While on expedition you will need a small personal first aid kit in case you have any minor incidents. You will also need a group kit for sharing.

Your first aid kit needs to be kept in a waterproof bag, it’s no use to you if it gets wet, plasters don’t stick when they’re wet and most of the rest of it would also be ruined. Even if the supplied bag is waterproof I would still put it in another bag to be on the safe side.

Lifesystems make a good outdoor first aid kit that is widely used in the outdoors industry, but if you prefer you can make your own, most chemists will be able to supply you and give advice as to what you should be carrying for yourself and as a group.

While on the subject of first aid I should also mention other emergency equipment that you should be carrying while on expedition:-

• Survival Bag:- this will also double up as somewhere to put your rucksack overnight in the porch of your tent if you have limited space.
• Whistle:- in case you need to attract attention.
• Notebook and pen or pencil:- useful for taking notes as you travel, leaving notes for people or in the case of emergency you will need to write down various details.
• Suncream:- even at Easter the sun can burn you in the mountains.
• Midge protection:- either a spray or a midge net, in the summer a midge net is best because now matter how stupid you think you look you’ll be glad you had one of these!
• Group Shelter:- should be large enough to get the whole group inside, will protect you from the weather while you have your lunch and is easy to spot when used in an emergency situation. as a back up to this you can use the flysheets from your tent in an emergency.
• Money:- just a small amount to be used in an emergency situation.

This can all be carried together in a single dry bag apart from the whistle which should remain in easy reach, attached to your rucksack strap or similar.