What's in your First Aid Kit? (1 Viewer)

[krazykat69]

Good time to go through your First Aid Kit.
This essential tool sometimes doesn't get used or even looked at for long periods of time.
Look at it and remind yourself what all this stuff is used for.
Is it still any good?
Alcohol pads dry out. Medications expire. Band aids get old. Tape even gets old.
What do you use to clean a wound?
Hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, Iodine? Got any?
Antibiotic ointment? Is it expired?
Got a SAM splint? Used to stabilize a fracture or severe sprain. A piece of cardboard will work.
What about a sling to support a broken or sprained arm?
Cloth, or an Ace wrap works.
Got several different sizes of gauze pads and band aids?
Tourniquets, ace wraps, an airway, are good items to have in your first aid kit.
I suggest you carry these items, even if you don't know how to use them. Because, in an emergency, they can be used by someone who does know how to use them.

Happened with me, when a guy had a Juniper branch stab his lower arm. He drove off a ledge, but his vehicle leaned over into a Juniper and the branch came through his open window. Several cuts and Lots of blood
I didn't have a large bottle of alcohol or peroxide to clean his wounds, before I applied an antibiotic and pressure dressings.
Someone else had these and said they didn't know much first aid, so they gave them to me.
Perfect!!
I leaned into the window and cleaned and dressed the arm wounds, while another 4x4, was getting into position to winch the stranded vehicle off the tree and ledge.
If you have any other suggestions for first aid out on the trail, post them up.
Stay Safe , be prepared, (Boy Scouts, anyone??)

 

[swhme]

I keep first aid kits in all my cars, and do an annual check/refresh.

As a clumsy guy, I go through a lot of triple antibiotic and gauze

 

[pappy]

Great thread Jeff!

This idea has come up a lot in the past. Over the years we have had several folks (Shawn, Graham, Cy come to mind) in the club that have worked in emergency response. Back in 2011, one of our members was an EMT trainer at CNM. He did a two day first aid/CPR training for the club (RIP Cy). At the end Cy stocked us up with a large bag of supplies. That bag of stuff lives in the house in case the SHTF. I have a smaller kit I keep in the 4R.

Here is an old post Ali started. There are some great thoughts in there from folks, and it's worth the read.

We need first aid training!

Folks, I propose that it's time to start an annual first aid training class for the club members. I've had first aid training in the past but w/o using it on a continued basis, I forget my fundamentals. I was given some serious first aid stuff that I need to be taught on their usage! Many...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[krazykat69]

There's so much on the world wide inter web these days on every subject. First Aid is there too.
Suggest folks take a little time to be familiar with basic first aid and the basic equipment that is needed to fix up a Boo Boo..
CPR and AED training is nice, but don't expect many folks carry an AED on board.
If anything serious happens way out in the boondocks, a Garmin In Reach comm should get advanced medics out to the crash site to help.

A couple of other items to carry are Bandage scissors and emergency , plastic pocket size blankets and ponchos.
Every vehicle should have a basic FA kit.
One thing I need to read up on is snake bites and what to do in the field until getting to an ER for further care,
Pappy, remember the rattlesnake next to my back wheel, at the Dollhouse??? Good thing the morning cold caused it to be moving slow!!

 

[pappy]

Pappy, remember the rattlesnake next to my back wheel, at the Dollhouse??? Good thing the morning cold caused it to be moving slow!!

Ya, I remember. That was a midget-faded rattlesnake, with "extremely toxic venom."

 

[alia176]

And don't forget the 10# fire extinguisher, while you're at it!!

 

[pappy]

And don't forget the 10# fire extinguisher, while you're at it!!

 

[Dumpolina]

@krazykat69 thank you for this reminder and refresh, I value your experience and knowledge!
I get out alone a lot - I know I can open those Adventure Medical kit bag zippers with my teeth.
I had a hard time opening the snap closure plastic box type one handed. That was a lesson
A roll of saran wrap is handy to wrap up a wounded dog to keep the pieces together on the way to the vet.

 

[Dumpolina]

And don't forget the 10# fire extinguisher, while you're at it!!

I need to refresh mine and add a permanent to the tow pig- which do you use?

 

[pappy]

And don't forget the 10# fire extinguisher, while you're at it!!

Funny, my neighbor saw me goofing off in the garage. Something about throwing sparks. He recently retired. He had a bunch of junk he needed to get rid of. He walked over with a 10# fire extinguisher, new in the box, and asked if I could use it. I pointed to the THREE little extinguishers I had hanging in the garage. Of course, I said "hell yes."

 

[alia176]

I need to refresh mine and add a permanent to the tow pig- which do you use?

I went to Safety Flareand purchased couple of 5# (A,B,C- I think) bottles for both rigs, nothing fancy. They also service them for me when they deplete down.

I do need to refresh my first aid kit along with my memory!!

Edit: 10# bottles are too big. 5# is mobetta.

 

[alia176]

Oh man, glad I looked at my fire extinguisher! Time to go to safety flare to have this bottle recharged.

 

[krazykat69]

Done a little research on emergency treatment of venomous snake bites.


First ,do your own dive into this subject.

Here's a few general tips I have been finding.

