What should you stock in the medicine cabinet of your RV or in your camping first aid kit? The answer to that question depends on the specific medical needs for you and members or your family and traveling companions. Here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind. I am not a doctor and cannot legally recommend medications, but I will share with you what works for me and what I and others have found helpful on camping trips. Please consult your family physician if you have any questions to confirm what you should prepare for yourself and your family.
First of all, you don't want too little or too much. If you have too little you won't be able to effectively deal with minor injuries or illnesses during an outing. If you have too much, you'll be wasting money and space and probably have trouble finding what you want when you need it. How much you bring will probably depend on how much space you have for it, in your RV or or camp kit. You can probably always find room for a bottle of aspirin but you sure don't need a whole case of it! If tent camping, will you always be near your vehicle or do you plan to hike some distance that you'll have to carry stuff? What you stick in your pocket, fanny pack, or back pack, is going to be a lot less than you can stock in an RV medicine cabinet or a large base camp first aid kit. What you and your family needs will most likely be different than what I and my family brings along. With that in mind, here are some guidelines based my personal experience. I usually include some splints or material to make them in my RV first aid kit but, of course, don't carry those with me on the trail. Chances are if I really needed splints out on the trail I could find some sticks or something to make do until we could get back to camp.
Prescription medications. If you or any member of your group require prescription medications, you will need to bring those along on RV outings and camping trips. Keep them in a correctly labeled prescription bottle. If you don't want to bring along the whole bottle, hang onto an old bottle the next time you get a refill so you can use that in your RV or camp kit. Just tossing a few pain killers in a plastic baggy or an unlabeled bottle or a box renders them suspect and potentially dangerous. There is a good reason most RX bottles are that funny brown color. It helps preserve the medication inside. Sunlight can damage many medications or diminish their effectiveness. Improper storage can cause them to deteriorate and lose effectiveness. On top of that, you don't want someone accidentally taking the wrong medication. Furthermore, if law enforcement should find certain drugs, you might face charges of transporting illegal drugs if they're not properly prescribed and labeled for you or someone in your group. You may want to put your prescriptions where they aren't casually seen by visitors. Some prescriptions have a high black market value for addicts. You will want to have them where you can get them easily when you need them, but otherwise where they'll normally be out of sight to avoid them becoming a target for would be thieves. I keep mine tucked back into a top corner of the medicine cabinet in my RV where they aren't visible yet I can get them quickly when I need them.
Over The Counter Medications. Since I am not a licensed medical practitioner, I can't give advise on specific OTC medications you should use. There are way too many choices for over-the-counter medications for me to make a lot of detailed recommendations but there are some categories I have found handy. Once again, what you bring along depends on your needs and preferences. Just because something is sold over the counter doesn't mean it is safe and appropriate for everyone. As a starting point bring along whatever you routinely use at home. Check with your doctor if you have any questions and to make sure any OTC products you use are compatible with any prescription medications you may be taking. And don't forget to mention vitamins or supplements as there can be undesirable interactions with them as well. If you or anyone in your group suffers from digestive problems, antacids should probably be on your list. Those in chewable tablet form take up little space an aren't as much trouble to clean up as liquids if they get spilled. However, if you are used to using "the pink stuff" at home, by all means, bring a bottle along. Just secure it where it won't fall out of the cabinet and break or spill. Choose a plastic instead of glass bottle if you can. I also like Pepsin gum for an upset tummy, but it is kind of hard to find these days. For serious diarrhea control, I carry some antidiarrheal tablets. Strange water and sometimes foods you're not used to will cause diarrhea and that can quickly spoil your whole trip. If you get migraines, be sure to bring your favorite, doctor-approved migraine remedy. Since we all can get occasional headaches or suffer other aches and pains from performing actions while camping that are not part of our normal daily routine, OTC pain killers are pretty much a universal part of my on-board medical kit and my camp first aid kit. Since people in my family have different preferences, I carry aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxin. Personally, I prefer aspirin because it has anti-inflammatory and immune system enhancing properties as well as being a pain killer and I've never experienced any negative side effects, but aspirin isn't for everyone. You shouldn't give it to children and shouldn't take it if you have an ulcer. BTW, the active ingredient in aspirin has been around and used for pain for thousands of years. Historically it was extracted from willow bark, but is also found in poplar and aspen bark. A good think to know if you get a headache out on the trail and forgot to bring any aspirin with you. I found through experimentation that chewing about six inches of bark from a 316" diameter twig seems to work about as well as two aspirin.
Because of the sporadic use typical of most RV or camp first aid kits, medications are likely to expire long before you use them up. That is why I buy the less expensive generic versions of OTC formulas to keep in my RV and replace them when they become outdated. Be aware, however, that a U.S. Army study determined that most medications are still good for more than 15 years after their expiration dates. So don't be afraid to use them if they're out of date and don't rush to dispose of them the minute they expire. When you DO dispose of them, do it correctly: take them to a pharmacy, especially prescription meds. Putting them in the trash or even flushing them down a toilet can have serious environmental consequences. Would I use an expired medication in an emergency? The answer is an unequivocal "YES", unless it was obviously contaminated or deteriorated.
