First aid kit...necessary? If so, any recommendations?

[uberturtle]

Originally Posted by Neil

Considering that my 1st aid kit rides in a sandwich-sized zip-lock bag I'm pretty sure that if I ever happen across a fellow hiker with a femoral shaft (or neck) fx I'll just have to walk on by for want of a proper femoral fracture traction set-up.

Luckily, trauma that serious is vanishingly rare in the NE woods although we did have a trip report of a case of pelvic fx here on the forum when someone slid down very steep glare ice on Orebed Brook. It went down to -25F that night. They were evacuated the next morning.

Also on the forum was an excellent report of an avulsed patellar ligament (not often you see one of those either) coming down Seward towards Calkins. Again in winter. The guy jumped down off of a 2 foot ledge supposedly and the ligament avulsed off the Tibial tuberosity, just like that.

Sounds like that day job jargon sneaking in.......

[Neil]

Originally Posted by uberturtle

Sounds like that day job jargon sneaking in.......

Haha! Gotta keep people on their toes (and Googling).

[Crickster]

Originally Posted by pete_hickey

Yep... if you ask me, first aid training is a waist of time. I keep getting certified every three years, but nothing has ever happened. I keep telling my crews to hurt themselves because I'm trained, but they just won't..

I mean, what good is knowing how to inject stuff, stop blood loss, re-start breathing/stopped heart...... what good is it if nobody wants to mess themselves up????

Agreed. I carry all sorts of cool things in my kit (like a sterile suture kit) and never get to use them. Oh well.

I will say one other thing that hasn't been mentioned. Another good reason to carry a good FA kit (and yes, get some training) is because occasionally you need to use it on someone else, not smart enough to bring their own kit (not just yourself or someone in your group).

I was hiking into Cascade Lake a few years ago and ran into a 80 year old woman and her older brother who were hiking into that old Girl Scout camp on Cascade. I gave her all kinds of points for her tenacity, but I stayed close by on the way out just in case they needed any help. Sure enough, she took a major fall and had multiple cuts on her legs, hands and head. They had no F.A. kit and only a single bottle of water between them. So I was able to help her out, bandage her up so that she could continue her hike out.

From then on, I always pack a little extra in my kit.

[Crickster]

Originally Posted by DackerDan

I deliberately did not discuss what is needed for impalement because I would prefer the instruction comes from a formal class rather than the internet but you will find that accepted preperation for transportation for impalement as taught by respected outdoor emergency care courses and requires very little beyond what is in a good first aid kit. Likewise for a femur, the big issue is whether it requires traction and that can be done by a well trained backcountry first aid tech with equipment usually carried by many hiikers, the sam splint would make it even better. As DeSettahr has advised, take the courses, get the training and then as Pete does, refresh on a regular basis.

I just did a Wilderness F.A. Course in the Rochester area and it was quite good. The instructor set up 4 wilderness scenarios (using actors) that our teams had to deal with. Not all WFA courses do this, but it was really good practice. I would highly recommend it.

[DackerDan]

I was an instructor in the mountaineering class we did last fall. We did a scenario where a lost hiker was injured and off trail in the woods in winter conditions late in the day also suffering from mild hypothermia. We set up a search line, found the person, stabilized and warmed the patient, located a suitable site and made a makeshift shelter to protect the patient from the elements and prepare for an overnight stay. Hopefully we will run another course this fall, I enjoy them and I learn new things from the other instructors all the time, I also use it to refresh my skills. This in addition to the 3 training days for outdoor first aid and rescue I do each year helps a lot. I don't consider myself an expert but I feel confident I could help someone using accepted protocols if called upon to do so.

[JoeCedar]

Kerry, a highly experience climber and a highly-trained person in Wilderness First Aid, had an accident (broken arm) while hiking. Read the thread:

http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/s...590#post197590

Would you have been able to tend to your own injury and understand the appropriate steps to take as well as she did???

All hikers should take a course in Wilderness First Aid. This could happen to YOU.

[Blackbear]

Lots of good info here .

I also carry Benadryl . I didn't see it listed but I may have missed it . I have used many times over the years with bee stings.

I think Duck tape it the most useful thing in my pack and works way better than moleskin on preventing blisters . It makes great steri strips , and can repair just about any piece of equipment .

Don't forget the sunblock. Skin cancer is deadly and the sun on the mountains year round is strong .

[DSettahr]

Originally Posted by Blackbear

Lots of good info here .

I also carry Benadryl . I didn't see it listed but I may have missed it . I have used many times over the years with bee stings.

I think Duck tape it the most useful thing in my pack and works way better than moleskin on preventing blisters . It makes great steri strips , and can repair just about any piece of equipment .

Don't forget the sunblock. Skin cancer is deadly and the sun on the mountains year round is strong .

It's a good idea to get dye-free benadryl to carry in the woods... especially if you hike with kids/camp groups. Some people are allergic to the dye used in benadryl (ironic, I know).

You have to be careful with sun screen too... There is evidence that sun screen can cause a different type of skin cancer, rarer than that caused by over exposure to sunlight, but a much more deadly form of cancer.

[uberturtle]

Originally Posted by DSettahr

It's a good idea to get dye-free benadryl to carry in the woods... especially if you hike with kids/camp groups. Some people are allergic to the dye used in benadryl (ironic, I know).

For allergic reactions, I'd recommend Claritin. I used to carry Benadryl, but after losing 6 hours of a 24 hour ROGAINE due to a loopy/tired daughter after taking Benadryl, I switched.