How to Build Your Own Outdoor Education First Aid Kit

When taking students outdoors, being prepared for medical emergencies is crucial. A well-stocked first aid kit tailored to outdoor education ensures that you can address minor injuries promptly and effectively. Here’s a guide to assembling a comprehensive kit, along with best practices for its use.

Important note: In addition to having a well-stocked first aid kit, keeping your first aid skills up to date is extremely important when you are working with students in the outdoors. If you haven’t already done so, take a first aid and CPR certification course. This course will not only teach you the skills to treat minor injuries but will give you a boost of confidence when taking your students outside.

Preparing Your Outdoor Education First Aid Kit​

The items in my outdoor education first aid kit are all carefully curated and selected so that I can deal with small emergencies and not have to interrupt the class by going indoors. Of course, if a wound requires a good cleaning or the student requires some rest/a phone call home is required, we will head inside. There are also a few items in the kit to be prepared for a more serious emergency. For example, if we are unable to move a student due to a major injury and we need to keep them warm and comfortable until further help arrives. All of these items fit inside a small packing cube that takes up very little space.

I chose to make my own first aid kit for a few reasons. The first is that many readily available first aid kits don’t really meet the needs of a classroom. They are expensive yet contain cheap materials (the exception being some of the outdoor adventure specific kits…but they are very expensive.) The next reason is size. I can pack up the materials that I need into a small packing cube and throw it in my backpack.The third reason is that I know exactly what is in there and how to use it. There are no random extras that take up valuable space. 

Items That I Have On My Person At All Times…​

My Phone​

This is not in the first aid kit, but instead, I keep it in a pocket where I can feel it vibrate at all times. This is potentially the most important item in the whole kit. My phone allows me to contact the school if I need help or if the school needs to contact me. It also allows me to phone Emergency Services (911) immediately if there is a serious emergency. In the winter I keep my phone in an inner pocket of my jacket so that it stays warm and the cold doesn’t drain the battery. I also have a phone case that can recharge the phone should it run out of battery. 

A Whistle​

I carry the whistle on my school lanyard with my classroom keys. I use a Fox 40 whistle so that I can get the kid’s attention in case of an emergency. As a class we talk about different whistle signals at the beginning of the year so the kids understand what the emergency whistle sounds like and how to respond to it.

Core Items in an Outdoor Education First Aid Kit

1. Basic Wound Care Supplies

• Adhesive Bandages & Gauze Pads: Essential for covering small cuts and abrasions.
• Antiseptic Wipes & Antibacterial Ointment: To clean wounds and prevent infection.
• Medical Tape & Elastic Bandages: For securing dressings and providing support.
• Burn Gel & Hydrogel Pads: To soothe and protect burn injuries.
• Zipper Sealed Bags: These are useful for the hygienic disposal of soiled first aid supplies

Even simple supplies can make a huge difference in keeping students safe and comfortable (Red Cross – redcross.org).

Splinting and Immobilization

• SAM Splints & Finger Splints – For stabilizing small fractures.
• Triangular Bandages & Elastic Wraps – Great for sprains and strains.
• Instant Cold Packs – Reduce swelling and relieve pain.

Including splints and wraps helps you manage minor injuries efficiently (REI Expert Advice – rei.com).

Environmental Protection Items

• Thermal Blankets – Keep students warm during unexpected cold weather.
• Sunscreen & Lip Balm – Protect skin and lips from sunburn.
• Insect Repellent – Prevent bug bites during outdoor activities.

Being prepared for the elements ensures your students stay comfortable and safe (REI Expert Advice – rei.com).

Emergency Tools

• CPR Mask – Ensure safe resuscitation if needed.
• Clothing Shears- Necessary for removing clothing from an injured area
• Whistle – Gain attention in wide or noisy areas.
• Flashlight or Headlamp – Visibility during low-light conditions.

Emergency tools are essential for handling unexpected situations with confidence (REI Expert Advice – rei.com).

