First Aid Kits for Your Camper Van or RV

Having a comprehensive first aid kit close at hand in your Vanagon or other camper van, and knowing how to use it, can give you and your family the peace of mind to adventure safely.

A few years ago while visiting the Grand Canyon, Lorie, faithful traveling companion and skilled windshield photographer, sprained her ankle while on a hike.

We got her back to the Westfalia and settled comfortably, and I went inside the large general store for an ice pack. But there were no elastic wraps or bandages to be found; in fact, no one even knew what I was talking about. This in a store that caters to 300,000 hikers each year.

I resolved to assemble a first aid kit tailored to our kind of van travel.

---

The whole point of van-camping is to get away from it all.

National parks, wilderness areas, campgrounds, even long stretches of the open road all call to the independent road tripper.

But of course, this means that, heaven forbid, should you or someone in your group experience a situation requiring minor medical care in the great outdoors, you may well be many miles or hours from proper help.

Here’s where a good first-aid kit—and the knowledge to use it—can make or break your trip.

Overview

Usually, the purpose of first aid is to immediately treat minor injuries or illness and to stabilize the victim, on the scene, before professional help arrives.

But the stakes a higher when road tripping or camping. Around the campsite you and your family are doing things outside the ordinary: chopping wood with dangerous tools, cooking over an open flame, tripping over rocks, poking snakes with sticks. All kinds of atypical activities which bring their own hazards. All while you’re far from medical help.

Hopefully, you won’t need to deliver any babies, perform a campsite appendectomy, or amputate a severed limb with a bow saw.

But you should have all the materials on hand to make an injured person comfortable, alleviate pain or bruising, immediately stop any bleeding, and patch them up to prevent further complications, possibly long enough to transport them to professional medical care if needed.

Common injuries while camping might include:

• Cuts and scrapes large and small
• Bruises
• Muscle injuries like sprains and strains
• Insect bites or stings
• Dehydration
• Heat exhaustion
• Hypothermia
• Burns when cooking outdoors or around campfires
• Fractures

First Aid Kit Size, Comprehensiveness

Just as you carry a robust tool kit and extra parts for any on-the-road breakdowns of your vehicle, you should have a quality first aid kit ready to go, and hope you never need it.

How complete your first aid kit should be will be determined by your typical needs. Generally, the deeper you go into the backcountry, and the more physically active your recreation (hiking, biking, climbing, surfing, etc.), the more comprehensive your medical kit should be.

In fact, you might consider splitting your first aid kit into multiple smaller kits; a compact lightweight kit containing the essentials for day hikes and other outings, a medium-sized kit for the canoe, and a more comprehensive kit stored in the camper van.

Buy or DIY?

Commercially available first aid kits, suitable for camping and other outdoor adventuring, are available in varying sizes to match all needs and budgets. They are a quick and easy way to raise your level of medical preparedness.

Or, you can use the list below to assemble your own kit, tailored to your unique needs.

Personally, I combine the best of both: start with a comprehensive ready-made first aid kit, then add supplementary items to round it out to suit my needs.

Be sure to include special items for any specific medical needs of family members: prescription medication, inhalers for asthma or COPD, EpiPens, etc..

How to Pack It All

Most store-bought first aid kits will typically be packed in their own hard or soft cases or bags. You can follow suit when making your own kit.

The enclosure should be durable, clearly marked or labeled as containing first aid materials, and the contents well organized for easy access when needed in a hurry.

A waterproof sealed box or dry bag will protect your first aid kit’s contents from moisture, humidity, and dirt, and is especially recommended if you often participate in canoeing, kayaking, surfing, fishing, or other wet sports.

Like a fire extinguisher or a spare CV joint, you will hopefully never need your first aid kit. But when you do, you’ll want the confidence that it’s easy to find and instantly ready to use.

Get to It!

Pack your camper-van first aid kit somewhere in the van that’s safe and clean and dry, but also quickly accessible. Under the bench seat, or in any number of the Westfalia cabinets, are all good places.

Everyone in your family should know what your first aid kit looks like and and where it can be found, even kids who may not use the kit but who can quickly fetch it for you while you tend to the one who needs help.

Care and Maintenance

When stored in a camper van or other vehicle exposed to frequent swings of temperature and humidity, your first aid kit contents can age prematurely.

Some items in your first aid kit con be considered perishable, and should be replaced periodically. Medications can expire or deteriorate, alcohol wipes may evaporate, the adhesives used in bandages will dry out and lose their ‘stick.’

So, periodically inspect and replace any old supplies. In fact, just to be safe, I annually rotate my stock: replacing any perishables in my kits with new supplies, and moving the older stock to the home medicine cabinet for typical, lesser household incidents.

You should certainly replace any first aid supplies used during your most recent trip, so your kit is ready for your next adventure.

