When doing anything that involves outdoor activity, it is necessary to prepare for accidents. When camping and enjoying the outdoors the “what if” question always hangs over our heads. So we pack our first aid kits, but in an emergency, do we really know what to do?

For a while, my knowledge of how to use a first aid kit in an emergency was limited. If someone got a cut or a blister, I could handle that by digging out a bandage. Beyond bandage-treatable ailments, however, I had no idea what to do.

Taking a course in first aid and at least adult CPR will help your confidence while traversing the wilderness. For those who want to take their wilderness medicine to the next level, the National Outdoor Leadership School offers many classes. Most NOLS classes that teach wilderness medicine double as college credit. Classes range from wilderness first aid, which is offered at WSU through the Outdoor Recreation Center in April, to the more in-depth wilderness advanced first aid course.

For now let’s review your basic first aid kit. All first aid kits should be stocked with various types of drugs to alleviate common ailments. Plenty of ibuprofen or Advil should be included in your first aid kit for aches, pains, headaches and to reduce swelling of injuries. Antacids and antidiarrheals are important as well for stomach aches and indigestion. Some sort of antihistamine would be handy for allergic reactions.

In the “other” category for a first-aid kit, a flashlight with new batteries is a must-have for any overnight trip, and suggested even for day excursions. Bring a small knife, small scissors and plastic zip-lock bags. Biodegradable compacted cloths are helpful as well. A pocket mask for CPR is also preferred, though not necessary. Included with most first aid kits is a small instruction booklet on proper CPR and first aid technique. Finally, condoms are always a good thing to have hanging out in your kit for an emergency endorphin boost.

For taking care of wounds, your first aid kit should have all the basics. For minor cuts, use an antiseptic agent to clean the cut and then finish off with a bandage. For wounds that need more than a basic bandage, you will need to dig deeper into your kit. Here’s a basic review on how to take care of a wound.

Think of sanitary precautions first. The kit should have latex gloves for your protection and a cigarette lighter to sanitize any tools you will use. Second on the list of things to do is to control the bleeding. Most bleeding can be controlled by applying direct pressure. If there is arterial damage, or spurting blood, then apply pressure to either the left or right of the wound (the side toward your heart).

Once bleeding is under control, clean the wound. Use as much water as possible and antiseptic agent to rinse the wound and clean the surrounding skin. It is OK to use soap. Soap will sting the patient but it is the best thing on-hand to clean out a wound. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide, because although it does sanitize, the bubbling it causes can lead to oxygen entering the blood stream. Use tweezers to remove any foreign material from the wound.

Dressing the wound will then help avoid infection. Sterile gauze should be a staple item in any first aid kit. Boiling any absorbable material for three minutes will sanitize it for reuse, as a wound should be re-dressed each day. If the wound is small enough, it can be closed with a winged Bandage, but it is not necessary to close the wound on itself. Plenty of wraps should also be found in a first aid kit for the dressing of a wound.

Lastly and most importantly, get back to civilization as soon as possible and seek professional medical attention.

It is also helpful to review first aid and CPR procedures before leaving. Being prepared will help your peace of mind on any trip and make any adventure safer and more enjoyable for all that are involved.