Boy Scouts of America

First Aid Kits

SUMMARY

All Scouts and Scout leaders—as representatives of an organization whose motto is “Be Prepared”—should be sure they are always ready with an appropriate first-aid kit when it’s needed. Your kit might be simple or more complex if you are trained to use it properly. But the kit must always be on hand and stocked with every essential item.

GENERAL INFORMATION

First-aid kits should be present wherever you might need them. That likely includes having a kit in your car, your home, your meeting location, and with your outdoor equipment for the next hike or camping trip. Since a first-aid kit is one of the essential items for Scout hiking, keeping one with your daypack is an easy way to assure you are prepared on the trail.

The contents of the kit can be as varied as the potential needs and the number of participants present, but it must always be stocked and ready for use. You should also regularly check for and replace expired items and those that need to be restocked after a trip. Have a kit that is suited to the number of participants and the length of time you’ll need it. A kit for a day hike will probably be different from the kit you would carry on a trek at Philmont Scout Ranch or a multiday boat trip at the Sea Base or Northern Tier. If you’re a medical professional or trained in Wilderness First Aid, the kit may be expanded because of your knowledge and ability to safely use the items.

Not sure about what to buy and where to get it? A number of professionally prepared first-aid kits are available from ScoutShop.org and your local Scout shop, major outdoor retailers, and the American Red Cross. Specifications are often provided as to locations where the kit might be appropriate and other considerations.

You might want to add items based on known or anticipated needs. For example, a shakedown hike with many pairs of new boots being broken in would warrant additional moleskin. Even if you want to assemble your own kit, you can use the resource list below to identify contents that are recommended.

RESOURCES

Reviewed March 8th 2024. 

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.