First aid

Cuts, sprains, and the things that end trips early.

Stay calm, stop the bleeding

Most backcountry first aid is boring: clean a cut, wrap a sprain, keep walking. The boring stuff is what saves trips.

What goes in the kit

bleeding   gauze, tape, a tourniquet you know how to use
sprains     elastic wrap + ibuprofen
blisters    moleskin, before they form
signals     a whistle and a mirror

Know your limits

The best first aid is turning around early. Ego is not on the gear list.