ultra light first aid

Just to inject another thought to this topic -

How you pack the medkit you carry can make a big difference. I've done some multi-day kayak trips recently, and I put together a kit inside a 1 liter dry sack similar to the kit shown here. Having it in a dry bag not only keeps it nice and dry, but I made sure that the bag I used was colored differently than my other gear so it was unmistakeable. That same dry bag will go with me whether backpacking, kayaking, dayhiking, or whatever.

Like I said, my kit is not dissimilar from the one shown in the link, but I used smaller packages of medications (single use doses where possible, instead of whole pill bottles). I did include a package of Quick-Clot, though.
 
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Interesting comments on using the glue on larger cuts. Thankyou.
Snake bites ... this one I personally cannot really streamline the kit for. The largest first aid kit component I have is a long elasticised bandage for a snake bite pressure bandage. I cannot think of a smaller replacement. If there is one first aid kit component I make sure is always in my pocket when out fighting bush fires is the bandage (and paracetamol due to not being allowed to administer to anyone else). The bandage can be a very useful component.
 
You superglue nuts drive me crazy. If you don't know a decent microbiology and emergency medicine (which probably as a minimum means you know that squirting some water in it isn't enough) then you have no business closing wounds using any method. Allowing the exudate to flow from the wound, applying topic antibiotic creams, and changing the bandages in infinitely preferable in most emergency situations.
 
This is my biggest headache..right now I have full blown IV drips all the way down to a small overloaded FAK with antiseptic Qtips....I can never get it right and I am paranoid about not having first aid with me..I get this from my Army days..you should have this stuff almost more than anything else..you can get by day to day with basically nothing if you have the training...but if you are injured..you NEED your FAK!
I will be interested in seeing how others deal with this. Gene
 
today my ultralight first aid kit came in handy...

i ran a 5K barefoot this morning, and somehow managed to trip and scrape both of my big toes on the pavement ripping them up. i haven't worn running shoes in 6 weeks and this has never happened before, but on raceday of course everything goes wrong...;)

but once i hit the finish line i grabbed my krazy glue and poured it on. problem solved. they both still hurt a little but they aren't bleeding and they don't feel too bad.
 
My FAK has probably been posted before, but I will do it again just the sake of more ideas:
I went ahead and posted my line of thinking that each item addressed.


Band-aids, I just bought the value pack with various sizes and threw half in my pack and half in the truck, inside 2 zip-locs. [The uses are obvious]

Neosporin [nothing sucks worse for me than an infection ruining a trip]

Surgical tape, electrical tape, small 'roll' of duct tape [they serve as bandages, holding stuff in place, totally irreplaceable]

Bic lighter[ I always heat sanitize knives and such before using on me]

Tweezers[splinters are pretty annoying]

Scissors and SAK [these two get pretty much all the work done]

Bandanna [sling, splint, compress wrap, etc]

Iodine tablets [purification]

5' rope[also for binding splints, etc]

Chewing gum[just because]

Salt packets from Sonic[helps with dehydration]

Propel mix[same as above]

Film canister with Tylenol/any prescription stuff[duh]

BC Powder[I get pretty bad headaches and this stuff works fast]

Flashlight[duh again]

ACE Bandage[pretty handy as a sling, brace, even tourniquet]

OFF[duh]

New-Skin or SuperGlue[makeshift bandage. Much more durable I my experience than band-aids

Purrell[I never work on somebody's cuts with dirty hands]

After Burn [sunburn can ruin a hike]

Chap-Stick[for small cuts it can keep the air out and the irritation down. Also works on minor burns, but isn't recommended]
 
gunknifenut said:
This is my biggest headache..right now I have full blown IV drips all the way down to a small overloaded FAK with antiseptic Qtips....I can never get it right and I am paranoid about not having first aid with me..I get this from my Army days..you should have this stuff almost more than anything else..you can get by day to day with basically nothing if you have the training...but if you are injured..you NEED your FAK!
I will be interested in seeing how others deal with this. Gene
Click to expand...

Ahh, yes, you must always have your FAK or you will be FAK-ED :D.
 
There's NuSkin (and another one) that are similar to SuperGlue, but are specifically for minor scrapes and nicks. It's very useful stuff. The seal holds up much better than a cotton bandage would under wet or dirty conditions. You still have to wash out the wound, of course, but the layer of glue holds it together and seals out the crud.
 
nemoaz said:
You superglue nuts drive me crazy. If you don't know a decent microbiology and emergency medicine (which probably as a minimum means you know that squirting some water in it isn't enough) then you have no business closing wounds using any method. Allowing the exudate to flow from the wound, applying topic antibiotic creams, and changing the bandages in infinitely preferable in most emergency situations.
Click to expand...

It has been my experience in the woods that a few days with minor crap in a cut with some superglue on it is not going to be fatal**. Our body is capable of destroying quite a bit of the infectious material that a cut would have anyway. Also, as far as irrigating a cut with water, I alternate with multiple syringes between water and good old fashioned rubbing alcohol. So far I have had no ill or adverse effects related to this method.





**DISCLAIMER: NONE OF THIS STATEMENT IS MEANT TO CONSTITUTE ACTUAL MEDICAL ADVICE. NOWHERE DOES THE POSTER IMPLY THAT HE IS A MEDICAL AUTHORITY. DO NOT USE THIS METHOD IF YOU FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. POSTER ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU DOING EXACTLY AS HE DOES.
 
Oh, and I agree about the body taking care of itself for minor cuts and scrapes. I never would've gotten through childhood if it didn't.
 
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