Accidents WILL happen. That’s a stone-cold fact when enjoying the outdoors. Whether it’s hunting, gardening, camping, etc… The range of afflictions can be vast. From minor cuts and scrapes to full broken bones. A well-stocked first aid kit is worth its weight in gold. Nobody can predict the future, but a few items can cover a wide swath of injuries and ailments. This is my main medical kit.
here’s what I pack in my first aid kits. 

Please do not take any of this as medical advice. I am NOT a doctor on any level and my first aid kit is based on my common sense, my experience, and my potential maybes. 

A LOUD case.

I like blaze orange for my loud color. A loud first-aid kit stands out when you need it the most.

This particular case doesn’t have to worry about getting wet, but waterproofing is something to keep in mind as well.

Mind-Your-Owns

Anything YOU need personally gets packed first. Prescription medications, emergency phone numbers, asthma inhalers, etc…

Pills have expiration dates and phone numbers can change over time. Keep everything up to date and fresh. 

Disclosure: Adam’s Garden of Eatin’ participates in affiliate marketing programs. There are some affiliate links below and I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post, but these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used.

Minor Afflictions

The common everyday annoyances. 

Ailment: Small Cuts & Scrapes

Neosporin

Probably the most used piece of equipment in my first aid kit. Keeps infection away and relieves pain from minor knicks.

Band-Aids

I keep a good number of these. I like the variety pack with different sizes. Some cuts are bigger than others.

Knuckle Bandages

A busted knuckle hurts. I keep these for when a bandaid would work, but a tailored bandage is better.

Finger Tip Bandages

I cook a lot and I like to have these because the fingertips are where I usually get cut.

Leukotape P Tape

I have found no tougher tape than this stuff right here. This stuff will NOT come off on its own and that’s a good thing

Ailment: Chapped Lips

Chapstick

Vaseline. Works as a great fire starter as well.

Ailment: Sunburn

Stick of sunblock. This stuff will save you hours of agony later on.

Ailment: Splinter

Large & Small Tweezers. Not all splinters are the same size.

Misery Afflictions

These are injuries & ailments that can ruin your day, potentially your entire trip.

Ailment: Bee Sting

Benadryl. Good to have for other people.

Sting Relief Wipes

Pre-Loaded Sting Relief Swabs

Tobacco. An old-school remedy that still works

Ailment: Diarrhea

Imodium Ad Tablets. A bad case of food poisoning and you’ll be glad you have these little tablets.

Ailment: Small Burns

Burn Cream

Spend enough cooking around over a campfire and you’ll use this.

Ailment: Heartburn/Indigestion

Roll of Antacids. This comes in handy after cooking around camp.

Ailment: Poison Ivy Rash

Hydrocortisone Cream

I can look at ivy in a book and get it, I’m so allergic. I use this more often than I would like.

Ailment: Deeper Cuts

Gauze Pads in various sizes

Butterfly Bandages

Quick-Clot Spray

Iodine Wipes

Rubbing Alcohol Wipes

Super Glue – Not My first choice, but can work

Ailment: Minor Sprains

Ace Bandage

Ice Compress

Safety Pins

Ailment: Broken Finger

Finger Splint

Medical Tape

Major Afflictions

Hope it never happens injuries. These are the items I pack to keep myself and/or someone alive long-enough until proper medical attention is available.

Quik-Clot Gauze

One of the best things you can have to stop major bleeding

Zip-Stich
When a bandaid won’t do and the suture kit isn’t required.
No needle wound closure

Wound Closure Kit

I’m not a surgeon, but if it’s between me stitching myself up or dying, I’ll at least have the proper tools.

Tourniquet

LOUD Orange! Because if I’m needing a tourniquet, I don’t want to have to be fumbling around in the dark.
Could save mine, yours, or someone’s life one day.

Sam Splint

Keeps broken bones from wobbling around and doing more damage.

Used this at my hunting camp on a broke ankle. HIGHLY recommend

Sterilizing Liquids

Infection is a real thing, so I keep different bottles of liquid for multiple sanitizing purposes. I LOVE my Nalgene containers for storing liquids. Tough, won’t leak and come in various sizes.

Fresh Water

A small bottle of fresh water for cleaning wounds. It’s good to have water at the ready

Rubbing Alcohol

I fill a Nalgene bottle with rubbing alcohol.

Too many medical uses not to have it in my first aid kit. Mainly sterilizing tools and wounds.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Another wound cleaning liquid. Not as harsh as rubbing alcohol. The bubbling effect can flush out smaller wounds

Hand Sanitizer

It’s a good idea to have this before the gloves go on. Works as a disinfectant and a potential fire starter in a pinch

Whiskey

I keep a small bottle of whiskey in my kit as miser relief.

I have not found a tougher storage bottle than the Nalgene bottles.

I have numerous ones for various applications.

Clutch Gear

These are some handy things I’ve found to be super valuable in a First Aid Kit.

First Aid Guide
Great to have some sort of instructions.

Medical Masks
COVID is still a thing.

Nitrile Gloves
Tougher than normal medical gloves. I keep several pairs in my kit.

Multi-Tool
Too many uses not to have one.

Razor Blades
Small packaging with multiple uses.

Lighter
Another multi-use piece of gear.

Sharpie Marker
Useful for writing time and date on tourniquet label.

Popsicle sticks
Great for a make-shift splint or fire starter

Headlamp with Extra Batteries
This is way better than juggling your phone’s flashlight.

Survival Mirror
For emergency signaling and extra viewing angles on oddly positioned wounds.

Glow Stick
Great for marking locations in the dark.

Plastic Straws
Gain access to water in hard-to-reach areas.

Scissors

I keep a good pair of quality scissors. Chances are I’ll be needing to cut through a pair of Carhartts.

A flimsy pair set of scissors is just going to make me angry.

Water Purification Tablets

 Great for purifying water when camping, hiking, traveling, or in emergency water preparedness situations

Wash Syringe

Great for flushing out open wounds. Squirts alcohol or iodine on wounds.

Emergency Poncho
Great for those unexpected afternoon rain storms. I’ve been rained many times and still won’t learn.

Emergency Thermal Blanket

Great insurance if temperature drop is a concern during the winter. Also can be used as a make-shit tent shelter if I’m really in trouble.