Safety and First-Aid Contest - WINNER DECLARED

Guyon

Guyon

Biscuit Whisperer
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That's right. A safety contest. I've seen a few too many cuts and stitches in this forum lately.
So I'm giving away an REI daypack first-aid kit and a book about outdoors first-aid. Both are brand new.

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So here's the contest. Rules are as follows:

1. Post in this thread a tip about safe knife handling OR about backwoods first-aid. The tips ought to be sound principles.

2. In the spirit of knowledge building, you cannot repeat a tip, or you'll be disqualified. You have to add something new to the list. The idea here is that we all learn, and this rule means you actually will have to read the other posts before you make your own.

3. Who can play? Anyone who is either (a) a Beckerhead OR (b) a member of the Fans of Becker Knives group OR (c) a member of the Fans of Ka-Bar Knives group. Any one affiliation qualifies you. The links in my signature take you to the two fan groups. Both have open admission.

4. In your post, please include your tip, and sign the post with your qualifying affiliation (Beckerhead or appropriate fan group).

5. One post only per person. NO CHATTING. I started a separate discussion thread here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/873446-Safety-and-First-Aid-Contest-Discussion

6. The contest will run until we collect a good assortment of tips and information. Winner will then be chosen by random number generator based on post #.


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Don't cut towards yourself? lol

Treat the edge of your knife like a firearm muzzle, dont point it toward anything you dont want cut.
Beckerhead #29
 
Tabocco is an antiseptic and a pain killer when applied externally. get it wet and apply to a small wound, bug bite, or even a bee sting.
Beckerhead #127
 
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Hugh stole my tip while I was typing :), so I'll add that superglue and electrical tape are rudimentary but effective wilderness bloodstoppers. They aren't pretty, but pretty doesn't matter when you are exsanguinating. :thumbup:

Thanks for the giveaway. Member of the Fans of Ka-Bar Knives Group.
 
Carry a small bottle of brush on super glue in your first aid kit.
Besides the obvious non first aid uses.
It can be used to close a deep cut, or to seal a small wound, also works to secure other forms of protection like an improvised bandage.

Silverthorn
Beckerhead #128

I guess since noodle and I came in with super glue at 7:59
I will say, a sharp knife rarely cuts its user, a dull knife is most often the cause of a bad cut, as a result of the force needed to make a cut with it.
 
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A guy I know worked in south africa as a "bush doctor", and one day a woman came in who had been bitten by a snake. The venom was doing its devastating work in her leg, and she was in great pain and fear. When he told her that he didn't have any serum for that particular snakebite, she went crazy. He was afraid that she might break her spine, because her back muscles were cramping up in her panic and her whole body was bending and twisting like crazy. He was screaming at her to calm down, but she was so much in shock and panic that she didn't even hear him. When he was starting to believe that he wouldn't be able to save her, his wife came in, shouting "I found one, I found one! We had one left!" He immediately injected the contents of the syringe into her leg, and she immediately relaxed. In the end, she lost her lower thigh, but she survived. The fear and shock would have killed her. And she just started laughing when he told her that his wife had brought him was just isotonic saline solution.

Never underestimate the power of your mind, and of placebos!
 
If needed, a tampon or sanitary pad is an excellent way to stop significant bleeding. All first aid kits should have one or two.
 
A knife is only as safe as the user and his or her abilities and safety awareness. This goes hand in hand with the theory that a dull knife can be more dangerous than a razor sharp blade. Start the breathing, stop the bleeding, protect the wound treat for shock.

Avoid polar bear liver, it's too rich in vitamin A. It can kill you. Especially if the polar bear is still alive, they can kill you too. Wolves avoid them also, the overdose in vitamin A can cause their hair to fall out and they'll freeze to death. A wolf told me this.... also, don't drink with wolves, I think they lie.:D

An SAR friend of mine told me something you can do is leave a photo of your bootprint in your vehicle or step on a sheet of paper with a muddy boot. This way if you go missing SAR has something to go off of when tracking, especially if it's a decently busy area.


Murphnuge-BH#109
 
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Gloves are a great way to avoid splinters and thorns, and can help you keep from burning yourself picking up a hot cook pot off the fire. Little things like that can add up, and combined they can drain morale pretty quick.
 
