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??)
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??)