DIY Kayak Fishing First Aid Kit

Kayak? Check. Paddles? Check. Fishing rod? Check. Day out on the water without a care in the world? Check. What could possibly go wrong? Well… That’s just the thing. You never know. So, in good Boy Scout fashion, you should always be prepared with kayak safety equipment. Bringing a well-equipped first aid kit is essential for any kayaking fishing trip.

While “losing yourself in nature” and “getting away from it all” might be exactly what you want to do. It also means you are far from timely medical care. Even minor cuts and scrapes can grow in urgency without proper care. Taking a basic CPR or first aid class from a local club or employer can go a long way toward preparing for the unexpected. In addition, there are plenty of online sources for wilderness first-aid. Remember, that your first aid kit is only as good as your ability to use it.

So, what should you include in a first aid kit? While you can buy kits ready-made, there are some advantages to creating your own.

Advantages to DIY First Aid Kits:

1. You can include just the things YOU need and know how to use. Customize your first aid kit for your specific activity. Making your own kit allows you to personalize it.
2. You can choose the quality of the items. Making your own first aid kit means you can choose brands that you trust or that matter to you.
3. You can customize the size and number of items. Don’t take extra if you don’t need it.

What to Include in a DIY First Aid Kit for Kayak Fishing:

A first aid kit created for kayak fishing is going to include items for blisters, cuts/lacerations, scrapes, and punctures as those are your most likely injuries with this activity.

A small first aid kit should include:

Wound Care:

• Assorted size bandages
• Butterfly wound closure strips
• Steri-strips
• Sterile gauze pads
• Q-tip
• New-skin liquid bandage
• Alcohol prep pad
• Medical tape/dermabond/topical skin adhesive

Tools:

• Small tweezers
• Razor blade
• Safety pins

Medicine:

• Ibuprofen/OTC pain reliever
• Benadryl/antihistamine
• Insect sting relief
• Neosporin

Most of these items are small, individually wrapped, or can be found in travel-size. This will allow your DIY first aid kit to take up the least amount of space. It also ensures that you aren’t wasting as much if you need to discard old and restock new items. Speaking of which, it is important to inventory your kit frequently and make sure that you have good supplies: they haven’t ripped or dried out, and they haven't expired. A kit check should be performed annually or after you’ve had need to use it.

Whether you’re kayak fishing, kayaking for exercise, or recreational kayaking, your kayak safety begins with keeping a first aid kit on-board. Don’t have one? This will help get you started with your own DIY first-aid kit!