Home Camping Tips How To Build Your Own Camping Emergency Kit
How To Build Your Own Camping Emergency Kit

5 min

September 7, 2023

Whether you’re taking the RV to the river or planning an epic backpacking trip in the mountains to discover all that Mother Nature has to offer, safety always comes first.

While there are a ton of emergency camping kits available for purchase, you can just as easily make one of these potentially lifesaving kits at home. Accidents are bound to happen while exploring the great outdoors, from simple burns and bug bites to sprains and deep wounds.

Here is a simple guide for building your own camping emergency kit.

Choosing An Emergency Kit Container

It’s always a good idea to use a waterproof container when you’re heading into nature. Rain might not be mentioned in the weather forecast, but local conditions can change quickly. Also, if you’re planning to traverse rivers or streams, you want your supplies to stay dry.

Airtight plastic containers are a great option – keeping size in mind. If you’re traveling alone or backpacking, use something big enough to fit all of your items, but light enough that it won’t add significant weight to your pack.

Emergency Kit Essentials

The following is a comprehensive list of essential items. Feel free to tailor your own kit to fit your personal needs and adventures.

Knowing how to use all of the items in your camping safety kit is just as important as packing them. If your skills are a little rusty, consider taking a training course.

Basic First-Aid Care

Always be sure to pack prescription medications! Also:

  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Assortment of bandages (be sure to include butterfly bandages which are effective for closing deep wounds)
  • Elastic bandages
  • Adhesive tape, cloth-based
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Gauze pads (assorted sizes)
  • Blister treatment (moleskin)
  • Insect-sting treatment/relief
  • Nonstick sterile pads
  • Antihistamine (for allergies)
  • Ibuprofen (or other pain relievers)
  • Safety pins
  • Fine-point tweezers
  • First-aid manual

Depending on where you’re going, what kind of crazy adventures you have planned, and what time of year you’re traveling, you may consider packing some of these items in your emergency kit:

  • Bandana, finger splint, SAM splint
  • Liquid bandages
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Aloe vera gel (for sunburn)
  • Poison oak/poison ivy treatment
  • Lubricating eye drops
  • Knife
  • Scissors
  • Razor
  • Needle
  • Thermometer
  • Medical gloves (non-latex)
  • Emergency heat-reflecting blanket
  • Water-treatment system
  • Signaling device (mirror/whistle)
  • Fire-starter
  • Duct-tape
  • Cold pack

A Few Final Notes

This is a pretty extensive list. Will you need all of these items? Probably not. But it’s better to have an item and not need it than to not have an item and desperately need it.

Take into account how many people you are traveling with and what your personal needs are when building your emergency camping kit.

Finally, don’t forget to check your kit before every camping trip to replenish your supplies!


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