A proper first-aid kit is essential for trekking. It is not sufficient to have a few band-aids and some aspirin. You may be in remote areas and have to deal with, for example, lacerations and other more serious injuries before professional medical help is available. You must be well prepared. We recommend you carry the following items and medicines.
Antiseptic, such as povidone-iodine (eg,Betadine) – the most commonly used antiseptic for cleaning wounds
10cm rolled cotton bandages (the stretch type is excellent for bandaging extremities)
10cm elastic bandage (to hold on a variety of dressings and to help stabilize minor sprains)
Four 10cm x 10cm gauze pads (for bandaging wounds or burns)
Moleskin (or other skin-protection material to prevent blisters)
Paper stitches (specialized tape for puling gaping wounds together when suturing is not possible, eg, Steri-streps)
Scissors (for cutting dressings and tape, or to cut clothes away if necessary)
Sewing needle (to drain a blister, or to help remove a splinter)
Large sterile dressing (for large cuts or burns)
10 assorted sticking plasters (eg, Band Aids)
Roll of 2.5cm tape (for bandaging)
Tweezers (for removal of splinters)
Muslin triangular bandage in a compressed package (handy as a sling or to fashion different types of splints)
Medications
Note: Some of the following items are only available on prescription in some countries. It is strongly recommended you discuss medications with your medical professional (e.g. doctor, chemist)
Antibiotic eye drops (one bottle)
Anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen 400mg – 20 tablets)
Azithromycin 250mg (six tablets)
Clotrimazole 1% or miconazole 2% cream (one tube)
Decongestant (eg, Actifed or Drixoral – 10 tablets)
Diamox (altitude sickness prevention)
Diphenhydraming (eg, Benadryl) 25mg or 50mg (10-20 tablets)
Hydrocortisone 1% cream (one tube)
Loperamide (eg, lmodium-20 tablets)
Medication (cream, dissolvable tablets or an oral tablet) to treat yeast vaginitis (one packt)
Norfloxacin 400mg or ciprofloxacin (20 tablets)
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) 500mg (20 tablets)
Potent pain killer, such as acetaminophen with hydrocodone, or acetaminophen with codeine (eg, Vicodin -20 tablets)
Promethazine (Phenergan) 25mg (five tablets)
Ranitidi150mg (10 tablets)
Rehydration salts (two packets)
Tinidazole 500mg (12 tablets)