Build an easy refillable first aid kit with me. Grab a few essentials, put them in a cute container, and throw them in the backpack.
We are a family who loves to spend time outside. When I saw the 1000 hours outside challenge at the end of 2020, I knew that I wanted to attempt it for 2021. We completed the challenge (just barely), made so many incredible memories, and had a ton of awesome learning experiences together.
This challenge pushed us as a family to turn off the tv more and get outside. To be intentional with our time together, to make fun hiking plans and to splash in creeks. Most days, the tv stays off in our house. The kids don’t whine and cry and beg for it anymore. Our lifestyle has totally changed.
The benefits of outdoor play for our kids is something that as parents, we cannot ignore. Yes, it wears our kids out so they sleep good at night, but there is so much above and beyond that. Because we spend so much time outside hiking and exploring, cuts, scrapes, and bites are a regular part of our lives. They can’t be completely avoided, but they can be easily supported by being prepared ahead of time.
Over the last few years, I have thrown away most items in our medicine cabinet. Switching to a toxin free lifestyle has made me simplify the products we use and find safe ones that are versatile. Because of this, I decided to build my own first aid kit. A first aid kit that is easily refillable to keep in our exploring backpack. A first aid kit that has what we need, and none of the toxic ingredients.
Contents of Our Refillable First Aid Kit
The first thing you need for your first aid kit is a container. I don’t know about you, but space is precious in our exploring backpack. I take all four of the kids a lot by myself when we hike and explore, which means that I wear the 2-year-old on my back. My 4-year-old isn’t quite ready to carry a backpack longer distances, so I rely on the older two kids to carry everything. That means lots of snacks, water bottles, and sometimes lunch boxes.
I found the perfect size container that doesn’t take up too much space in the backpack, fits all of the necessities, and looks cute at the same time. It is a Welly band aid tin. They come in tons of different designs and band aid sizes, and the tin is perfect for building your own refillable first aid kit.
I take out half of the band aids and set them aside for refills, and that creates space to add in a few other necessities.
Boo Boo Items in Your Refillable First Aid Kit
Aside from the band aids, you will want some sort of ointment for cuts, scrapes, burns, etc. I like to keep two different options in my first aid kit.
The first option is rose ointment. I use this to replace Vaseline or any other ointment you would typically put on cuts and scrapes. Rose ointment is soothing and moisturizing, allowing natural healing to take place faster.
The second option and one that we use very regularly is our Owie essential oil roller. If you prefer, you could whip up a roller bottle yourself for cuts and scrapes. I personally like to keep it simple and grab this premade one. The KidScents Owie roller helps skin heal quickly and naturally, and specifically the more sensitive skin of kids. You can either roll it right on or roll it on your finger and dab it on the cut. My favorite part about the Owie roller is that it doesn’t sting. I don’t have to fight my kids to apply it, plus it smells amazing!
Bug Items in Your Refillable First Aid Kit
Bugs are the worst! The first thing I would recommend keeping in your backpack as well is a non-toxic insect repellent. I keep a travel size bottle filled at all times to spray on before we begin exploring and hiking. It is made specifically to keep away mosquitos and ticks.
In the first aid kit, I keep a roller bottle with essential oils that are good for bites and stings. This can be a generic blend of oils that are great for mosquito bites, bee stings, ant bites, etc. I used a 5 ml roller, added 8 drops each of Lavender and Peppermint, and topped it off with fractionated coconut oil as the carrier oil. Whenever someone is bit or stung, you just roll it right on. Lavender is great for soothing. Peppermint is great for a cooling sensation.
You could also just stick a bottle of Lavender essential oil in your first aid kit. It is so versatile and can be used for all things skin, soothing and healing. Lavender essential oil is my go-to for just about anything.
Finally, on the very top of the first aid kit, I keep a tick removal card.
Those little bugs are the nastiest. I don’t want to touch them, plus it’s not good to pull them out incorrectly or the head might get stuck. This little card makes it easy to get a tick off and no touching is required by you.
Have an Adventure
So, load up your first aid kit, throw it in your exploring backpack, and you are ready to adventure! Refills are super easy which makes taking care of you and your kids simple.
What is your favorite outside activity to do with your kids? Would you add or take anything away from this first aid kit? Let me know in the comments.
Other Posts You Might Find Helpful:
- Kids in Nature: Benefits of Outdoor Play
- Bug Bite Relief
- Outdoor Essentials for Nature Exploring
- Easy Items to Keep in Your Adventure Kit
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Thanks for this great post, it has me thinking of what to include in ours. We are a family who loves to hike, so I need to have our supplies ready so I don’t have to throw everything into bags at the last minute!
Same for us! I go hiking a lot with the kids by myself and knew I needed supplies in our backpack. I love this one because it’s small enough to fit in my daughter’s backpack since I wear my 2-year-old on my back.