Expired medications and supplies. Since most of us only are able to use our RVs periodically, it is easy to loose track of how old the medications we have on board are. It is highly recommended that you check the expiration dates before each trip. Expired medications may have lost some if not all of their effectiveness and could be useless at best. As mentioned above, at least one study by the US military I read claims most medications are good for at least 15 years beyond their expiration dates so don't be TOO worried if something is a few days or even a few years, out of date. Some compounds can deteriorate over time and can become dangerous, especially if they've become contaminated, which can occur during handling or improper storage. While our RVs are in storage they are subject to more extreme temperatures than we normally experience inside our homes, and both high and low temperatures can have negative affects on some medicines. Some medications, like aspirin, give off a recognizable odor when they go bad. If you get a whiff of vinegar smell when you open your aspirin bottle, it is time to toss it out and start fresh. But if that's all you have, its better than nothing. While you're at it, check how old other medical supplies, such as bandaids and adhesive tape are. If you've ever tried using these products when they get old you will know that they either, no longer stick at all, or the adhesive has become tacky and slippery and gets all over everything and still doesn't hold in place the way it should. No need to waste precious space in your medicine cabinets on out-dated stuff that you will have to throw away just when you need it! If you check and replace expired supplies regularly you can avoid having to spend a ton of money all at once when you discover everything is out of date. Make sure the packaging for bandages has not been compromised. New bandages are sterile and safe to use. Opened packages allow dust, air pollution, and germs to contaminate the bandages. In an emergency, go ahead and use "suspect" bandages if that's all you have, but check your supply frequently and keep things clean and safe. Plastic zip-lock bags provide extra protection around the flimsy paper wrapping around soft bandages. Plastic storage containers are even better, if you have room for them. Plastic bags are flexible and can often be stuffed into other wise unused space. Just take care not to tear the bag.
Antiseptics. Antiseptics are an important part of any first aid kit and an board medicine cabinet. These are solutions such as alcohol and hydrogen peroxide that kill germs and prevent infection in wounds. Iodine, Mecurichrome, and merthiolate are also very effective and commonly used antiseptics, although some people have adverse reactions to these powerful agents. They also sting -- a lot! -- even more than alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Antibacterial ointments such as Micitracin and Bacitracin are more gentle yet effective. Another old-fashioned antiseptic I like is something called liquid collodial silver. It has the antispectic properties of silver, doesn't sting as much as many products, and is reported to speed healing. I try to carry something called Granulex. It is usually used by veterinaries to treat wounds on animals, but I've found it speeds heeling of my own minor wounds.. I like to have some type of first aid spray available too. It is gentle and easy to use, especially on young children and on burns. It usually functions both as antiseptic and liquid bandage. You may also find it easier to self-administer since it can be done with one hand and you can spray it on body parts you can't reach to apply liquids or ointments. Recent first aid procedures advise to flush wounds with clean water and avoid stinging antiseptics like alcohol and hydrogen peroxide which can kill healthy cells along with germs. While strong antiseptics ARE effective at killing germs, they are also effective at killing healthy skins cells and may delay healing as well as causing pain when applied. However, if there is a high likelihood of bacterial contamination (e.g. the wound or cuase of it is really dirty) you probably should use antiseptic to prevent infection. As with all medical supplies, make sure your antiseptics are not out dated and keep all medications out of the reach of children! Expired antiseptics may have lost their potency. In an emergency you can make an antiseptic using water purification tablets. Dissolve 5-6 tables in a couple tablespoons of water. That should create a strong enough concentration to kill germs on a small wound.
Specialty bandages. Every try keeping an ordinary Bandaid on a wounded knuckle? If so you'll appreciate specialized knuckle bandages. "Butterfly" bandages are used in lieu of or in addition to stitches to close small wounds. Liquid bandages, like New Skin are sometimes easier to use than conventional plastic strip bandages and still seal the wound against contamination. I've used super glue in lieu of stitches to hold a small wound together. The medical version is called Dermabond and is manufactured and packaged under stringent sterile control but it is expensive and not readily available to the general public. True Dermabond is less likely to cause skin irritation than common Super Glue, but for emergencies, super glue might be used. I have a tiny scar on one little finger where I got it smashed between the hitch and a bumper while hooking up a trailer. The wound wrapped 3/4 of the way around my finger. Fortunately, it didn't sever any critical muscles or tendons, just flesh. We held it together and applied super glue after thoroughly rinsing the wound. It healed completely with only a hair-line scar. I wouldn't recommend it as an alternative for stitches by a medical professional, especially for large wounds, facial wounds or others where cosmetics are important, but in an emergency, it could be helpful. Dermabond was used rather extensively on the battle field during the Vietnam war. Be careful when using Super Glue. It bonds instantly and permanently to skin, so make sure you get the wound lined up the first time and you only get it where you want it to go. Also, make sure you have thoroughly cleaned the wound before closing it. You don't want to seal germs inside! They'll be very happy there, but you won't.
