Arborist First Aid Kit

An arborist first aid kit puts basic wound care within reach on every tree job, from saw nicks and splinters to scrapes and bee stings. Keep one in each truck and know where it is before anyone starts a saw.

What a tree crew needs on hand

Tree work brings a steady run of small injuries: saw nicks, splinters, rope burns, scrapes from bark and stings from wasps in a hollow limb. A stocked first aid kit means those get cleaned and covered right away instead of after the job.

Keep the kit in the same place on every truck so anyone on the crew can grab it without thinking. Many crews add a tourniquet, extra trauma dressings and any personal medications crew members need, such as for allergic reactions.

A small, well-organized kit is better than a large one nobody can find in a hurry, so keep it light and keep it stocked. Put a second, smaller kit in the climber's gear bag so basic supplies are close to the tree, not only in the truck.

Training and upkeep

A kit is only as good as the person using it. ANSI Z133 expects crews to have people trained in first aid and CPR, and serious chainsaw injuries need a call to emergency services first. Build an emergency plan that covers your site address and how responders will reach a climber.

Check the kit monthly, restock what was used and swap out anything expired or water damaged. See more in our first aid section.