Over the last 19 years I've led nearly 40 week-long service projects with Wilderness Volunteers in public lands all over the United States. I've used a number of different first aid kits to deal with scrapes, cuts, blisters, etc. over this time but hands down my current favorite is the Ultralight Watertight PRO from Adventure Medical Kits.
The exterior yellow rip-stop nylon zippered bag helps keep the contents dry even when working in rainy and wet conditions. The interior bags (3 Super stretch DryFlex™ bags and 1 smaller rip-stop nylon bag) make doubly sure the kit contents stay dry while still being lightweight (~⅓-½ oz), and durable. (Having opened up kits before for a bandage only to find the paper soaked I can't say how much I appreciate medical kits that keep the insides dry even when your backpack gets wet.)
The kit is designed to work for up to 10 people for up to seven days and at compact 1 pound, 10 ounces it's suitable for both front country and back country adventures. Adventure Medical also has two smaller versions of the kit if the PRO is too much kit for you/your group: a .9 (1-4 people for up to 4 days) and a .7 (1-2 people for 1-4 days)
The kit is designed to work for up to 10 people for up to seven days and at compact 1 pound, 10 ounces it's suitable for both front country and back country adventures. Adventure Medical also has two smaller versions of the kit if the PRO is too much kit for you/your group: a .9 (1-4 people for up to 4 days) and a .7 (1-2 people for 1-4 days)
The Ultralight Watertight PRO comes well stocked with the following components out of the box:
5 - Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, 1" x 3"
2 - Bandage, Conforming Gauze, Non-Sterile, 3"
1 - Bandage, Elastic, Co-hesive, Self Adhering, 3"
2 - Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 2" x 2", Pkg./2
4 - Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 3" x 3", Pkg./2
2 - Dressing, Non-Adherent, Sterile, 3" x 4"
Bleeding
2 - Gloves, Nitrile (Pair)
2 - Trauma Pad, 5" x 9"
Blister / Burn
2 - Moleskin, 7"x 4"
CPR
1 - CPR Face Shield
1 - CPR Pocket Mask
Fracture / Sprain
1 - Bandage, Triangular
1 - C-Splint™, 4" x 36"
Instrument
1 - EMT Shears, 4"
1 - Pencil
2 - Safety Pins
 |
| Introducing a WV favorite, the ULWTPRO. |
Medical Information
1 - Comp. Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine
1 - Patient Assessment Form
Medication
4 - Antihistamine (Diphenhydramine 25 mg)
2 - Aspirin (325 mg), Pkg./2
4 - Diamode (Loperamide HCI 2 mg), Pkg./1
2 - Ibuprofen (200 mg), Pkg./2
Other
3 - DRYFlex™ Waterproof Bag, 6" x 9"
1 - Pull-out Ultralight / Watertight Bag
Survival Tools
1 - Emergency Reflective Blanket, 56" x 84"
Wound Care
1 - Syringe, Irrigation, 10 cc, 18 Gauge Tip
6 - Antiseptic Towelette
1 - Tape, 1" x 10 Yards
4 - Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 1/32oz, Single Use
1 - Wound Closure Strips, ¼" x 4", Pkg./10
1 - Tincture of Benzoin Topical Adhesive , Vial
The included compact first aid book "Wilderness & Travel Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide - 4th Edition" by Eric A. Weiss, MD weighs about 5 oz and packs in over 200 pages covering topics ranging from fractures and sprains, altitude sickness, and heat illnesses, to shock, dislocations, hypothermia, and even gunshot wounds to help you recall your first aid training and maybe even learn something new. It contains handy drawings to illustrate techniques (eg how to close a cut using wound closure strips) and at 4¼" x 6", it doesn't take up too much space in the kit.
My other favorite items in this kit: The full size EMT shears make cutting bandages and clothing a breeze, the benzoin tincture is great at keeping bandages on high friction/bendy locations (think heels and knees), and the self adhering bandage works for pressure bandages, joint support and can also help keep dressings in place.
Adventure Medical Kits has been a fantastic supporter of Wilderness Volunteers over the years and while we are very appreciative of them helping us keep our project leaders equipped with first aid kits we also really appreciate the thought that they put into making a quality first aid kit that meets the needs of our demanding service projects.
My other favorite items in this kit: The full size EMT shears make cutting bandages and clothing a breeze, the benzoin tincture is great at keeping bandages on high friction/bendy locations (think heels and knees), and the self adhering bandage works for pressure bandages, joint support and can also help keep dressings in place.
Adventure Medical Kits has been a fantastic supporter of Wilderness Volunteers over the years and while we are very appreciative of them helping us keep our project leaders equipped with first aid kits we also really appreciate the thought that they put into making a quality first aid kit that meets the needs of our demanding service projects.
-Ashely Northcutt
Executive Director
Executive Director
Wilderness Volunteers
