Planning a wilderness medical kit.

[Wayland]

Most of us carry ( I hope ) a basic first aid kit of some kind, with the emphasis usually being on self help until proper medical aid can be sought.

But what kind of additions would you make to a kit for wilderness use when injury or illness could render you unable to get to or summon such aid?

For use in some parts of the World some basic medicines are a good idea even if you do see a doctor and a sterile pack such as the lifesystems one too.

A dental repair kit is a must. Having once been stuck miles from anywhere with a dental abscess forming, I would have sold my soul for some decent pain killers and antibiotics.

But what ideas do you have for such a kit?

 

[capacious]

Personally, I don't carry what I don't know how to use.

I did used to carry a full kit, with everything from sterile needles to dental equipment, and whilst gazing whistfully into the fire, I realised I didn't have the faintest idea of how to use them. .

Now all I take is some plasters, sterilising spray, sterile wound dressing and plenty of painkillers. All the rest is excess baggage, and a waste of money unless you know how to use it properly, and whats more, how to self administer it.

Jake.

 

[Celt_Ginger]

If you can get your hands on them, Broad spectrum Antibiotics are a God send. If you go to your GP and ask them if they will issue you with a private perscription (I think about 6 to 10 pounds) they MAY decide to issue you with a perscription (you still will have to pay the normal perscription fee at the chemist) Some doctors will be funny about issueing you with antibiotics if you are well, but it's worth asking.

 

[JohnC]

You could pm "Doc" on the forum for advice on what is prescribable for "having on hand".

 

[British Red]

Most of us carry ( I hope ) a basic first aid kit of some kind, with the emphasis usually being on self help until proper medical aid can be sought.

But what kind of additions would you make to a kit for wilderness use when injury or illness could render you unable to get to or summon such aid?

For use in some parts of the World some basic medicines are a good idea even if you do see a doctor and a sterile pack such as the lifesystems one too.

A dental repair kit is a must. Having once been stuck miles from anywhere with a dental abscess forming, I would have sold my soul for some decent pain killers and antibiotics.

But what ideas do you have for such a kit?

Wayland,

It is a personal thing I agree with the others posting, but since you asked - here's mine - its more of a group kit than aan entirely personal one, but since its ready, I generally just chuck it in (it doesn't weigh much):

First Aid Kit

The first aid kit consists of a large ziplock bag containing

1 pair EMT shears
2 N95 masks
1 bandage pack (in medium ziplock)
1 tube hand steriliser
1 insect repellent pump (50% DEET – accept no substitute)
1 ready to go disinfectant pump
1 sundries pack (in medium ziplock)
1 cuts and grazes pack (in medium ziplock)
1 meds pack (in medium ziplock)

First Aid Kit – bandage pack
1 Shell dressing
2 extra large wound dressings
4 medium wound dressings
1 no. 9 ambulance dressing
1 triangular bandage
1 7.5cm stretch bandage
1 5cm x 5m open weave bandage
1 finger dressing
2 small dressings
10 assorted safety pins

First Aid Kit – cuts and grazes pack
25g Potassium Permanganate (used to make more disinfectant, sterilise water or as chemical fire starter)
17ml Iodine solution (disinfectant or water purification – not to be used as water purification with pregnant women or thyroid conditions)
20g Anthisan bite and sting cream
6 pairs latex gloves
50 assorted plasters including knuckle, large strip etc.
Blister kit including heel plasters, moleskin etc.
Small ziplock of cotton buds
13ml bottle of new skin (great for small burns, grazes and blisters)
23g of “stop bleed” spray

This may seem over the top, but the intention is to stop small problems becoming large ones. Infected cuts, blisters and bergan rubs were what I most had to look out for on extended trips.

First Aid Kit – sundries pack

1 10cm x 10cm Melolin Dressing Pad
2 5cm x 5cm Melolin Dressing Pads
2 antiseptic wipes
2 sets of steristrips and clear adhesive covering
1 pair latex gloves
1 Turniclip tourniquet
1 scalpel and 5 sterile blades
1 thermometer
1 pair forceps
2 ampoules saline solution (for washing objects from eyes)
1 roll 5m micropore tape
1 tube superglue (used to glue wound closed)
1 3/0 sterile non-absorbable suture kit
2 4/0 sterile non-absorbable suture kit
1 5/0 sterile non-absorbable suture kit
2 3/0 absorbable chromic gut sutures
1 emergency dental filling


First Aid Kit – medicines pack
6 Immodium tablets (stops diarrhoea)
10 co-codamol tablets (severe painkiller)
6 aspirin tablets (painkiller and heart problems)
12 caffeine tablets (stimulant to keep you awake)
8 cinnarizine tablets (anti-nausea)
8 phenylephrine tablets (decongestant)
12 ibruprofen tablets (painkiller and anti-inflammatory)
7 antihistamine tablets (bites / stings and hayfever)
6 laxative tablets
6 strepsil tablets (sore throats)
12 rennie tablets (indigestion)
15 broad spectrum antibiotics

Each medicine is in a separate ziplock bag. The bag carries the name of the medicine, its purpose and recommended dosage.

