This could save your life: Inside my climbing first aid kit
Light is fast. Speed is safety. But you still need to bring a first-aid kit (FAK)! Here’s a breakdown of what I carry for both recreational and guided outings, from cragging to big multi-day adventures in the alpine.
Overview
When selecting items for my FAK I thought about what situations I want to deal with in the field. For climbers, I imagined the small issues are typically blisters, finger injuries, minor cuts and scrapes, and rolled ankles. Big stuff could be broken bones, excessive bleeding, allergic reactions, and exposure to dangerously low temperatures. I also planned on addressing common issues my clients could encounter (low blood sugar, heat illness, unplanned mensuration). I selected items that could combat those problems without adding excessive bulk or weight. Additionally, I opted to place each collection of items in its own plastic bag to mitigate the risk of saturating everything during a downpour.
The entire FAK, clockwise from top left: SAM splint, wag bag, Mylar blanket, bleed and blister kit, meds, tape and gauze, BSI, menstruation kit
Body Substance Isolation (BSI)
While it may work in your Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course, rubber bands or clapping doesn’t really keep you safe from the bodily fluids of others. I pack nitrite gloves, an N95 mask, and a compact CPR mask on the very top of my FAK. It’s the first thing we all should grab. Interacting with the blood or airway of a stranger has risk for life-changing diseases or illnesses if we don’t use practice good BSI.
BSI kit: Nitrite gloves, N95, and CPR mask
Bleeding, Blisters, Sprains, and Breaks
This is the biggest collection in my FAK. For wound cleaning I have an irrigation syringe (rolled in SAM splint) and alcohol prep pads (6). For bleeding control I carry standard adhesive bandages (6), 3”x3” gauze pads (3), a roll of gauze, and a 15g pack of BleedStop to deal with severe bleeding. For blisters, I have Hydro Seal Band-Aids as well as standard moleskin. I like the hydrocolloid gel, sealed closure, and ease of use of the Band-Aids but also wanted the versatility of a sheet of moleskin. For wound care, I have a pack of five surgical tape strips (1/4”x4”) as well as a 4”x5” occlusive dressing. With these I can close gapping lacerations, keep a large wound clean, and treat the rare pneumothorax. Tape and a stretchy wrap allow me to wrap and protect dressings, support weak or damaged joints, and modify clothing to serve medical purposes. The SAM splint provides rigidity and support for broken bones while still remaining versatile and packable.
Clockwise from top: Hydro-Seal Blister Toes Band-Aids, moleskin, alcohol pads, gauze, occlusive dressing, butterfly closures aka steri-strips, coagulate
Drugs
As a WFR, the types of drugs I can carry and help administer are no different than a lay-person. For pain management I have acetaminophen and Ibuprofen. These together can do a lot of good for someone who’s pain is limiting their fun or function in the woods. For life-threatening allergic reactions like bee stings or peanuts, the generic of Benadryl (Diphenhydramine HCl) does the job. I have each of these clearly labelled with their name, strength, and recommended doses. I also pack the Diphenhydramine HCl in toilet paper because these pills are prone to break. Along with standard drugs, I also carry sugar (for hypoglycemic diabetics) and dehydration tablets - I may swap these for a pack of Liquid IV in the future, but the plain sugar is good for instant coffee! I recently learned that aspirin is not just brand name acetaminophen; I’ll be adding some low-dose tablets to the kit to deal with cardiac issues!
Left to right: Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine HCl, sugar, electrolytes
Other items
Everybody poops. I make a point to be prepared with a wagbag; extra toilet paper and an alcohol pad means I can double dip if need be.
A Mylar emergency blanket is always ready for those unplanned open bivys. It also serves as a helpful tool when dealing with both hypothermia (hypo-wrap) and heat stroke (improvised shade tarp).
I carry both a tampon and menstrual pad for guests and friends who may need them. Since these are rarely used I selected two very compact and light options.
Full kit weighing in at 338g, or 12oz
Final Thoughts
Your FAK should be sufficient for the activity and situations you plan to face. It may look like mine, or it may not. But the days of “a roll of tape and a handful of aspirin” are over. You owe it to yourself and your climbing partners to have an adequate first aid kit. Part of that is medical training. Knowledge weighs nothing and is ultimately the most valuable thing we carry. Consider some level of wilderness medicine education before venturing out into the wilderness. A good place to start is a Wilderness First Aid certification that will provide you the framework to deal with emergency situations in the backcountry. When it comes to actual supplies, this article gave you some starting points for making your own climbing first aid kit.
