Building a First Aid Kit

Fraser said:
Ah, if only some company would throw in some rattlesnake or copperhead anti-venom ........ Now that would make my kit complete!
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The most stupid thing a hiker can do, is to try taking antivenom serum outside of a hospital and without proper medical care. That stuff might kill you a lot faster than any known serpent.
 
guitardemon said:
The main thing is to keep the patient calm, try to keep the wound below their heart, and get them to an ER.
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Fine and dandy, except when you're the patient and all alone, on foot in the middle of nowhere. I bet you'll try the snake bite kit.
How come nobody mentioned alcohol swabs/pads?? To clean the bites/blisters/cuts?? I get the 100 pack since I give myself allergy shots.
 
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Can anyone here tell me if DermaBond is available over the counter?

I've tried a couple of local drugstore chains and had no luck.

I'd like to add some to my own first-aid kit.
 
Guyon said:
Can anyone here tell me if DermaBond is available over the counter?

I've tried a couple of local drugstore chains and had no luck.

I'd like to add some to my own first-aid kit.
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You should be able to get it as OTC. Paul [Site Staff] on the AR15 Forums said they have it at his Wal-Mart next to the Bandaids.
 
bltjr1951 said:
Fine and dandy, except when you're the patient and all alone, on foot in the middle of nowhere. I bet you'll try the snake bite kit.
How come nobody mentioned alcohol swabs/pads?? To clean the bites/blisters/cuts?? I get the 100 pack since I give myself allergy shots.
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Have you noticed that these kits are harder and harder to buy? they are generally condemned by everyone I have ever talked to. And...if you are in reasonable shape, you can handle a rattler bite for a few miles, you just have to stop and puke. Trust me, done it. It ain't the best idea, but I couldn't stomach tearing a chunk out of my leg...
 
Most outdoors people's first aid kits suffer from mission creep over time. You are not going to do wilderness surgery. I hike with a guy whose kit contains so many things that I tease him about having a freeze dried kidney in it. Unless you are going so far back into the boonies for a very long period of time and have a vehicle or pack animal, keep it simple and lightweight. Read "Being Your Own Wilderness Doctor" for some good advice.
 
^ true, but a well stocked FAK is so light anyways, might as well bring the extras. i'm not going to worry about a extra lb or so, even on an multi day hike.


I extra stock highly used items, such as a 10 pack of Triangular slings, 20 pack of 6" roll gauze, and 10 5" x 8" stomach pads, 5 rolls 3m transpor tape, 6" x6" gauze pads, and assorted butterfly bandages. These are the most frequently used items in my kit. (although i've recently gotten away from the roll gauze and pads, and started using Isreaili bandages instead. )
 
dougo83 said:
And...if you are in reasonable shape, you can handle a rattler bite for a few miles, you just have to stop and puke.
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On another site, talking about snake bites, a nurse said one guy was bit by a rattlesnake and his arm swelled up five times normal size. And he was close to hospital, so they saved his arm, eventuality.

Heck at one time, a four wheeler magazine talked about shocking the bite with a spark plug (while motor was running) to cure yourself.
 
bltjr1951 said:
On another site, talking about snake bites, a nurse said one guy was bit by a rattlesnake and his arm swelled up five times normal size. And he was close to hospital, so they saved his arm, eventuality.

Heck at one time, a four wheeler magazine talked about shocking the bite with a spark plug (while motor was running) to cure yourself.
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I never heard of this for snake, but for little bites, the heat of the plug breaks down venom in things like skeeter bites.
 
I don't know how widely this holds, but in my experience the most overlooked item is the burn dressing. One often sees medkits with numerous routes for sterilizing, padding and dressing wounds that could most often just be closed up with a bit of Transpore, but little attention is given to what you do if you get even just your hand a decent burn. Burns, well they burn, and one forgets just how much of a disabling bitch they can be 'till the aide-mémoire of a nice glossy new one.
 
I always start with an Adventure medical 1st aid kit and add personal touches or specifics.Stitches ,Burn gel,stop bleed,insect bite ointment , rash cream , benedryl,motrin ,chapstick etc.
 
Speaking of first aid kits. I just snagged a couple small ones by AMK from Sierra Trading Post. My big kits have been slowly depleted and my small kits are totally dried up. They are cosmetic blems and were pretty cheap.

One crucial item for my is superglue. Or the new products meant to do the same thing. My basic health insurance plan involves always having superglue on hand.
 
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