Teacher Tips for First Aid Preparedness

1. Check Your Kit Regularly – Ensure nothing is expired or missing.
2. Get Trained – Take basic first aid and CPR courses so you know how to respond.
3. Keep Records – Document any incidents and treatments given.
4. Tailor Your Kit – Adapt supplies to your group’s age, size, and the outdoor environment.

Regular maintenance and training keep your kit ready and your students safe (OPHEA – safety.ophea.net).

Ready-Made vs. DIY Kits

Ready-made first aid kits are convenient, but customizing your own lets you include the exact items your students might need. You can add extra bandages for younger children, insect repellent for summer, or allergy medications for students with sensitivities (REI Expert Advice – rei.com).

Being Prepared​

Know Your First Aid​

Keep your first aid skills current and up to date. Resuscitation guidelines are updated often and our understanding of different first aid techniques evolves the more we learn. Having a current first aid certification under your belt is a must if you are going to spending time outdoors with your students. First aid is mostly common sense, however becoming certified in first aid can boost your confidence and help you feel ready to take your students outdoors.

Know Your Students​

Get to know your students and understand their particular health needs and concerns. If you have students that require an epi-pen make sure that you either have it with you or know that the student has it with them. If you have students with medical conditions such as diabetes or asthma that can be affected by exercise, you need to be aware of the triggers and what to do if they are in distress. Be aware of your school divisions policies on administering medication. Also ensure that you know how to use any medical devices that your students may require. 

It is also important to know your students and their capabilities. Often injuries happen when people try to push themselves beyond what they are capable of. When introducing new skills, introduce them to the students safely and ensure that all the students feel confident. Also, always give your students the option of opting out if it is something that they don’t feel comfortable with. 

Know Your Area​

Know your area and if there are any particular health or safety concerns in the area. For example, are there plants such as stinging nettle or poison ivy that your students need to be aware of? Are there places with unsafe footing where students need to move with care? Being aware of these hazards doesn’t necessarily mean you need to avoid these areas, it just means that you need to be proactive in your planning. For example, don’t plan a hiding game in an area with a lot of poison ivy!

Teach Your Students What To Do If Someone Gets Hurt​

Make sure that your students know what to do if someone gets hurt during your outdoor education time. Ensure that your students are always looking out for one another and keeping each other safe. As the teacher you should ensure that you are always in a place where the students are able to see you and signal for help if necessary. Have a procedure that the students can practice so that they can feel confident in getting help.

For example:

1. Check to see if the other student is ok
2. Get a friend to stay with the hurt student
3. Go to the teacher and let them know what has happened and where the hurt student is

Now Get Outside and Start Exploring…​

Having a first aid kit for outdoor education ready to go is just one step in being prepared to be outside with your students. It is essential in planning for the safety and comfort of your students during your outdoor education time. Accidents can happen in the outdoors, however they are more likely to happen if you and your students are unprepared. In addition to building your first aid kit, take the time to establish routines, expectations, and boundaries with your students so that they can feel safe and confident in being outside. Ensure that your students come prepared for the outdoors with proper clothing and footwear. Finally, understand why you are taking your students outside. Make the outdoor learning time both valuable and enjoyable. If the students are engaged they are less likely to start doing silly things on their own. 

Keep Reading…

• What to Pack to Be Prepared for Outdoor Education
• Outdoor Education Safety
• Developing Your Policies and Procedures for Outdoor Education

Get Started With Outdoor Learning Today!

References

Forest School – Wikipedia. (2025). Forest school (learning style). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_school_(learning_style)

Red Cross. (n.d.). Camping first aid kit checklist. https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/resources/articles/camping-first-aid-kit-checklist?srsltid=AfmBOopswS90jPRaSnJ3ijgPc5-LUBJRrRyXR6wM6AwvbfX1o68B6pvN&utm_source=chatgpt.com

REI Expert Advice. (n.d.). First aid checklist. https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/first-aid-checklist.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

OPHEA. (n.d.). Outdoor education sample kit contents. https://safety.ophea.net/tools-resources/outdoor-education-sample-kit-contents?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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