Expiration dates. Not all OTC medications and supplies come with expiration dates. If you purchase items without expiration dates, mark the purchase date on the label or lid in ink so you will at least have some idea of how old products in your inventory are. You may be able to get shelf-life information for products on-line or by contacting the manufacturer. You may even find it useful to mark purchase dates on non-medical items in your RV inventory. Things such as pancake mix and cooking oils can and will go bad over time. Not only may they taste bad, they can, at the least, make you sick. I have even heard of people even dying from the mold that sometimes develops in out dated pancake mix, because of an allergy to the specific mold. But why take chances on getting sick? A new box of pancake mix costs only a few dollars. Enjoy the fresh taste and avoid worry about contamination. And if you check and update your inventory regularly, your wallet won't take a big hit all at once when you're getting ready for your next trip and find EVERYTHING is out of date! Try to rotate your RV food stock -- use it up at home and put in fresh supplies for traveling. You can sometimes tell when products are going bad. Aspirin will get a strong vinegar smell. Liquids may become cloudy, separate, or develop clumps. Creamy lotions may separate or become thin and runny. Products with any of these symptoms should be discarded and replaced as soon as possible. But once again, I would probably use lumpy lotion if that was all I had rather then toss it out and go without.
Miscellaneous. What else might be good to have in your on board medicine cabinet? Think about the things you use regularly at home: toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, tweezers, Q-tips, cotton balls, fingernail clippers, toenail clippers, emery boards, razors, aftershave, antiperspirant/deodorants, foot powder, hand and face lotion, sunscreen, shampoo, muscle and joint ointments. Superglue is similar to the Dermabond used close wounds and I keep a couple of small tubes in all my first aid kits. I like to keep a couple of "Bite Sticks" to treat insect bites. By the way, the active ingredient in them is ammonia, so you just use a bit of household ammonia on bites or to refill dried out Sticks. One of the key features of an RV is having the comforts of home, but it is up to you to stock it appropriately to be able to take full advantage of the opportunities it provides. You may find toting along a box or bag of this stuff adds to your comfort when tent camping too. Over time you will learn what things you need -- and don't need -- to bring along. After each trip, review your inventory. What didn't you have that you wished you did? What did someone else in camp have that you wish you had? Add that before your next trip. What have you been packing around for months or even years that you've never used? These items are prime candidates to be taken out to make room for more important things, unless they are critical emergency supplies. Emergency supplies should be maintained and kept up to date even if you don't use them often.
Wilderness medicine. In an emergency you may be able to supplement your on-board medical supplies with natural materials. Google "wilderness medicine" to learn more about resources that may be available in the areas you plan to frequent. Some examples of natural substitutes for common OTC preparations include willow bark (also poplar and aspen bark). The inner bark contains salicin, a close relative of the key ingredient in aspirin. In fact, aspirin is a synthetic version of salicin. You can chew the inner bark or seep it in hot water to make tea. Native Americans used willow bark for hundreds of years for the ailments we use aspirin for and there is evidence of it being used as far back as 400 BC. Aspen and poplar can also be used, but from what I've read, willow is more effective. I found that chewing about 6" of bark from a 3/16" diameter willow twig worked about as well as 2 regular aspirin. Do not use take anything containing salicin if you are allergic to aspirin. An emergency treatment for diarrhea can be concocted using charcoal from your campfire. Grind it into a powder and mix about 1 tablespoonful in a cup of water and drink it. It tastes terrible! But, if you can manage to get it down, the charcoal absorbs the toxins in your digestive tract that are causing the diarrhea. Spearmint is said to reduce the build up of stomach gas. Peppermint contains menthol, which has antiseptic and analgesic properties. There are many other medicinal plants that may be indigenous to the areas you go camping. Aloe is often found in the American southwest and is excellent for treating burns, including sunburn. It is worth investing a little time on the Internet to learn more about those plants and minerals available where you'll be going that might be useful to you and your family. You need to know what grows where you'll be going. Knowing a lot about the cornucopia of medicinal plants in the tropical jungle will do you little good in a pine forest or sagebrush desert. Mallow, a common weed found almost everywhere, is edible and has a number of medical uses, from treating stomach ailments to soothing scrapes and rashes. Here is what it looks like:
You probably recognize it from your lawn or backyard.
Holding down the cost. I've found many of the supplies I need for my on board medicine cabinet at my local "dollar" store. Many of the OTC preparations, generic "bandaids", and antiseptics can usually be found there. Sometimes I've found gauze pads, gauze rolls, and adhesive tape. Also many sundries and cleaning supplies. Low cost helps you keep your supplies up to date. By the way, "Band Aid" is a brand name licensed by Johnson and Johnson for adhesive bandage strips although in popular use it is improperly applied to similar products of any brand name. A bandaid type bandage is both a dressing and a bandage. The dressing is the pad and the adhesive strip is the bandage that holds it in place. For the most comfort, choose bandages with no-stick pads.
Stay healthy!
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