By Danny Peled - Wilderness Medical Associates Instructor, Boreal River Director, Wilderness-EMT
My first aid kit changes all the time. For a hike with friends, it's a small waterproof bag. Teaching river rescue courses from a kayak? A 10L drybag is my go-to, supplemented by a separate ‘hypo-wrap’ bag containing a tarp and insulation layers. On remote, week-long rafting expeditions with 15 people, my kit expands to a 30L mini barrel, with additional ‘first responder’ kits distributed among the boats.
How to customize your wilderness first aid kit
No single first aid kit works for every situation. This checklist is a great starting point but isn't one-size-fits-all. Customize it based on:
- Where you’re going
- How long you’re going for
- Environmental conditions
- Number of potential patients
- How you’ll carry the kit
You should also look through each topic in your Wilderness First Aid / First Responder course textbooks. For each medical problem, consider which items or medications you wouldn’t want to do without versus what can be improvised. Over time, you’ll get more comfortable making adjustments.
Five variations of wilderness first aid kits
This guide provides checklists for 5 expedition types:
- Small personal kit
- Group kit for front-country day trips
- Expedition group kit
- Expedition group kit—when weight and space don't matter
- Search and rescue team kit (or vehicle / large boat / base support)
It’s divided into sections for essentials to carry on your body, basic life support, tools, medications, wound care, and other miscellaneous items.