Get Smart

All these great supplies will do you, or the victim, little good if you don’t know how to use them.

So, read up in books or online resources (see below). Better yet, consider taking an in-person first aid course, often available from local providers or community colleges. Such training can give you the knowledge, skills, and confidence you need to help adults and children during an emergency situation.

There are even classes specifically focused on outdoors or wilderness first aid training, for those unique environments.

Importantly, make it a point to periodically review the first aid skills and knowledge you’ve gained, so that it’s there when you need it.

Finally …

Road-tripping and camping should be fun, but stuff can happen.

Lorie’s ankle mended nicely and we were soon back to road-tripping and hiking. But now our family does so with the confidence that in a similar medical situation, we have a solid first aid kit standing by and ready to help.

Got any camper van first aid advice or tips? Leave a suggestion or question below!

Additional Information

Red Cross First Aid Training
https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/first-aid

Red Cross “Emergency First Aid Reference Guide”
https://www.redcross.org/store/emergency-first-aid-guide/758276.html

Red Cross “Wilderness and Remote First Aid Emergency Reference Guide and Pocket Guide”
https://www.redcross.org/store/wilderness-and-remote-first-aid-emergency-reference-guide-and-pocket-guide-rev-9-14/656237.html

“How to Create a BACKPACKING FIRST AID KIT | HIKING ESSENTIALS For Hikers & Backpackers”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkdFtXyKodg

“How to Build a Proper First-Aid Kit,” Outside
https://youtu.be/sJzmYLOlRKo?si=TjSTtQV8TtkT83M3

“Handling RV MEDICAL EMERGENCIES with MyMedic First Aid Kits”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN9lv8LK0aw

“First Aid Basics” with E3 Camping
https://www.youtube.com/@E3Camping/search?query=first%20aid%20basics

Resources

“The Pocket First-Aid Field Guide: Treatment and Prevention of Outdoor Emergencies”
https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-First-Aid-Field-Guide-Emergencies/dp/1616081155/

“Wilderness Medicine: Beyond First Aid”
https://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Medicine-Beyond-First-Aid/dp/1493027182

“Wilderness First Aid: A Folding Guide to Common Sense Self Care”
https://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-First-Aid-Waterproof-Pathfinder/dp/1583557180

“SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: A Comprehensive Course in Emergency and Wilderness Medicine”
https://www.amazon.com/SAS-Survival-Handbook-Third-Surviving/dp/0062378074

First Aid Kits

RHINO RESCUE Mini First Aid Kit
https://www.amazon.com/RHINO-RESCUE-Water-resistant-Ultralight-Backpacking/dp/B0DGGCV16V

Premium First Aid Kit, 320 Piece Waterproof Hard Shell Eva First Aid Kit for Home, Camping, Cars, Hiking
https://www.amazon.com/VRIEXSD-Premium-Waterproof-Businesses-Emergencies/dp/B0DF7K191C

Premium 450 Piece Large First Aid Kit for Home, Travel, Camping, Car, Hiking & Outdoor Emergencies
https://www.amazon.com/VRIEXSD-Premium-Camping-Outdoor-Emergencies/dp/B0DGG1ZH2N

Nanuk 909 Waterproof Dustproof Shockproof Hard Case for First-Aid Kit
https://www.amazon.com/Nanuk-Waterproof-Prepper-Survival-Resistant/dp/B08L9R2XTS

Adventure Medical Kits
https://www.amazon.com/stores/AdventureMedicalKits/page/E65BBF94-B401-490F-A852-4A73264367F2

Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight Series
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/26B2C5A5-BDED-472A-97F3-C396160FE39E

Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/517793AE-A7D6-4640-9715-88EBC943383E

THE LIST

Here are some essential items to make sure your camper van first aid kit is well-stocked for your next camping trip.

• Pain relievers & anti-inflammatory (children and adults)
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Sunburn relief gel or spray
• Antacid
• Antihistamine for allergies
• Anti-diarrhea medicine
• Eye drops
• Cough and cold medicine
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Insect sting relief treatment
• Burn gel
• Oral glucose tablets
• Personal medications

• Hand soap
• Hand sanitizer
• Disposable gloves

• Sterile saline solution
• Alcohol pads/wipes
• Antiseptic cream/ointment/cleanser

• Instant heat & cold packs

• Adhesive bandages of various sizes
• Sterile absorbent pads
• Gauze pads or gauze roll
• Adhesive fabric medical tape
• Cotton swabs and pads
• Elastic wrap bandage
• Adhesive moleskin pads

• Tweezers
• Paramedic shears
• Knife
• Irrigation syringe
• Sewing needle and thread
• Safety pins
• Digital Thermometer
• CPR mask
• Splints; SAM splint & finger splint
• Tourniquet
• Duct tape
• Small notepad & waterproof pencil or pen

• Foil space blanket
• Winter survival items
• First Aid reference guide