It’s easy to think that more is better when it comes to first aid, but carrying a bulky, overstocked first aid kit can be unnecessary and even counterproductive. If you’re heading out for a short day paddle or a quick overnight trip you won't want to take too much first aid gear as it adds weight, takes up valuable space, and can slow you down. However if you are heading off to a third world country to lead a remote sea kayaking expedition would you know what to take?
Lifesystems are a UK based outdoors first aid kit specialist. They make a wide range of first aid kits specialised for different types of outdoor activities. While they don't make specific sea kayaking kits they make several kits that can suit our needs. We look at these and in particular which types of sea kayaking and sea kayakers they best suit.
All the kits come with the appropriate amount of the following general items: first aid instruction leaflet, various types and sizes of dressings and bandages, safety pins, resuscitation face shield, scissors, tweezers, nitrile gloves, sterile saline wipes, micropore and/or zinc oxide tape, assorted plasters and blister plasters. These are then added to depending on their intended use.
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Mini Waterproof First Aid Kit
Static locations and short journeys
The Lifesystems Mini Waterproof First Aid Kit adds a couple of dressings and bandages to the general items and packages them in a IPX8 rated waterproof press-to-lock seal polymer bag and puts this inside a robust waterproof 1 litre TPU roll top dry bag. Lifesystems do smaller and lighter waterproof first aid kits for adventure racers etc in their Light & Dry range but for sea kayaker this one strikes a good balance of robust waterproofing, size and cost. It's got what a sea kayaker needs to deal with minor injuries and temporarily patch up more serious ones while waiting for help. It's an ideal little kit for when you are based in one location or doing short sea kayaking journeys where help is never far away.
Key Addittions: 2 dressings, 2 bandages and a waterproof dry bag.
Specifications:
- RRP: £22.99
- Items: 18
- Dimensions: 260 x 115 x 80mm
- Weight: 242g
Waterproof First Aid Kit
Leading day trips and personal camping trips
The Lifesystems Waterproof First Aid Kit is double the size of the Mini. It has a couple more dressings and bandages as well as mild pain relief pills and a burn gel and is protected in a 2 litre drybag. This isn't as robust as their Mini Waterproof First Aid Kit dry bag so if you are hard on your kit you may want to bag it in something tougher, however it is fully waterproof. It can sort out minor injuries to enable the casualty to carry on paddling, as well as temporarily patching up more serious ones while waiting for the emergency services. It's ideal for leading sea kayaking day trips where you are never more than a mile or so from a safe place to land your group and get help. For example British Canoeing Sea Kayak Leaders. It is also suitable for personal overnight camping trips.
Key Additions - 3 dressings, 3 bandages, paracetamol, burn gel and a waterproof dry bag.
Specifications:
- RRP: £34.99
- Items: 32
- Dimensions: 330 x 160 x 80mm
- Weight: 500g
Mountain First Aid Kit
Leading advanced trips including overnight camping
The Lifesystems Mountain First Aid Kit isn't designed for water users like the kits above but it is intended for remote journeys. This makes it ideal for when your sea kayaking trips are further from help. Compared to the Waterproof First Aid Kit it adds more dressings, bandages and burn gel as well as wound closure strips. Importantly for sea kayakers it has a pair of shears, ideal for cutting through a drysuit if needed. It also adds a thermometer, ibuprofen and gaffa tape. It's all neatly organised and labeled in what Lifesystems call a 'Quick Find System' case. Cleverly this includes a glow stick attached inside for when searching for stuff in the dark. The case is made from water repellant and hard wearing ripstop fabric with waterproof zips but if you want it fully waterproofed you can separately purchase the Lifesystems Waterproof First Aid Kit Dry Bag from the previous kit as it just fits in. This all makes it ideal for leaders of advanced sea kayaking trips including overnight camping. For example British Canoeing Advanced Sea Kayak Leaders.
Key Additions - 5 dressings, 5 bandages, 3 wound closure strips, 2 burn gels, shears, thermometer, ibuprofen, glow stick, gaffa tape, thermal blanket and a water repellant 'quick find system' case.
Specifications:
- RRP: £42.99
- Items: 53
- Dimensions: 200 x 140 x 90mm
- Weight: 700g
Mountain Leader First Aid Kit
Leading remote multi day expeditions
The Lifesystems Mountain Leader First Aid Kit is designed for leaders of multi-day trips in remote areas. Because it is intended for the use of larger groups it is basically the same as the Mountain First Aid Kit but with more dressings, bandages, wound closure strips and burn gels. This all makes it a large and heavy kit and by the time you have put it in a dry bag it will weigh almost a kilogram. We would only really recommend it for those leading remote multi day sea kayak expeditions where professional medical care may be some time and distance away.
Key Additions - 7 dressings, 6 bandages, 6 wound closure strips, 3 burn gels, shears, thermometer, ibuprofen, glow stick, gaffa tape, thermal blanket and a water repellant 'quick find system' case.
Specifications:
- RRP: £58.99
- Items: 66
- Dimensions: 230 x 180 x 100mm
- Weight: 930g
Mountain Leader Pro First Aid Kit
Leading expeditions in 3rd world countries and medical professionals
The Lifesystems Mountain Leader Pro First Aid Kit is designed for leaders of remote multi-day trips in third world countries. Compared to the Mountain Leader First Aid Kit, as well as having a few more dressings, bandages, wound closure strips and burn gels it also adds a medium sized Flexi Splint (Sam Splint). Where it really differs from standard first aid kits is the inclusion of sterile equipment that is intended to be used by medical professionals. These include hypodermic needles and syringes, stiching needle and tread and a scalpel. As such we would only recommend this first aid kit for medical professionals and those leading expeditions in 3rd world countries where the medical facilities that you can access may lack sterile equipment.
Key Additions - 8 dressings, 8 bandages, 9 wound closure strips, 4 burn gels, shears, thermometer, ibuprofen, glow stick, gaffa tape, thermal blanket, 4 hypodermic needles and syringes, stiching needle and tread, scalpel, flexi splint and a water repellant quick find system case.
Specifications:
- RRP: £86.99
- Items: 90
- Dimensions: 290 x 190 x 110mm
- Weight: 1130g
By Philip Clegg
With over two decades of working in the sea kayaking industry, Phil is a Paddle UK Level 5 Sea Kayak Coach and former record holder for the Circumnavigation of Britain. He can mainly be found coaching on the sea around Anglesey. That's when he's not researching and writing on all things sea kayaking.
