Editor’s note: this article was inspired by a conversation in the pub after an ABW meeting. The observation was made that first aid kits are a source of much worry and self-doubt. So the idea was born: why not ask our more qualified members what they carry!

Here are the results. The respondents are nurses, a doctor and a vet. Even among these, you will see a fair variation in what is taken. However, there is no doubt that all these kits are simple and efficient solutions, and by seeing them all, we can arrive at a happy medium.

We should all be grateful that these members have opened their kits for our benefit. Let us remember that we work as a team on every walk, and so variation in kits gives us more to share.

Cia

• Medicines: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac (Voltaren), Gastrostop, Gaviscon, Loratadine (Claratyne)
• Sterile adhesive dressings and gauze
• Hypafix (adhesive tape/dressing)
• Bandages, for wounds and snakes
• Triangular bandage (arm sling)
• Sterile eye/wound irrigation (Saline)
• Betadine antiseptic cream
• Sterile alcohol swabs
• Tape
• Sterile needle (for splinters)
• Suture cutter
• Safety pins 
• Mini pocket knife with scissors and tweezers 
• Various bandaids
• Thermal blanket

Andrew & Kate (shared)

• Medicines: ibuprofen, paracetamol, loratadine. 
• Sterile absorbent dressing
• Triangular bandage
• Non-adherent dressing
• Various band-aids
• Emergency bivy (not really relevant, I know, but lives in my first aid kit)
• Crêpe bandage (many uses including snakebite)
• Gauze bandage
• Compeed blister treatment
• Eurax for insect bites
• Foam/metal splint 

Peter

• In the photo you can see that I did not include medications  like analgesics or antihistamines. They live in a separate medications pouch..I used to carry all sorts of prescription only medications like phenergan and synthetic opiods. But ditched them when they went out of date and never replaced them. Ditto for sutures. I take steristrips instead . 
• Also note the pocket knife. Usually an item in the general survival kit: but included in first aid because I keep at least one blade surgically sharp and scissors to make up dressing from tape and telfas (non stick bandaging). This dramatically cuts down. on the number of other dressings required.
• And why there is a lot of adhesive tape.
• And the space blanket could first aid gear or part of the generak survival kit.
• Elastoplast tape does  a better job than bandaids and can be used to buddy strap fingers and toes and support other injuries. Therefore I carry very few bandaids or dressings.
• And yes I have broken a toe and busted a finger joint on ABW walks.
• Splinter needles are essential. 
• Hand cleaner alcohol and Gauze swabs or wet wipes double up for wound cleaning.
• Shaver is for scalp injuries.

Suzanne

My first aid kit does vary ,depending on the walk and what I have at home and what ailments I suffer from.

Here is my logic. Address the most common issues likely to bother me-

• This is usually blister management and painful traumatised toes- hence all the toe cots- if it is a long rocky heavy pack walk I even sew a couple to fell my little toes
• Cuts and grazes- Isocol – my go to antiseptic, its light , can spray feet blisters cuts and hands for sterilisation- I used to take saline, don’t bother now as I use water from my bottle and the antiseptic.
• Splinters and prickles- nothing goes past a fine bevelled needle and good tweezers
• Unlikely/ essential emergency gear
• emergency blanket
• Notepad for taking notes when there is an incident and phone not working, pencil, pen.
• emergency matches- I take them elsewhere as well, but like to know they are there if they get forgotten in my routine pack
• Sling
• snake bandage/compression bandage

Then I pack it all into their sections so I’m not rummaging through everything just to find the bandaids etc, total weight 450grams-ish

Jane

I have the basics but I figure that between us all we will have enough to cover a more serious incident. Anyway, I have:

• Snakebite bandage – I figure this is a somewhat multipurpose compression bandage. 
• 5 antiseptic alcohol wipes
• Betadine
• Microphore
• triangular bandage
• steristrips
• primapore flexible fabric bandage
• aeropad
• gauze swabs
• 6 bandages
• blister pads (the brown square 

Oh also I have Panadol and ibuprofen in a separate bag