Whitewater Forum: First aid kit?

First aid kit?

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Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11163
Printed Date: 20 Sep 2025 at 3:09am

Topic: First aid kit?

Posted By: mokelumnekid
Subject: First aid kit?
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2011 at 10:21pm

Noob alert-

Hey all you experienced boaters- please share your thoughts on various contents and configurations for YOUR basic FR kit- maybe post pics of how you carry them, attach, etc. What has worked and what hasn't, etc. What clever short cuts can keep functionality without the weight and volume of the kind of kit I carried in Boy Scouts (which when opened was usually found to contain some stale cigars, damp matches and a '60's vintage Playboy someone had stolen from under their uncle's mattress).

I have read about the basics in books on swiftwater rescue, so am interested instead in people's personal experience and preferences rather than a complete entry level run-down.

Thanks in advance,

George B.

Replies:

Posted By: Ellingferd
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2011 at 9:04am

Duct tape, or some kind of strong tape. Cloth medical tape. Bandages/Band Aids of various sizes. Gauze. A syringe (without needle) for flushing wounds. Lighter. Notebook or pieces of paper and a pen. Advil. Benadryl. Tylenol. Pepto tablets. Any leftover stronger meds you have from previous injuries (I have some oxycodone I carry, like 20 pills which can come in handy if someone has an injury that involves extreme pain. they may expire after a certain point but no doctor is likely to prescribe this to you for your "first aid kit"). I think that is pretty much all I carry. It is smaller than a nalgene and not very heavy. This is the basically the kit that was suggested when I took my WFR at Rescue Specialists in Leavenworth and, really, there is nothing else you need. You will have rope, splinting materials, etc. inherent in all the gear you already carry (breakdown paddle, sticks, throwbag, etc.). Pfd's can be used for many different things. Basically, serious first aid in the backcountry is about being creative with what you have because there is no way you will be able to carry everything you want to for every possible scenario.

Posted By: Scott_H
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2011 at 9:33am

Here is a good discussion on the topic:

http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7815 - http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7815

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“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.”

Posted By: jon!
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2011 at 9:39am

I carry a roll of ace self adhering bandage. Its light weight, packs easy and works when wet. It will control bleeding without a dressing and with a little imagination you can use it to make a splint.Unless you carry an epi-pen the only life threats you can manage are bleeding and hypothermia.

Posted By: warlickone
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2011 at 5:55am

Ellingford is carrying what I carry. Minus the syringe. With tape, you can do anything. Cloth athletic tape and duct tape are a great combo.

I recently got a new waterproof bag from Aquasports in Redmond. It's a super strong ziploc in a nylon bag. Seems as light as a truly waterproof bag could be. I like it. I resewed the handle to make it just a clip point for a carabiner.

Jim

Posted By: mokelumnekid
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 4:08pm

Thanks everyone- this has been terrifically helpful. Lots of basic common sense stuff. Not all that different from my climbing/backpacking FR kit. But perspectives that I found useful.

Posted By: Kendi
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2011 at 8:55am

I teach Wilderness First Aid and so my kit is usually a bit more than most carry with them. That being said, I can't think of a single time in the past 3 years that something from my kit hasn't been used on a river or in camp.

I started with a zip pouch kit and replaced all the useless bandages in it with water proof ones. I then replaced the stupid plastic tweezers w/ metal ones w/ a sharp point. After that I just added a bunch of stuff that gets used frequently.

In addition to the basic stuff that came in the kit (measuring about 8" x 6" x 2") I added:

-a plastic sryinge to irrigate wounds and clean debris out of eyes

-eye drops (especially useful in dusty areas or for unexpected visits)

-duct tape, vet tape and moleskin

-mini LED light

-electrolyte mix

-honey packet (for diabetics)

-lots of motrin

-maxipad for blood absorption

-space blanket

To the small drybag I keep the kit in I also added an ace bandage, SAM splint, tampon, waterproof matches, instant ice pack and sunscreen.

Not super compact (ie for a kayak) but it fits nicely into my drybag of goodies on the raft or in the back of an IK.

With all that- I have to say the most useful piece of equipment is your BRAIN. Having a lot of cool stuff in a kit will be useless if you don't know how to use it, where it is or how to access it.

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