First aid kit suggestions (or experience).
GSV Three Minds in a Can
(somewhere between 'blister plasters' and the other extreme of your
basic MASH unit).
I assume most of the pre-canned packages are somewhat overpriced
compared to 'roll your own', although I guess they score on convenience?
--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
11,020 Km walked. 2,118 Km PROWs surveyed. 38.3% complete.
hyweldavies
wrote:
I'm a bit sceptical of the "must carry first aid" thing (not that
you're saying quite that to be fair). Basically, unless you've bust
your leg or similar, you can do without and just hobble down or put up
with a cut hand or whatever, or improvise an arm sling. If you have
bust your leg, then what could you realistically carry that would
help?
That said, if I was to carry one, then other than blister stuff I'd
have something like a SAM splint (a 100mm x 1m piece of foam-covered
aluminium which rolls up the size of a bean tin, and can be folded
into a splint), which could splint a leg or arm, a roll of gaffer
tape, a couple of triangular bandages, and perhaps a large wound
dressing. Bits and bobs of too-small sticky plasters are a waste of
time in my opinion.
Of course, whether I could splint my own broken leg with said sam
splint and hobble down is another thing, which is rather my point
really.
On a related matter "why-oh-why" are boxes of mixed sticky plasters
like you keep in the kitchen all size extra small? If I just nick my
finger doing some minor job I'm not going to bother with a plaster,
and if I've cut myself good and proper, I don't want to be rummaging
through looking for a useful sized plaster(. Voice of experience from
a couple of weeks ago) Bah !
So, back to the question, I never bother carrying on the hills
Hywel
That said, blister stuff's not a bad idea.
Chris Lawrence
> Just wondering what people tote around the hills by way of first aid kit
> (somewhere between 'blister plasters' and the other extreme of your basic MASH
> unit).
>
> I assume most of the pre-canned packages are somewhat overpriced compared to
> 'roll your own', although I guess they score on convenience?
I bought a small rectangular waterproof zip bag from Superdrug, and
added a few other items, in total it now contains:
o three 3.5" x 2.5" melolin dressing pads
o two small bandages rolls
o ten plasters
o small roll of surgical tape
o eight antiseptic wipes
o one strip of paracetamol tablets
o one strip of ibuprofen tablets
o one strip of antihistamine tablets
o one strip of Immodium tablets
o one strip of indigestion tablets
o 12" of tubular bandage
o small tweezers
o small scissors
o two sachets of Dioralyte
o packet of Lucozade glucose tabs
o small bottle of sterile eye drops
o small tube of Ibuprofen gel
o one pair of latex gloves
It weighs about 200g. I stick it at the bottom of my backpack and pack
water, clothing and my pole around it. I make sure the most likely
items are on the top, ie paracetamol, glucose, plasters, antiseptic
wipes. I've never needed it and the contents have twice gone out of
date and been replaced. I wouldn't like to leave it behind on a walk
though.
--
Chris
Tom Crispin
<new...@holosys.co.uk.invalid> wrote:
>On Fri, 14 Mar 2008, GSV Three Minds in a Can wrote:
>
>> Just wondering what people tote around the hills by way of first aid kit
>> (somewhere between 'blister plasters' and the other extreme of your basic MASH
>> unit).
>>
>> I assume most of the pre-canned packages are somewhat overpriced compared to
>> 'roll your own', although I guess they score on convenience?
>
>I bought a small rectangular waterproof zip bag from Superdrug, and
>added a few other items, in total it now contains:
>
>o three 3.5" x 2.5" melolin dressing pads
>o two small bandages rolls
>o ten plasters
>o small roll of surgical tape
>o eight antiseptic wipes
I do a lot of work with children - both walking and cycling.
Antiseptic wipes are the most used items in my kit. Strip plaster is
also useful (but you'll need scissors), as is plenty of toilet paper.
Also used has been tweezers, a dressing pad and, of course, compeed.
Roger
from GSV Three Minds in a Can <G...@quik.clara.co.uk> contains these words:
> Just wondering what people tote around the hills by way of first aid kit
> (somewhere between 'blister plasters' and the other extreme of your
> basic MASH unit).
Just for the record your extremes are not extreme enough. I don't carry
any first aid kit.
--
Roger Chapman
Nearest Marilyn still to be visited - Great Orme.
