The farther out in the wilderness you travel, the more prepared you should be with a well-stocked First Aid kit.

Nothing will ruin a backpacking, hiking or camping trip faster than an injury, illness or emergency situation for which you are not prepared. Now, that's not to say that you must be an EMT, nurse or doctor before venturing into the great outdoors, but a properly stocked First Aid kit could mean the difference between a minor injury and that minor injury turning serious.

In the previous articles, First Aid on the Trail-The Basics, First Aid on the Trail-Treatment and First Aid on the Trail-Wound Care, the discussion centered on the basic principles of First Aid and the initial actions to take in treating an emergency situation. This article will cover using a First Aid kit while hiking, backpacking or camping.

There are a variety of First Aid kits available on the market today, and most of them will contain the basic items you'll need to handle most common injuries. You can even create your own basic First Aid kit with items you already have at home. But, whenever possible, you should try to tailor your kit to your activity, the length of time or distance you'll be away from medical care, and the number of people in your party. In other words, a small kit with just a few basic items will be sufficient for a day hike alone or with another person, but a larger, more well-stocked kit would be needed for long-distance hiking or a camping trip with the family.

If you're going someplace you've never been to before, it's a good idea to research the area to find out what kinds of snakes, insects and poisonous plants you might run across and stock your kit accordingly.

The following items should be considered when stocking a basic First Aid kit:

1. Ace bandage

2. Aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen

3. Adhesive tape

4. Alcohol swabs

5. Antacid

6. Antihistamine

7. Antiseptic ointment

8. Adhesive bandages, assorted sizes

9. Bulb irrigating syringe

10. Butterfly bandages

11. Chemical heat and cold packs

12. Dry-wash pads or wipes

13. Anti-diarrhea medicine

14. Gauze pads

15. Hydrocortisone cream

16. Insect repellent

17. Mirror, small and unbreakable

18. Moleskin, 1 or 2 packets

19. Cotton swab, sterile, packaged in pairs

20. Safety pins

21. Scissors or Multi-Tool

22. Sunscreen

23. Triangular bandage

24. Tweezers

25. Prescription medicines

No matter what you decide to carry in your kit, make sure you check it each time before heading into the outdoors. Toss old supplies or out of date medications and restock with fresh items as necessary. Never be complacent and always take a First Aid kit with you. The one time you don't will be the time you need it.

This article continues the series First Aid on the Trail, with general guidelines for First Aid for hikers, backpackers and campers on the trail. The articles also include:

First Aid on the Trail-The Basics

First Aid on the Trail-Treatment

First Aid on the Trail-Wound Care