Before handling a knife, you should read all the posts before, and after this one. ;) :thumbup:

B.H. 81
 
If you drop your knife, let it fall.
Don’t attempt to catch it. Never run with a knife.
Don’t throw a knife to anyone.
Hand it to them, handle first.
Never point a knife at anyone.
Do not use a locking blade if the lock will not lock open.
Make sure the lock is working before using it.
Keep your knife folded or sheathed when carrying or storing.
Use a sharpening stone.
Use the right tool for the job.
Don’t use a knife for prying. It can cause the tip to break, possibly causing injury.
Use in a well-lit area, so you can see what you’re doing.
Do not use a knife on “live” electrical items like appliances.
Keep your knife clean, particularly the locking mechanism.
Keep your knife oiled and sharp.
A sharp knife is safer than a dull one.
Don’t try fixing a knife yourself.
If you get cut, seek first-aid immediately.
 
I'm gonna go out on a limb here;

Always carry some kind of first aid kit with you. :thumbup::thumbup:

I carry a small kit that includes; pain killers, bandaids, alcohol wipes, burn gel, steri strips (in case I do cut myself somehow), and a small assortment of other supplies. The list can go on for a while. :D


Thanks Guyon!!

BH 51 :D
 
tip:

know your follow through, this include glancing.

in your mind's eye, visualize what will happen if you fast moving, high speed edged tool does ANY (or more) of the following:

o stops dead

o goes completely through

o glances

o breaks/shatters

o gets stuck, then tears loose...

o flying free like a demon bat

always be in control of the path your tool. you don't want your hand to be sliding up an edge, or have the blade break and flip around and cut off your thumb, or slide through and then due to momentum, continues into your leg, foot, arm, back, or head OR WORSE, someone next to you. yeah, that would suck.

glancing. a special word on this. people just don't consider this, but when it happens to YOU, you'll sit down hopefully, without injury, and think about it. what goes in, goes out. there are times when you are swinging something hard, and relying on momentum and speed to have it carry through, and that blade decides to curve in, arc, and curve out, in a path that is usually bad for YOU or anyone near you. if you're lucky, the only thing that will happen is the instrument will twist in you hands like a wild thing and you're done. worst, is when that momentum carries it around into your body, or clear out of your hand, and into something you did not wish to destroy.

there's a book "the axe book" in fact, which describes this. there's also over in the HI Forum, a safety thread. everyone here, should read that. when dealing with blade of mass, chopping and swinging, you really have to be aware of the bad things that can (and do) happen.

towards that end, having some basic supplies nearby is helpful. first aid, phone, water... don't chop stuff when tired and dehydrated. stop. you're asking for a nice visit to a reconstruction specialist :)

a good friend of mine, experienced blacksmith, expert at use of knife and axe, well, he darn near cut his foot off a while back. he was tired. too tired to notice. he had safety gear on, including steel toed boots, apron, and gloves, and still managed the feat. do not do this.

my promise still stands of chastising people who injure themselves due to being stupid :) i'm equal opportunity that way. so, fear the chastisement. think about what you are doing. i'd like to see the rest of the Summer and Fall season go by without another ER visit :> okay? okay :>
 
BH#58 and I don't need another first aid kit - but check out some youtube videos on wood carving with a knife. Given proper technique, there are several knife grips which make it very hard to cut yourself - as the blade is always controlled and range of motion is limited. Moose has some videos along this line. This allows you to make vers looky strong and accurate cuts, even towards yourself - with minimal risk.

Always bear in mind where the follow through of a cutting stroke is going to end - your thigh, weak hand, etc.

Talk to a chef about knife skills - as a former chef, we know more about cuts, burns and scalds than anyone.
 
i worked in emergency room as a hca,not interested in the prize, most common mistakes seen,wrap compression bandages towards the heart,sprains apply cold but only for 15 minutes on ,15 minutes off these are the right way
 
Your sheath doesn't necessarily make your knife safe. If you are finishing that last knot on your EsKabar, etc. and you haven't taped your blade, sheathed or not, you can still get cut. Trust me on this one.

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Beckerhead #42
 
Don't lay your knife down on the bench or table you're working on, thinking you'll pick it back up when you need it. Put it back in the sheath.
 
pine needle tea is high in vitamin c and a natural expectorant - use fresh needles and steep them in just below boiling temp water for about 20 minutes.
and the always popular rule of 3's - you can survive 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food.
 
If you blue worm yourself (cut into your guts) you gotta wrap it and keep it wet, piss is good for this.
BH # 22
 
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