89 miles as the crow flies,
considerably more as the walker drives.
GSV Three Minds in a Can
wonderful person Roger <ro...@nospam.zetnet.co.uk> said
>The message <lxcJ+WCd...@from.is.invalid>
>from GSV Three Minds in a Can <G...@quik.clara.co.uk> contains these words:
>
>> Just wondering what people tote around the hills by way of first aid kit
>> (somewhere between 'blister plasters' and the other extreme of your
>> basic MASH unit).
>
>Just for the record your extremes are not extreme enough. I don't carry
>any first aid kit.
Hmm, I wouldn't go on a long walk without a couple of Compeed, just in
case. So far I've skipped the rest, but I could have used plasters or
bandages on a couple of occasions (barbed wire fence and knee-surfing on
asphalt). Did have to resort to safety pins (which I now carry) when my
trousers split up the inside leg seam.
However I'm usually only 3-4 hours from car, or home, and even closer to
'civilization' (i.e. a farm).
--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Simon Challands
ups.com>
hyweldavies <hywel...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
> On a related matter "why-oh-why" are boxes of mixed sticky plasters
> like you keep in the kitchen all size extra small? If I just nick my
> finger doing some minor job I'm not going to bother with a plaster,
> and if I've cut myself good and proper, I don't want to be rummaging
> through looking for a useful sized plaster(. Voice of experience from
> a couple of weeks ago) Bah !
Funny, you must buy them from a different place to me. I only ever
seem to have massive ones that seem designed for the type of injury
that would require hospital (on reflection, I suppose they are there
for largish grazes, not cuts).
> So, back to the question, I never bother carrying on the hills
Ditto.
--
Simon Challands
mountainhunter
I've bought an 'outdoor first aid kit'
(http://www.medirite.co.uk/acatalog/Outdoors_First_Aid_Kit.html) from a
company called 'MediRite' (http://www.medirite.co.uk).
It's got a splattering of basic first aid supplies targeted at the
outdoors. Not gonna mend any broken bones, but it's easy to carry and
should help with the minor cuts and bruises!
--
mountainhunter
Christopher Loffredo
> Just wondering what people tote around the hills by way of first aid kit
> (somewhere between 'blister plasters' and the other extreme of your
> basic MASH unit).
>
> I assume most of the pre-canned packages are somewhat overpriced
> compared to 'roll your own', although I guess they score on convenience?
>
I usually carry:
1) Aspirin for headaches or aches & pains - also doubles as emergency
heart-attack treament.
2) Some more serious pain relievers in case of serious injury.
3) breathable bandage tape, good for directly closing deep cuts or as a
band-aid.
4) My meth cooking spirits or my silver-based water purifying liquid
double as disinfectant (also used for de-mildewing boots on a long & wet
Scottish walk).
5) Tweezers for throns & ticks.
6) When in viper country, I used to carry a poison suction kit, also
useful for insect bites & thorns.
For true emergencies, you can improvise bandages and splints with spare kit.
Roger
from GSV Three Minds in a Can <G...@quik.clara.co.uk> contains these words:
> >Just for the record your extremes are not extreme enough. I don't carry
> >any first aid kit.
> Hmm, I wouldn't go on a long walk without a couple of Compeed, just in
> case. So far I've skipped the rest, but I could have used plasters or
> bandages on a couple of occasions (barbed wire fence and knee-surfing on
> asphalt). Did have to resort to safety pins (which I now carry) when my
> trousers split up the inside leg seam.
> However I'm usually only 3-4 hours from car, or home, and even closer to
> 'civilization' (i.e. a farm).
It is really hard to get more than 4 hours from some form of
civilisation on a day walk in this country and not exactly easy on a
multi-day walk this side of the Highland Line. :-)
I don't usually suffer from blisters these days (touch wood since I
haven't been out for months) but blisters are an irritant rather than a
life threatening disability and minor cuts the same. Anything much more
serious I wouldn't be able to deal with anyway.
Dominic Sexton
<ro...@nospam.zetnet.co.uk> writes
>The message <lxcJ+WCd...@from.is.invalid>
>from GSV Three Minds in a Can <G...@quik.clara.co.uk> contains these words:
>
>> Just wondering what people tote around the hills by way of first aid kit
>> (somewhere between 'blister plasters' and the other extreme of your
>> basic MASH unit).
