What Should Be in a Camping First Aid Kit? Texas Primitive Camping

What I packed in my First Aid Kit, What I'd Add for Next time, and what I regret.

What should go in your camping first-aid kit will depend on where you are going, how long you'll be there for, and who is coming with you. In this post, we'll review what I recently packed for a last-minute, one-day primitive camping trip in Texas with my boyfriend and our four dogs. We'll discuss what worked well for us, what didn't, and what we'll try next time.

❓Why can't you use the same first aid kit for everything?

As a firefighter and EMT, emergency situations are not unfamiliar to me. Over time, I have learned to assess my situation and prepare for things to go wrong - a skill that comes in handy when packing for a camping trip. However, not all environments present the same types of risks. Different terrain, climates, wildlife and even personnel can all affect what you might need. So, while we are going to be talking about my personal experience during this one specific trip, tailor these ideas to suit you and your family.

🌳How this camping trip shaped my first aid kit choices.

For this particular trip, we were only camping for one night, but we were backpacking into a primitive site with no access to water - something I didn't realize until we were already hiking in. Since it had recently rained, I was expecting there to be a seasonal creek along the way, but there was not. This, combined with the fact that we were using last minute gear (a duffel/hiking bag from walmart, which could be great for car camping, but not ideal for a hike like this), meant that every ounce in my pack had to count - especially with my four dogs tagging along. Weight and space became major factors, and I had to strip my gear down to the essentials. Clearly, this wasn't the time to build a fully stocked trauma bag; I needed a compact kit that could be rigged into handling the most likely problems: cuts, scrapes, breaks, minor dog injuries, heat exhaustion and whatever else the Texas terrain decided to throw our way.

❤️‍🩹 What I actually packed in my first aid kit

With all these factors in mind - limited space, unexpected conditions, and four dogs - I focused on items that were versatile, lightweight, and multifunctional. My goal was to be prepared without being overloaded. Here is what I ended up packing specifically inside my first aid kit. (I had more gear and stuff for the pups in my general bag as well, but we can talk about that in the next one.)

• 🩹 Trauma and Wound Care Supplies

  • Israeli bandage: Reliable for applying pressure and controlling bleeding from more serious injuries.

  • Emergency trauma dressing: A backup or addition to the Israeli bandage; good for large wounds and heavy bleeding.

  • Petroleum gauze: Useful for covering abrasions — and doubles as an emergency fire starter. [Click here for a tutorial]

  • Burn cream: Provides relief for small burns or sunburn and helps prevent infection.

  • Triple antibiotic ointment: Helps prevent infection in minor cuts and scrapes.

  • Triangular bandages: Great for making slings or wrapping wounds. Also works as a makeshift dog muzzle if needed. 🐾

  • Alcohol wipes: For disinfecting

  • CAT tourniquet: needs to be a CAT tourniquet to be the most effective

    
    

• 🌿 Environmental Exposure Care

  • Sting and bite pads: Instant relief for insect bites and stings.

  • Poison ivy/oak cream: Just in case we brushed against anything in the thick brush.

  • Hydrocortisone/Benadryl cream: Dual-purpose itch relief for bites, rashes, or allergic skin reactions.

  • Hot/cold packs: Compact and single-use — useful for swelling, bruising, or overheating.

    
    

• 💊 Medications & Misc.

  • Tylenol (acetaminophen): Pain relief and fever reducer.

  • Ibuprofen: Reduces inflammation and muscle soreness from hiking.

  • Aspirin: Can be helpful in suspected cardiac-related events.

  • Benadryl (pill form): For allergic reactions. It’s also dog-safe in small, weight-based doses. 🐾

  • Tweezers: Great for removing ticks, splinters, or cactus thorns.

  • First aid pocket guide: A helpful reference, especially if I were the one injured and someone else had to assist.

  • Needle and thread: Absolute worst-case scenario wound closure

  • Latex Gloves

  • Eye Drops

    
    

🔄 Looking Back and What I Have Learned

Looking back at the list, there are definitely a few things I could have left behind to save space and weight. In the future, I’d streamline my kit by removing a few items that overlapped in function or just weren’t necessary for a one-day trip.

For example, I’d skip the burn cream and petroleum gauze, and just stick with triple antibiotic ointment — which I’ve since learned can be used similarly to petroleum jelly for both wound care and as a fire starter. I also learned that triple antibiotic ointment is safe for dogs, which makes it even more worth keeping in the kit. That alone frees up a bit of space and simplifies the options.

I’d also remove the sting and bite pads, since I already packed alcohol wipes and hydrocortisone, which cover those same issues. As for medications, I’d probably leave out the ibuprofen and just bring Tylenol and aspirin, since they cover a wide enough range of pain and inflammation relief and aspirin can help with cardiac related chest pain.

➡️ For Next Time

Thankfully, I didn’t run into any major issues during this trip, but there were definitely a few situations I wasn’t fully prepared for. At one point, my dog Koda either scratched his eye or started having some kind of allergic reaction. I was really glad I had Benadryl with me — it seemed to help — but I found myself wishing I had brought sterile saline solution to flush his eye out safely.

Moving forward, I also see the benefit of carrying oral glucose tablets, just in case of an emergency related to low blood sugar. And while it’s unlikely, I think I’d also feel better having a CPR mask on hand in the event something serious happens.

Another thing I’d love to add is a first aid reference guide specifically for dogs — just a quick, lightweight overview of what medications are safe, what dosage is appropriate, and how to perform CPR on a dog. With no signal out there, it’s better to have that kind of info in print, just in case.

🧳 What I Carried Separately (But Still Relied On)

While the items above were packed inside my first aid kit, I also carried a few multi-use essentials in my main backpack that I believe deserve an honorable mention:

• Multi-tool/knife

• Toilet paper/wet wipes

• Emergency blanket

• Ductape

• Parachord

I know these aren't all technically only first-aid kit related, I think they are worth thinking about when it comes to packing.

🏕️ Final Thoughts

When you're out in the middle of nowhere — especially with limited gear, no signal, and four dogs — being prepared matters. This wasn’t a life-or-death trip, but it was a good reminder that even a quick overnight camp can throw curveballs. I can only imagine how things would have went if we had to hike any further, or stay any longer. If you’re building your own first aid kit, start with the basics, think about your environment, and don’t overpack just because you might need something. Trust your instincts and adjust over time. Most importantly, do your research, make sure that you are prepared for where you are going to the best of your ability. If you can, test your gear out first. Stay for just one night out somewhere, you might be surpised by how much you can learn in one day.

Got something I should add to my kit next time? Drop it in the comments — I’m always looking to improve what I carry.