1 July, 2022
Camping can be a lot of fun, but it's important to be prepared for any eventuality. That's why you need a first aid kit packed with the essentials! In this blog post, we'll list everything you need to make sure you're safe and sound while camping in the great outdoors. From plasters and bandages to insect repellent and sunscreen, we've got you covered!
Having a well stocked basic kit should be an essential part of any camping trip. Here are just a few items that we recommend you pack:
Imagine if you arrived at your campsite and found that you'd forgotten to pack insect repellent or if at the end of a long sunny hike, you forgot to apply sunscreen! Not only would you have to suffer through a night of mosquito bites or potentially burned skin, but you'd also be at risk of upsetting all of your fellow campers with your yelps of pain every time you turn over or get bitten.
But what about when setting up your campsite kitchen and the family is playing down by the stream in your beautiful field that is home for the week. All those little rocks in the stream bed are a trip hazard and one of the kids falls and rolls their ankle. After applying the principles of RICE (an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), where would you be without that bandage or ice pack to help reduce swelling and discomfort. It goes without saying, seek medical advice should you need to!
As you explore further and perhaps on longer camping trips or even try your hand at bikepacking (read the article here on where to begin), you may want to increase what goes into your pack.
While the items listed above are should form the basics of any first aid kit, there are a few other items that can be useful to have on hand, depending on your camping location and activities:
So there you go, our camping first aid kit essentials. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below! And don't forget to check out our other camping tips and tricks for more advice on making the most of your time outdoors here!
Outside & Active is the home for those who love the outdoors. Our mission is to inspire, inform and educate people about being active outdoors in a fun, safe and sustainable way. We provide inspiration, kit, tech and advice on adventure, camping, climbing, cycling, hiking, running water and winter.
Most recent articles by Outside & Active
Ethical outdoor clothing brand Páramo has opened its doors to British watch brand Elliot Brown with the introduction of a special edition Mountain Rescue charity watch now sold in all three of its stores covering London, Keswick and Páramo’s home town of Wadhurst.
Join Dom on the latest Outside & Active Podcast where he is joined by award-winning Endurance Adventure Athlete, Jamie Ramsay. This is the second of two parts discussing Cotswold Outdoor's #SaveOurOutdoors campaign.
Previous Outside & Active Podcast guest, Men & Mountains founder, and 'Rethinking Masculinity' author, Dan Stanley, has made the first chapter of his book freely available for Outside & Active readers.
Most recent articles in CAMPING
Get your camping fix with Jamie Ramsay, an award-winning endurance adventure athlete.
Camping with a toddler can be a difficult affair at the best of times. Mounts top 10 tips for camping with a toddler will help prepare both the experienced camper and newbie camper.
If you're a business owner, chances are you have to be creative when taking time off from work. Even then, you'll still need to be semi-present to keep tabs on what's going on — even when camping. Here's what to do to ensure that there are no major issues while you're away.