This is a large pack, but other family members can then just carry a small personal kit

Hope it gives you some ideas

Red

 

[Spacemonkey]

I carry the usual strips of plasters, and butterfly suture for the bigger stuff, and superglue for the rest. Superglue is an invaluable tool for sticking skin, nails, and kit. I usually carry a few small self tapping countersunk screws with mine as an impromptu puncture repair kit, and it works really well. Coat the screw with superglue, then screw into the hole. I have only used it so far on holes that have been caused by nails, screws etc but it really does work til you can replace/repair the tyre properly. Just keep the speeds down...

 

[Wayne]

As first aiders in this country you can not medicate. Some people every year get arrested for playing dr.

Good training and safe practice is better than caring the most expensive kits. Please dont buy the life systems kits they are hugely expensive and the contents can be sourced much less expensively. I teach first aid and epedition first aid. I carry a simple kit depending on the circumtances and size of the group. I have spent a lot of time being trained and am under no illusions to what i can acheive.

Waylander wasnt suggesting carrying a shed load of kit here though.

For a foreign adventure i would add an epi pen a sterile set including a giving set. I alwaty carry a couple of Sam Splints.

If anyone wants any advice on what to carry the scottish NHS web site has great info

You an also pm me and i will try to help.

 

[bloodline]

I carry a pack of tissues, a piece of string, a roll of insulating tape, a tube of Germolene and if its more than a day trip a pack of Paracetamol

 

[bogflogger]

In response to the post by Capacious above, the obvious answer is to go and get some first aid training then!
Hoping "it won't happen" or that "someone else will know how to do it" out in the sticks is crazy!
As far as using perscription drugs, you can ONLY perscribe for YOURSELF, unless you are a doctor or a fully qualified paramedic. Ignoring this will get you arrested and charged.
As has already been said, there is no point having a full size expedition kit with cannulas, airways, etc, unless you know how to use them. Stick to the basics and get the casualty to proper qualified medical help as soon as possible.

 

[Doc]

Often antibiotics are included in expedition medical kits - mainly for overseas use.

One problem is that the situation is a bit more complicated than "any infection=broad spectrum antibiotic".

Antibiotics can be harmful (allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, accidental pregnancy in women on the combined oral contraceptive pill, antibiotic-induced diarrhoea....)

Also you would probably need more than one. Empirical treatment of diarrhoea is usually done with ciprofloxacin, unless you are in an area with a lot of cipro resistance, in which case you might use azithromycin. But if the sufferer actually has giardia diarrhoea then neither of these will work and you need to use metronidazole. And if you are going to use metronidazole then you also need to avoid alcohol completely as metronidazole interacts with alcohol, sometimes spectacularly......

GPs are not allowed to issue 'just in case' prescriptions for use abroad on the NHS.

Having said all that there are occasions (such as the dental abscess when days from help) where carrying antibiotics in the kit might be appropriate, if you have had some advice on which to use and when. My indemnity insurance does not cover me for practice on the internet, but I would be happy to discuss face-to-face at the Scottish meets. Where appropriate I can issue a private prescription.

 

[Porcupine]

Doc,


im somewhat curious what you bring out as FAK/medikit when going out for a week?

in answer to the original question,i have a small kit containing:

2 small gauze swabs 5x5 cm / 2x2 inch
2 medium gauze swabs 10x10 cm / 4x4 inch
1 elastic gauze bandage 6cmx4m / 2,5 inch x 4 yard
1 wad of cotton wool
1 roll of synthetic cotton wool 10cmx3m / 4inchx3 yard
1 elastic bandage 6cmx5m / 2inchx5 yard
1 first aid dressing 12x12 cm / 4,5x4,5 inch
1 pair of gloves

in my other pack i have
a few needles (blisters and splinter care)
some plasters (most used item)
alcohol swabs (1 left,gotta buy a few again)
a small pair of scissors
1 strip of paracetamol (painkiller and lowers fever,doesnt thin your blood)
1 strip of ibuprofen (painkiller and mild muscle relaxation,reduces swelling a bit)
a few safety-pins (just needle a sleeve to the jacket at the desired angle)

i wanted to buy a few more first aid dressings but somehow managed to not do that,if you buy those try and get the metaline ones since they dont get stuck to burn injuries.(guess what im gonna buy tomorrow)






also i agree to one of the earlier posters,dont take what you are unfamilar with


Porc.

