Trail First Aid Kit

[DaveK]

eubi:

The epipen is a good quick response to severe allergic reactions, with certain limitations on when it is not proper. You are absolutely right about the Benedryl. In combination with the epipen, it will give enough long lasting relief to get to proper medical attention, if necessary.

I completely forgot about the tick remover. Thanks.

[eubi]

Oh, on the topic of snake bites, I do carry a Sawyer device with me. For example:

http://www.rei.com/product/407144

This is basically a high tech suction pump specially made to extract venom. It looks like a big syringe, but when you push in the plunger, it creates a suction at the other end.

Opinions vary. Some say it does do some good if applied within 4 minutes of the bite. Others say it does no good whatsoever.

My simple-minded logic...if there is less snake venom in your body, less damage will be done. My snakebite plan:

Keep patient calm.
Apply Saywer suction.
Treat wound.
Apply compression wrap.
Treat for shock.
Get to the hospital.

rich

[Jeff]

Tom,

Nancy and I just took a desert survival class in Joshua Tree. You comments on treatment for snakebite are verbatim from our instructor. BTW, he is WFR certified also.

Here is an article I came across that does a great job of letting you know what to expect to happen if you or someone in your party is bitten by a venomous snake.

http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?Ar ... &PageNum=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have also seen an epipen used and the results are immediate, however, quite short lasting, like 20-30 minutes, so it is still very important to realize the incident may not be over. Benadryl makes a dissolvable table called Benedryl Allergy Fastmelt, designed for children, but is easier than opening a capsule.

Jeff
WB6QAY

[toms]

As a follow up to out net last night 5-15-08, Here is my check list of items for your first Aid Kit organized into catagories as they might be segmented inside your first aid bag or box. Feel free to suggest additional stuff!

First Aid Check list

DOCUMENTATION
 Field Guide of Wilderness & Rescue Medicine
 SOAP Notes (Injury / illness documentation forms)
 Note book & pencil

TOOLS
 Pocket rescue mask
 Scissors
 Tweezers
 60 cc syringe
 Blood Pressure cuff
 Stethoscope
 Suction bulb
 Sterile scalpel blade
 Fine hemostat
 Penlight/ Head Lamp
 1-gallon plastic bag for irrigation
 Wet ones

PERSONAL PROTECTION
 4 (at least) pair latex Gloves
 Healthcare hand wash
 Ear plugs
 Purell hand sanitizer

WOUND CARE
 First Aid Cream
 Neosporin
 2 4x4 inch sterile gauze dressings
 2 2x2 inch sterile gauze dressings
 1 2x2 mole skin for blisters
 6 band-Aids
 1 roll 1 inch flexible tape
 1 small bottle of tincture of benzoin
 1 small tube Providone iodine ointment
 1 small bottle liquid soap
 Tooth Brush
 2 inch elastic bandage

ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK KIT
 Epinephrine
 1 cc syringe x3
 4 tablets Benedryl

LARGE WOUNDS / FRACTURES
 Large Triangular Bandage
 Xeroform gauze dressing
 Sam Splint
 4 Diaper pins
 4” & 6” Ace bandage
 Burn sheet (100 cotton t-Shirt fresh from dryer kept in plastic bag)
 Large dressing (Sanitary Napkins / diapers work well)
 Handful of big plastic cable ties
 Duct Tape

MEDICATIONS – Nonprescription
 Tylenol aka Acetaminophen (Pain, Fever)
 Advil (Pain, Inflammation)
 Aspirin (Pain, Fever
 Allegra-D
 Imodium
 Benedryl
 Stool Softener (e.g. Colase)
 Syrup of Ipecac
 Liquid activated charcoal
 Cake mate
 Dramamine (motion sickness)
 Cough & cold preparations

MEDICATIONS – Prescription
(talk to your doctor)

 Antibiotic tablets
 Antibiotic eye ointment or drops
 Epipen (instead of Anaphylactic kit)
 Medication for severe pain
 Steroid cream
 Diamox (if going to altitude)

[Brucek]

I just thought of this on my last trip. Obviously I didn't have one when I needed it. A separtate splinter removal kit. It would only need a few different sizes of sewing needles, a tweezer, a few bandaids and some neosporine or equivilant in a litle bag of sorts. Not very life threatening but it might be a bit better than using your marine bowie to get rid of a peskie little piece of wood.

[DaveK]

Bruce:

Are you still carrying that 15 inch Rambo knife? I know what to get you for Christmas and it's not a set of tweezers!!

[1leglance]

Someone on another forum posted this to add to your kit. I will be buying some soon. Also add a tourniquet or two. What we do can cause severe bleeding along way from help. This could save a life. Similar products are available and some are used by the military in Iraq and Afganistan.

http://www.bestglide.com/celox.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

..
Couple of very important things here from someone who works trauma/ICU as a RN and is a wilderness first responder.....
1) stay away from the clotting agents...direct pressure is the best thing, you need to be able to clean the wound bed, chemicals are harsh on the tissue, guaze, clothing, whatever is better with direct pressure if you have a bleeder

2) DON'T EVER PUT ON A TOURNIQUET unless you are a trained professional and understand the concept of min pressure and freq relief of pressure and compartment syndrome and tissue necrosis and lots of other fancy words that will come your way when they are explaining why your buddy is losing his arm/leg or is gonna die of sepsis.....The only snake bite that would need a tourni is in australia so don't worry about that either...

3) We place ourselves in 2 positions when outdoors....minor wounds like cuts/burns/abrasions that can be best treated with excellent wound washing, clean dressings and some care....or traumatic accidents where things are crushed/broken/internal injury....these req lots of gauze, direct pressure or stabilization and a call for the helo.....the only other things I would worry about in backcountry is allergy (benadryl and an epi pen), hand washing around food to keep the stomach happy and hydration.....

Lastly I can not say enough great things about any WMI course from WIlderness First Aid to First Responder...the investment in money is nothing compared to the hands on knowledge you get....hardly any class time compared to outdoor learning time. I took mine at the Flagstaff Field Inst. and those guys rock! As far as I am concerned if you go out beyond ambulance range you should take these courses along with solid CPR for your sake, your families/friends sake and the sake of any stranger you may meet.....

Oh and don't ever go looking for my first aid kit....EMT Trauma bag, ditch bag kit, car kit, pocket kit...and if I could I would add O2 and IV's

[verdesardog]

DO NOT carry or administer any meds to anyone! Epi pens are perscription devices and should only be used and administered by the person prescribed for.

Snake bite kits are not recomended any more! The cause more damage than they do good, they will NOT suck anough venom out to be of any benifit. More people in the US die from Black widow bites than snake bites!