First aid is one of the most important things to remember and probably the most forgotten. How many times have you been out and about and your kiddo fell and scraped their knee and you didn’t even have a band aid? I know there have been times when I have forgotten to pack a kit and I always regret it later (because sometimes, band aids really do fix everything for a toddler). I’ve since made multiple small kits that I keep in all of our backpacks, my purse, the car, etc. Now I don’t forget them because I have them in every bag/backpack that we typically grab to take with us on an outing.
Some of the basic things you want to make sure are in your kit are:
- Antiseptic Wipes
- Various sized Band-Aids
- Gauze Pads
- Butterfly Bandages
- Medical Adhesive Tape
- Ibuprofen/Advil/etc
- Insect Sting/Anti-Itch Ointment
- Tweezers
- Tick Remover
- Antihistamine (for allergic reactions)
- Safety Pins
I have repurposed old travel sized make up bags to use for first aid kits, but there are also pre-made kits from companies like Adventure Medical Kits. The key for me is size. I need our first aid kits to be small enough to easily carry with us anywhere we go. I typically keep a larger kit in my car so if we do happen to have an injury while we’re outside hiking, camping or just exploring, I can patch it up enough to get us to the car where I can do more in depth first aid or I can drive whomever to the nearest urgent care or ER if it is a more serious injury.
The larger first aid kit in my car has a lot more squeezed inside. This kit I have in a fishing tackle box. I love that there are separate areas for different things, so it helps to keep everything organized. Here’s a list of what I typically keep in my large kit:
- Elastic Wrap
- Finger Splints
- ACE Bandage
- Rolled Gauze
- Hemostatic Gauze
- Shears
- Thermometer
- Knife
- Cotton Swabs
- Medical Gloves
- Hand Sanitizer
- Emergency Heat-Reflecting Blanket
It is also a great idea to have a first aid manual or information cards to help in the event of an injury. You can buy most of these items and then split them up to make multiple small first aid kits – great for when you’re on the go!
Hike it Baby is a non-profit organization dedicated to building communities that support getting outside with children from birth to school age. Their purpose is to provide support to families as they get into nature whenever they feel ready. We are raising a generation to love the outdoors.
HiB hosts a variety of events from trail hikes to urban strolls; toddler crawls to park and plays. Register online at www.hikeitbaby.com to find hikes nearest you. Hike it Baby relies on volunteers and we welcome everyone from mom, dad, partner, grandparents, nanny, foster parent, relatives, and friends to participate. We encourage anyone to host events and invite others to join. Hike it Baby is a friendly and all-inclusive community where all abilities and ages are welcome in a judgement-free zone to enjoy each other’s company, be healthy, and expose our children to the wonders of nature.
