When you ski or snowboard in-bounds at a heavily populated resort area, you don’t have to worry much about medical emergencies. As long as you dress for the weather in your heated outdoor apparel, you should be fine. And if you do happen to have an accident or require assistance on the slopes, you can count on receiving thorough, professional attention within minutes.
But it’s a different story when you venture out-of-bounds or embark on a backcountry excursion with just a handful of friends. In a situation like that, it’s critical that everyone in the party carry a first-aid kit packed not only with standard supplies but also with items designed specifically for cold-weather crises. So as you gear up for your next extreme adventure, make sure your winter first-aid kit contains the following:
Standard supplies
- Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
- Medical tape
- Nonstick gauze pads
- Ace bandages
- Wound disinfectant spray
- Hand sanitizer
- Moleskin, Glacier Gel, or similar blister treatment
- Fine-point tweezers for splinter removal
- OTC pain reliever such as aspirin or ibuprofen
- Basic first-aid manual
Additional winter supplies
- Mylar emergency blanket
- Air-activated hand, body, and foot warmers, such as the Little Hotties products offered by CozyWinters
- Waterproof matches
- Safety whistle
- Instruction manual or cards with information on treating hypothermia, frostbite, and snow blindness
As you can see, adding winter first-aid supplies to your standard first-aid kit won’t result in an overly heavy or bulky pack. Make sure you and your friends include the above items so you’ll be prepared to deal with minor emergencies and will be able to get back to the fun as soon as possible.