1. BE AWARE of snakes when out in the back country. learn about snake habits. They like water areas, where their prey hang out. Other tips, look up snake habits and where they like to hang out.
2. If you get bit, move away from the snake and sit down in a safe area. Blood pressure will drop and falling down and hitting your head will just add to your injuries. When you can, start moving toward an ER, unless help is close and quick.
3 Remove rings, bracelets, tight clothing, etc, as swelling of your extremity will begin quickly. Better to circulate the venom around your body , and dilute it, than to concentrate it in one area.
4 Mark the bite area with a SHARPIE, with border of swelling, bite marks, and time . Repeat this every 15-30 minutes. This information is valuable to medical personnel to determine type of snake and amount of venom you received.

5 Only, take a picture of the snake if it is safe to do so. Not necessary. better to not get another snake bite trying to get a picture.
6 Call 911, use Garmin INReach. Return to the last place you had cell service, but keep moving toward an ER.
7 No ice, No tourniquet , No cutting bite area, No sucking out the venom, No pressure dressings. Let swelling happen, Splint for comfort only.

SNAKE BITE KITS ARE DANGEROUS, DO NOT USE!!

8 No NSAIDS meds. These effect clotting as does the venom. Tylenol is okay, from what I have read.

An EPIPEN may be used , only if you start experiencing ANAPHYLAXIS symptoms. Your insurance may help with the cost of the EPIPEN, but you will need a DR order to get one, I believe. Good for other emergencies, too.

9 Get going toward ER. Walk slowly, drinks some fluids and a snack. Don't wait 5 hours for a Helicopter, if you can walk out faster. Let someone drive you , if possible. TIME is TISSUE, as in skin and muscle.

10 The only treatment for a Venomous snake bite is ANTIVENOM.

Poison Control Center: 1- 800-222-1222 for more information

P.S . Even if you are sure that the snake that bit you is NOT poisonous , you still need to go to an ER. Infection of your wound is very possible, and the pathogens, bad germs, have been injected into you blood system.

This is some of the info I have found, I learned a lot.

Carry a Sharpie, and communication device

Please do your own research on this topic, and correct me if I have posted something wrong.
Add to the discussion.

What do you do if your dog gets bitten ?? That could happen. Look it up!

 

[William839]

be careful with hydrogen peroxide , when poured on large wounds it kills white blood cells/ almost guarantees you will get a scar.
As for me I carry SAM splints , mini butterfly bandages with a “zip tie” effect for closing large wounds , CAT tourniquet, triangular bandages , gauze , and some other fairly basic items. A 02 sat probe is always a bonus too, alcohol prep pads can also be used for cases of nausea by sniffing ,some research even says it works better than zofran

 

[krazykat69]

be careful with hydrogen peroxide , when poured on large wounds it kills white blood cells/ almost guarantees you will get a scar.
As for me I carry SAM splints , mini butterfly bandages with a “zip tie” effect for closing large wounds , CAT tourniquet, triangular bandages , gauze , and some other fairly basic items. A 02 sat probe is always a bonus too, alcohol prep pads can also be used for cases of nausea by sniffing ,some research even says it works better than zofran

Thanks for your additions to this discussion. I recently bought some butterfly bandages and need to add to all my kits. Didn't know about alcohol pads for nausea.
All good knowledge, thanks.

 

[Dumpolina]

My vet has a snake bite vaccine - said it won't make a dog snake proof but increases the likelihood of survival, especially if a bite occurs far from care

 

[alia176]

My vet has a snake bite vaccine - said it won't make a dog snake proof but increases the likelihood of survival, especially if a bite occurs far from care

My old dog Riley got bitten by a juvenile snake at my house. Only thing he received was Arnica and fluids. His face swelled up then went back down. That vet said that anti-Venom for dogs are super expensive and not guaranteed to work.

I also heard that working dogs out in the ranches east of me are getting tagged by rattlesnakes, and the ranchers do nothing about it. They simply let the dogs go through the process, and as a byproduct of this repeated biting, they suffer from neurological issues.

 

[Mauser]

My old dog Riley got bitten by a juvenile snake at my house. Only thing you received was arnica and fluids. His face swelled up then went back down. That vet said that anti-Venom for dogs are super expensive and not guaranteed to work.

I also heard that working dogs out in the ranches east of me are getting tagged by rattlesnakes, and the ranchers do nothing about it. They simply let the dogs go through the process, and as a byproduct of this repeated biting, they suffer from neurological issues.

I have known a lot of dogs to be bitten by rattlesnakes. If the antivenin isn't given immediatly it doesn't do anything but cost a lot of money. Most dogs learn the first time they are bit not to mess with snakes. Usually, like livestock they are bit in the face and their heads will swell up. As long as the swelling doesn't keep them from breathing they will usually be ok.

After a couple of bites livestock will become immune to the venom, especially horses. Their blood will actually be the antivenin.

 

[peneumbra2]

O2 bottle, tubing, cannulae and masks
traction splint
bandaging material
C-collars
chest wound dressing
sterile saline
sling
wound dressings
tape
antibiotic
ladder splints
etc. etc. etc.

And, if all else fails,
a pick and shovel...

 

[nab856]

First aid for rattlesnakes and medically important arachnids (spiders and scorpions):
https://hsc.unm.edu/poison/education/prevention/bites-stings.html .