#6. First Aid:
You need a first aid kit in as one of the ten essentials when packing for hiking. Rather than trying to think of all the emergency medical supplies you may need, just purchase a pre-assembled first aid kit. Make sure it includes pain medication, adhesive bandages, gauze or gauze pads, adhesive tape, disinfecting ointment, and blister treatment.
You can add to this as you think of other potential necessities like some sort of antacid (Tums or Pepto-Bismol).
My Hiking Essential – Blister Bandages:
On the full day of hiking back to our car, my husband had severe and unexplained stomach pain for most of the 7 or so hours of hiking. I had forgotten to pack tums which could have helped him! Instead he had probably the most painful and difficult trek of his life.
Sometimes dehydration can cause stomach pain as can the different foods you are eating while backpacking, so do yourself a favor and bring something for stomach pain. On the brighter side, one thing our group did have was blister bandages, which all of us were thankful for!
Ever forget a fire source to boil water for your freeze dried food? I have and it sucks! This is a great list I’ll save to prevent future sufferings on the trail 🤘🏼
Oh no, Jared! I always get so excited to try the freeze-dried food, so that would be so sad to not get to eat it! Yes, definitely need fire 😉