We’re going camping this weekend (yea!), and today I’m checking our prevention/first aid goop and gear for viability. I’m checking the expiration dates of sunscreen, bug spray, etc., and– even in cases of current dates– weighing them against recent improvements in products available. I’ll go through several items, one at a time:

band aids:
Naturally, these don’t expire, so old ones are ostensibly still good, but I’m still getting rid of older ones in favor of some newer products, because there have been recent developments in what’s available for sale that I believe warrant their replacement for camping purposes. (By the way, I’m talking about the self-adhesive strips here that we all know and love and sort of generically refer to as “band aids,” but not necessarily endorsing a particular brand.) This summer, I’m stocking up on latex-free (because I’m allergic to latex and you never know who will prove to be sensitive), waterproof, antibacterial strips newly on the market, which will help to treat minor cuts and abrasions in a streamlined fashion.

sunscreen:
We have a bottle of perfectly good sunscreen that is not past its expiration date, and we’ll use it, but when I replace it, I’ll look for the highest SPF available in the newer waterproof and sweat-resistant products, which will decrease the need to reapply it as often as necessary now. I’ll also smell them before I buy one, realizing that sweet scents can attract insects, which no one wants!

bug spray:
As I have mentioned (see my post entitled No Fuss, No Muss, No Bugs: My Beauty Routine When Camping), I like to use vanilla to help repel pesky (and potentially dangerous) flying insects such as gnats and mosquitoes; not surprisingly, my menfolk balk at smelling so feminine and don’t follow my lead! Therefore, we do use bug spray, and I do recommend those brands containing DEET, which we spray on clothing, not skin. I know this can be controversial, because the use of DEET has potential health risks of its own. Google “DEET” and make your own informed decision. I look for tick repellent, too, in bug sprays, and unfortunately most agree that DEET is the only effective ingrediant for that purpose.

hand sanitizer:
This is great goop all the way around. It cleans without the use of water, as most know, effectively reducing the production of gray water when camping, not to mention the possible waste of otherwise good drinking water. It is uncomfortable when used on minor cuts and scrapes, but cleans them thoroughly with a minimum of fuss. I won’t go camping without it. We need to lay in a good supply, and we’ll get the small, light-weight bottles that will take up little room and be the most convenient to keep handy.

Gastrointestinal medication:
I’m going to be blunt here. Many, if not most, first aid kit lists you’ll run across suggest including over-the-counter diarrhea medicines, and I used to be a fan of them, but our pediatrician cured me of that. He told me about a young patient of his that died when his family treated what turned out to be an ecoli infection with one, all in an effort to keep him out of the latrine and on the trail during a camping trip– something I might have unknowingly done, also. It’s vital to realize that diarrhea can be the body’s attempt to expell such germs and limit their ability to proliferate, and stopping it can be deadly. Our pediatrition tells us that no one, of any age, should take such medicines when diarrhea is accompanied by a fever, and that children under twelve years or so shouldn’t take them under any circumstance. If diarrhea occurs, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and go to the bathroom as necessary! If it cramps your style (not to mention the body in question), go home. No camping trip is worth the risk of serious illness, even death, just to minimize bathroom time.

Well, there you go– this is not a first aid course, obviously, just a brief list of considerations regarding some of the first aid and preventive products you may or may not want to include in your gear. Check expiration dates of your favorite products, and if you have to replace them, realized that even those self-adhesive bandage strips really are available in new and improved forms all the time.

Happy camping,

Jean B. in SC