First Aid & Survival Kits

A first aid kit and a survival kit are different. A first aid kit treats injuries. A survival kit keeps you alive when you’re stranded. Both need to be built, organized, and—most importantly—actually carried with you on every outing.

Building a Personal First Aid Kit

Your first aid kit should be small enough to fit in a pocket or backpack pouch, but comprehensive enough to handle common injuries.

Essential Items

Bandages & Wound Care:

• Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
• Sterile gauze pads (2x2" and 4x4")
• Medical tape
• Antibiotic ointment (small tube)
• Antiseptic wipes or alcohol prep pads
• Tweezers (splinters, ticks)

Pain & Inflammation:

• Pain reliever (ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
• Antihistamine (for allergies, insect bites)
• Hydrocortisone cream (1%) for itch

Specialized Items:

• Elastic bandage (for sprains)
• Triangular bandage (sling or securing large wound)
• Moleskin or blister treatment
• Nail clippers (small)

Personal Medications:

• Any prescription medications you take
• EpiPen (if you have severe allergies)

Organization Tips

• Keep everything in a waterproof pouch or bag
• Label items clearly
• Check expiration dates periodically
• Replace used items after each trip
• Keep a simple instruction card (basic first aid steps)

Building a Personal Survival Kit

Your survival kit is tailored to your environment and trip length. It includes items beyond the Scout Essentials that specifically address survival needs.

Core Items (Every Trip)

• Emergency shelter: Space blanket or emergency bivvy
• Paracord: 30-50 feet (1000 uses in the wilderness)
• Signaling mirror: More visible than a whistle alone
• Whistle: Backup to your voice
• Fire starters: Extra matches, lighter, ferro rod in waterproof pouch
• Water treatment: Purification tablets, water filter, or iodine
• Extra food: Energy bars, nuts, jerky beyond planned meals
• Headlamp: With extra batteries
• Navigation: Backup map and compass

Environment-Specific Additions

Cold weather:

• Wool hat and gloves
• Emergency sleeping bag or thick blanket
• Hand/foot warmers

Hot/dry:

• Extra water containers
• Sunscreen
• Electrolyte drink mix
• Wide-brimmed hat

Wet conditions:

• Waterproof bag or dry sack
• Extra socks
• Quick-dry towel

Demonstrating Kit Usage

When you show your counselor your kits, explain the purpose of each item and how you’d use it:

First aid kit example: “This antihistamine treats allergic reactions from insect bites. I’d give it to someone swelling from a bee sting. This elastic bandage immobilizes a sprained ankle. This tweezers removes ticks or splinters.”

Survival kit example: “This space blanket reflects body heat and weighs almost nothing. If I got separated from my tent, I’d use it as emergency shelter. This paracord has 1000 uses—I could build a shelter, secure gear, or create a litter to evacuate an injured person. This signal mirror is visible for miles on a clear day—far more visible than a whistle.”

Practice Using Your Kit

Don’t wait until an emergency to learn how to use your kit. Practice at home:

• Wrap a sprained ankle with the elastic bandage
• Use tweezers to remove a splinter
• Apply a bandage to a minor cut
• Assemble a fire using your fire starter
• Use your headlamp in darkness
• Purify water using your treatment method
• Use your signal mirror in sunlight

Familiarity breeds confidence. You want your items to be second nature when you really need them.