 

[Martyn]

In the UK all you need are some plasters a bloodstopper or two a couple of paracetamol and most importantly a small GPS and a cellphone.

For trips abroad, you medical kit will depend on where you are going, how long you are going, how many in your party, the terrain and environment you will encounter, known pathogens of the area and the activities you will be undertaking and the medical skills of your party members. It's pretty pointless trying to put together a full expedition medical kit without knowing where the expedition is going, or for how long, how many etc.

 

[Doc]

There is much in what Martin says. Although cellphones will not work in much of the Highlands.


I carry a standard off the shelf commercial kit (a 15 year old Lifesystems) although it's a bit modified.

I add:

Non-sedating antihistamine (I get hay fever)
Forceps (for removing foreign bodies)
A big dressing (either a triangular bandage or a military FFD - really something that can be used to improvise slings, secure splints, or hold a dressing over a penetrating wound)
Wound cleansing sachets (usually omitted from commercial kits on the assumption you will be near a tap)
Steristrips (excellent for closing incised wounds. You have to be comfortable about excluding neurovascular or tendon injury before using.)
Tissue adhesive (same applies)
Venflon (actually for needle thoracocentesis rather than iv fluids)

If I was going really off the beaten track abroad, or looking after other people, I would add a load of other stuff. In the car I have a Sandpiper bag http://www.basics-scotland.org.uk/sandpiper.asp
but this weighs as much as a whole weeks outfit. :yikes:

I can only emphasise what others have said, that the best advice is to get some training. First Aid is not intuitive. If you see a casualty with a bone protruding from a gory leg wound your attention will naturally focus on the obvious wound, whereas your first priorities should be safety of the scene and then the airway.

 

[Porcupine]

forgot one small item,i always bring a tick removal thingy


Porc.

 

[Wayne]

When travelling leading a group abroad you have a different duty of care.


In the Uk you shouldn't be considering carrying med kits including drugs. Even an epi pen cannot be administered by anyone that is not a medical professional

When travelling to the great outdoors abroad it is prudent to carry a sat phone and be signed up to a company like CEGA that offers a number of specialist doctors that can talk you through any medical emergenices and liase with the local medical teams.

As Doc has already stated you have to be careful when using even simple medications. there are reasons Doctors training takes 7 yrs.

Proper planning and a decent level of training is a must.

 

[SleepyWeasel]

I usualy carry a small bottle of Betadine in my first aid kit, this is a good wound disinfectant and you can use it to purify water. As with any Iodine based substance don't use it if you're pregnant or with a thyroid condition. I certantly helped me to keep my nail when I bashed it between my axe handle and a peice of wood, stings a bit when applied tho'

 

[richardw]

I carry the usual strips of plasters, and butterfly suture for the bigger stuff, and superglue for the rest. Superglue is an invaluable tool for sticking skin, nails, and kit. I usually carry a few small self tapping countersunk screws with mine as an impromptu puncture repair kit, and it works really well. Coat the screw with superglue, then screw into the hole. I have only used it so far on holes that have been caused by nails, screws etc but it really does work til you can replace/repair the tyre properly. Just keep the speeds down...

SpaceMonkey - this sounds interesting.

Does the edge of the countersunk head not dig into the rest of the tube? Do you have to coat the underside of the head as well as the thread? Can you pump back up to normal off road pressure or do you have to run with slightly flat tyres?

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Wayland]

Thanks for all that, some useful ideas there.

It's funny how things work out isn't it.

I was camped up in the Lakes the other day after canoeing with Jimh and I met another chap called Jim that had published a wilderness first aid manual.

He said he'd send me a copy for me to see and I've just posted a review .

I must say I was very impressed. I'll bring it to the meets for anyone that wants a look.

 

[RockyMtMan]

hydrogen peroxide will disinfect wounds even in your mouth and ears...
cotton cloth can be boiled to sterilize and used as any size dressing..
duct tape will keep almost any wound closed over the dressing..Benadryl (antihistimine) and Ibuprofen are good ideas too.

 

[Phil562]

Proper planning and a decent level of training is a must.

Waynes point is spot on.

How many people have purchased an off the shelf kit and yet would not really have an idea how to use it. Yes they may have read an article or two or maybe a book but have no experience/practical training.

Or theres those amongst us who do not carry any medical kits but trek off into the woods/hills, a cell phone is not the be all and end all.

So what am I saying, get some practical training, preferably with a bushcraft/outdoor slant. Then carry a medical kit all the time especially when you are armed with any sharps.

Right I'll get off my high horse and get my coat