>
>Just for the record your extremes are not extreme enough. I don't carry
>any first aid kit.
I don't usually if I'm alone. If I'm with a group I usually would and if
I'm leading a group I will.
Far more important than kit is knowledge. Kit is the icing on the cake.
--
Dominic Sexton
GSV Three Minds in a Can
person Dominic Sexton <{d-sep03}@dscs.demon.co.uk> said
<snip>
>Far more important than kit is knowledge. Kit is the icing on the cake.
True to some extent .. but while bandages, for instance, can be
improvised, knowing that Aspirin is good for heart attack victims is of
little use if you don't have any. And blister plasters help a lot too.
--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Bill Grey
<G...@quik.clara.co.uk> writes
>Bitstring <3ltlnj56$62H...@nospam.demon.co.uk>, from the wonderful
>person Dominic Sexton <{d-sep03}@dscs.demon.co.uk> said
><snip>
>>Far more important than kit is knowledge. Kit is the icing on the cake.
>
>True to some extent .. but while bandages, for instance, can be
>improvised, knowing that Aspirin is good for heart attack victims is of
>little use if you don't have any. And blister plasters help a lot too.
>
Instead of Blister plasters (Compeed et al) I would carry fabric
strapping some lint and vaseline. More useful for other things than the
blister plasters.
--
Bill Grey
Bill Grey
<G...@quik.clara.co.uk> writes
>Bitstring <3ltlnj56$62H...@nospam.demon.co.uk>, from the wonderful
>person Dominic Sexton <{d-sep03}@dscs.demon.co.uk> said
><snip>
>>Far more important than kit is knowledge. Kit is the icing on the cake.
>
>True to some extent .. but while bandages, for instance, can be
>improvised, knowing that Aspirin is good for heart attack victims is of
>little use if you don't have any. And blister plasters help a lot too.
>
is suspected is very effective.
--
Bill Grey
hyweldavies
wrote:
> In message <96068574-08fb-4a54-a53b-74621b3c6...@d21g2000prf.googlegro
> ups.com>
> hyweldavies <hywelmod...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On a related matter "why-oh-why" are boxes of mixed sticky plasters
> > like you keep in the kitchen all size extra small? If I just nick my
> > finger doing some minor job I'm not going to bother with a plaster,
> > and if I've cut myself good and proper, I don't want to be rummaging
> > through looking for a useful sized plaster(. Voice of experience from
> > a couple of weeks ago) Bah !
>
> Funny, you must buy them from a different place to me. I only ever
> seem to have massive ones that seem designed for the type of injury
> that would require hospital (on reflection, I suppose they are there
> for largish grazes, not cuts).
>
You must be a bit off a softee; going to hospital for just a cut -
pah :-)
Hywel
Simon Challands
ups.com>
hyweldavies <hywel...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
I was thinking of the sort that would need stitches! I've not been to
a hospital for ages (should've been, if they'd ever followed up on my
knee problem after scanning it, but I never heard back from them and
I'm too lazy and disorganised to have chased it up).
--
Simon Challands
Peter Clinch
> Just wondering what people tote around the hills by way of first aid kit
> (somewhere between 'blister plasters' and the other extreme of your
> basic MASH unit).
As roger points out, one extreme is actually "nothing". Which I'll
sometimes go for.
> I assume most of the pre-canned packages are somewhat overpriced
> compared to 'roll your own', although I guess they score on convenience?
Not particularly more convenient, befcause you'll have to go through it
all anyway to make sure you know what's in there, that it's in good
condition and you know what it's for and you're happy about the
coverage. And if you're doing that you might as well take a few minutes
browsing the First Aid section of Boots and put something together
specifically tailored to what you want.
If you go on a firsdt aid course then you realise it's almost all about
procedures, not equipment. Practically all equipment can be improvised
in the field. One of my fellow students on a course asked our
instructor what he carried, and he replied he didn't bother as you could
improvise anything, but a roll of gaffer tape covered a lot of bases
very well and can be used for repairs on clothes as well as people.
