Susan & I have just sat down and made a list of what we have in our various First Aid kits.

This is not a list of what a client should necessarily bring to Africa, it's a list of what we, as a professional hunting company, feel we need to have to cover any eventuality - emergencies through to minor discomforts that may spoil a hunt for a client, the staff and ourselves.

We also supply each client with relevant health information for the country they are visiting and a list of basic first aid supplies & medications. Clients may have specific brands they prefer & suits them best.

We also ask clients to tell us of any medical conditions they may have that may be relevant if they were in an emergency situation. This also allows us to stay ahead of the game and carry items that may assist with that particular condition and to ensure any prescription drugs are in the truck or on the person.

I guess that in all fairness I should also say that Susan has considerably more medical training than is usually found in a hunting camp, so this list is probably more comprehensive than would be found in many/most hunting areas.

So here's the list:-

Carry on Belt:

Gun shot (military) dressing – purpose made with padding & ties
Tampax style tampon – plugging gun shot wounds
Crepe 4” or 6” crepe bandage – splinting, snake bite
Small penknife
Simple painkillers – headaches etc
Anti diarrhoeals
Plasters
Condoms

Hunting Truck:

Sterile surgical gloves – various sizes
Non-sterile gloves
Bandages various – elastic, crepe, gauze
Sling
Dressings various – non-stick pads, plasters, opsite, burns
Adhesive tapes – various sizes & types
Sanitary pads – extra wound padding (wings not necessary)
Alcohol wipes
Sterile syringes - various sizes
Sterile needles - various sizes
Sterile scalpel blades
Sterile (injectable) water ampoules
Sterile saline ampoules
Optical saline – eyewash
Malaria testing kit
Iodine spray/ other antiseptic spray
Scissors
Safety Pins
Thermometer
Condoms – extremity wound dressing cover, water carrying
Steri-strip wound closures
Tweezers
Eyepads
Cotton wool
Airway
Pen torch
Space blanket
Sunscreen/block

Drugs:
Anti diarrhoeals
Analgesics - basic to medium strength
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Anti biotics – pills, injectable & topical cream
Antihistamines - pills & topical
Hydrocortisone Cream
Rehydration powder sachets
Nasal decongestant spray

Custom additions for clients with known disorders eg diabetics & bee-sting allegery:

Glucose drinks
Epi - pens
Client prescription drugs – ensure these are carried

Kept in Hunting Camp:

IV Giving set & cannulae – various sizes (for guaranteed sterility & use in local medical facility)
Malaria treatment drugs
Athletes foot cream
Thrush treatment cream
Sutures (various) & Needle holder
Dental kit – temp filling material, crown cement, dental mirror
Gel Ice packs
Vaseline

Although it's not a first aid component it's also a good idea to have a sat-phone about the place somewhere.