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The First-Aid Kit Essentials for Family Hikes

For a fun activity with your family, hiking is definitely near the top of the list. However, it’s not always a smooth experience, so ensuring safety should be your top priority.

There are many reasons why hiking is good for you and your family. It helps you stay active and healthy, and creates stronger bonds between family members. This is why many families choose hiking as one of their main family routines.

When you’re taking your children hiking, you want to prevent any possible injuries or health issues that can ruin hiking. For this reason, having a well-organised camping first aid kit full of all the necessary items is a must.

If you’re not sure what this kit should include, we’ve got you covered. We have compiled a list of all the necessary things to include in your first-aid kit.

First Aid Essentials For Camping

The first thing you should do when assembling a first-aid kit is asking yourself, ‘what situations might our family face?’ No matter where you’re going, there are some items that are an unavoidable part of every good first-aid kit. Here are some of them:

• Hand sanitiser
• Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication
• Antiseptic wipes
• Gauzes
• Duct tape
• Emergency contacts

So whether you’re hiking near your home, or traveling somewhere, these are some things that you always need to bring with you. They will cover many potentially dangerous situations. Of course, there’s much more to having a perfect first-aid kit for your family.

Essential Care Items For Children

Keeping your child safe while you’re in the wilderness is your number one job. Even though most hikes go without any issues, you never know when something might happen. For this reason, it’s always best to prepare yourself for different situations. Here’s what you need:

• Thermometer and acetaminophen/ibuprofen – For fevers and pain
• Kids’ Band-Aids – Always make sure you have enough of them
• Medication or chewable tablets for treating diarrhoea
• Antihistamines – If your children have issues with allergies
• Any prescription medicine that they might be taking, as well as contact information of their doctor.
• Needles and tweezers – For cactus spines or splinters

If you bring all of this, you can rest assured that your children will stay safe in pretty much any environment. Always check that all medications are not past their expiration date, and make sure not to forget anything.

First Aid Items for Hiking in Developing Countries

Many people decide to go hiking away from their country. If you’re thinking about this, there are some specific things that you might need. This is especially important if you’re going to any developing country. Here’s what you need to bring:

• Hiker’s guide – Here you can find useful information about the country you’re hiking in, as well as guidance for the specific hiking area.
• Good rehydration solution – Since you don't know a lot about the place you’re going to, you’ll want to make sure to avoid dehydration at all cost.
• Diarrhoea medication for your entire family
• Multiple antibiotics or a wide-spectrum antibiotic
• Aloe Vera gel for minor burns
• Insect repellent

By taking all of this with you, you ensure that no matter where you go you’ll be able to avoid virtually all potential issues. Going to a foreign country is always fun, but always keep your safety in mind.

Miscellaneous Camping Essentials

Aside from medication and emergency items, there are other things that can play an important part in your family hike. These items can often come in handy in various situations, so they can be a great addition to your first-aid kit. Here’s what they are:

• Pen and paper
• Scissors
• Multi-use knife
• First-aid booklet
• Magnifying glass
• Small mirror
• Whistle
• Medical waste bag

These supplies can make a world of difference to your hiking experience, so it’s always a good idea to have them with you.

It would also be worth learning some emergency techniques, such as CPR or wound sanitising. Although every hiker hopes that there will be no need for them, you never know when you might need to use these skills.

The Final Word

Hiking is one of the most exciting activities for you and your family. Exploring nature with your loved ones can be a profound experience. If you assemble a good first-aid kit, you can rest assured that your hike will go smoothly without any issues.

Another thing to remember is that bringing all these things shouldn’t make you feel overcautious or expect that something will go wrong. Hiking with family is completely safe in most cases, and making sure that you can handle any potential inconvenience or danger will give you the peace of mind to enjoy the experience fully.

Have any questions?

Call us on 1300 836 896  or send us note Contact us and one of our friendly staff members will be happy to help you!

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