kit and discuss your findings.

Larger shared first aid kits — the kind kept in a patrol box, the family medicine cabinet, or the glove compartment — are only useful if they’re well-stocked, organized, and current. This part of the requirement teaches you to evaluate a kit critically.

What to Look For During Your Inspection

Work through the kit systematically with your counselor and note:

Completeness: Are all essential categories represented? Compare against the BSA checklist.
Expiration dates: Medications and some supplies have expiration dates. Expired medications can be less effective or potentially harmful.
Condition: Are sterile items still sealed? Are adhesive bandages dried out or wrinkled? Is tape dried and crumbling?
Organization: Can you find what you need in an emergency without emptying the whole kit?
Appropriateness for intended use: A vehicle kit should have supplies relevant to car accidents (e.g., a tourniquet). A camp kit should cover outdoor-specific injuries. A home kit should include temperature-taking tools and medications.

What to Discuss

After the inspection, your counselor will want to talk through:

What’s missing and why it matters?
What should be restocked?
Are there items specific to the group’s needs (known allergies, regular medications for participants) that should be added?
Who is responsible for maintaining this kit and checking it regularly?

Now that you’re prepared — health records in place, kit assembled — you’ll learn about the wide range of skin and environmental injuries you might encounter in the outdoors.