In many years of carting first aid kits, stuff that's got used are
plasters for minor grazes etc. (comfort, not necessity), Compeed etc.
for blisters (far more important than plastering grazes as it affects
your walking) and minor painkillers mainly for headaches (again, comfort
rather than necessity). On one occasion I used dome steri trips where a
rock had hit a fellow climber between the eyes and it would have been
difficult contriving a plaster to stick, but it wouldn't have been the
end of the world had we not had anything, just a bit messier. So
executive summary is remember it's about comfort and convenience, not
saving lives or necessity.
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net p.j.c...@dundee.ac.uk http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
PeterC
> If you go on a firsdt aid course then you realise it's almost all about
> procedures, not equipment.
My last GF sometimes had a lift home in an ambulance. I asked her if she'd
be of use if there was an emergency en route. She said that she'd just keep
out of the way of the paramedics unless asked to intervene (perhaps a minor
roadside op. that the PMs couldn't do) as she was no better in most
situations without the equipment in A&E or theatre (but she could do a
tracheotomy v. quickly with stanley knife, tape and Bic pen, all of which
she always carried - not recommended for the hills, folks!).
Last June, I asked The Lass to bring 1st aid kit (she was a critical care
staff nurse); she brought less than I usually carry but did think to bring
Paracetamol as I have problems with other things.
Still, at least with some of my cycling it was comforting to have an A&E
doc. in tow! As you say, Peter, a good first-aider would have had better
techniques - Helen admitted that she was a bit lost without all the kit.
--
Peter.
You don't understand Newton's Third Law of Motion?
It's not rocket science, you know.
coastwatch
I have heard the "I take nothing, I can improvise" theory of first aid
kits on the group before, and to me it is as sensible as the outdoor
pursiits instructors who carry a rucksack full of stuff on a lowland
ramble.
By far the most important thing to carry is embedded deep in your
brain. If it comes to the crunch then if you have not learnt and
practiced basic forst aid skills then there is a good chance panic
will rob you of what you know.
Quite a lot can be improvised but as well as blister treatment and
some moleskin I would reccommend:
A few antiseptic wipes to clean any wound and perhaps clean yourself
after you have helped your oppo;
A couple of Melonil, or similar non stick and sterile dressings
(Pretty hard to improvise);
Gaffa Tape. Wind a couple of feet around a pencil stub, so you can
write down a location or other details if someone goes off for help.
Gaffa tape can be used to fix dressings, strap a sprain, hold a splint
in place..... fix your tent, jacket etc.....
A few painkillers can help a strapped up sprain, bursting headache
etc.....
a couple of antihistamines, a couple of immodium.
Strip pf old fashioned plaster in a strip, and a small folding pair of
scissors.
Small pair of tweezers
A triangular bandage, you can use this for dozens of purposes.
One of the small cards from a commercial first-aid kit with basic
'what to do' is useful and gives a bit of confidence if you forget, in
panic what to do.
None of the above will take up much space or weight, and could make a
big difference.
TTFN
Nigel
Peter Clinch
> A few antiseptic wipes to clean any wound and perhaps clean yourself
> after you have helped your oppo;
> A couple of Melonil, or similar non stick and sterile dressings
> (Pretty hard to improvise);
The trick is it's /first/ aid: enough to keep things going until you can
get to proper care. You'll have clean water and spare clothes
available, which will be enough to clean a wound and plug it and stop
more crunge getting in it.
> Gaffa Tape. Wind a couple of feet around a pencil stub, so you can
> write down a location or other details if someone goes off for help.
> Gaffa tape can be used to fix dressings, strap a sprain, hold a splint
> in place..... fix your tent, jacket etc.....
<old joke> Why is gaffa tape like The Force? It has a light side and a
dark side and it holds the universe together! </old joke>
Incredibly useful stuff and worth having some along,
> A triangular bandage, you can use this for dozens of purposes.
This is the one "normal" first aiders are very keen on, and the one
which MRT 1st Aid instructors are, IME at least, most dismissive of. It
may have "dozens of purposes", but it's also the easiest thing to improvise.
> None of the above will take up much space or weight, and could make a
> big difference.
Why I tend to carry them, or something like them, and a bit more too.
But there is no end to the amount of /potentially/ useful small things
you can carry Just In Case, and it eventually amounts to tangible weight
and bulk, and the cold facts of the matter are folk routinely don't
bother with anything and it doesn't cause them particular problems, in
which case it's hardly ridiculous to go about your business as you
always have without one.