When you choose to head out into the wilderness, you know you will be far away from civilization and all of the amenities you normally take advantage of. This means no doctors, nurses, or hospitals. If you get hurt, you are on your own. No matter what gear you do or don’t end up taking on your trip, your first aid kit should be your top priority. Anything can happen out there in the woods, and while you can never fully be prepared, you should try to be as much as possible.

First of all, if you have the time, take a lesson. The American Red Cross offers great CPR and first aid courses and once you complete them, you are considered “certified” for a certain amount of time. They also help boost your confidence in your abilities. It can be hard to find time to squeeze a class into your busy life, but these days, the Red Cross even offers courses online. You’ll want to make sure your children are introduced to basic first aid as well.

Next, you will want to make sure you have the items you might need on hand in case of an emergency. Here are some items you might include when packing your very own first aid kit.

• Pocket knife.

• Emergency blanket (choose one that is light and dries quickly when it gets wet)

• Razor blade or tweezers for removing splinters

• Thermometer

• Mirror (they can be used to signal for help)

• Cold pack (not only will they help you treat bruises, aches, and sprains, but they will also help in the even that you are suffering from heat exhaustion)

• Sterilized water packets

• Medical tape

• Thread and needle

• Bandages of all sizes, Band-Aids, and gauze

• Scissors

• Safety pins

• Gloves (you never know whose bodily fluids you will be handling)

• Antiseptic wipes

• Lip balm and sunscreen

• Neosporin

• Tylenol or another type of pain reliever; if you are bringing children, consider a non-aspirin medication

• Decongestants and Antihistamines

• Salt tablets

• Insect repellant

• Flashlight

• Matches or a lighter

• In some cases, you can buy a first aid kit that has already been prepared at a store. You will definitely want to add your own items to it, as it will generally contain only the mere basics.