Sportsman’s first aid kit is no laughing matter
By Dave Bates
For the Observer-Reporter
In the back of my truck lives an innocuous looking bag. It is roughly 12 x 18 and nine inches thick. With it, I am prepared for many minor emergencies. There is a little bit of everything and not a whole lot of any one thing (except bandaids, that is.) Some have laughed aloud at my comprehensive first aid kit. I would bet a dime to a doughnut that they are the sorts that have never had need for such while in a desperate way.
With the bag, I have attended to burns, lacerations, abrasions, contusions, twists and sprains of various types, splinters, gouges and stoves. There are even trauma bandages with which I hope never to attend to a gunshot wound.
Countless headaches, backaches and toothaches have been remedied with my magic bag. Every time I think I’ve arrived at the brink of perfection, some genius shows up on scene and makes me realize that there is yet another element missing from my bag of tricks. I am most thankful for their contributions for it is the unforeseen circumstance that will vex us when the day arrives, and rest assured it is indeed coming. Murphy’s Law is still at work. I nearly had to deliver the baby of a former student one midnight shift long ago. She was as grateful, maybe moreso, than I was when her mom, a registered nurse, arrived on scene and happily stated, “It’s O.K. Coach, I’ve got it from here.” I have never been happier to have been pinch-hit for. The old police academy adage, A, B, C … comes to mind: ambulance before cruiser. But I digress.
While I claim to be no great storehouse of medical knowledge, I have found the first aid kit to be a life saver from time to time. For the sportsman, enjoying time outdoors, what can be considered essential to the kit during hunting, fishing, boating, shooting, hiking, and biking etc. activities? First off, I’d say medical training, including CPR will go a long way in helping to deal with those unfortunate encounters with the injured, wounded and infirmed. My “go to” trainer in this case is a young woman with whom I teach, Becky Reed. I have taken multiple classes with her including CPR, basic first aid, Stop the Bleed, as well as Narcan training. Becky is an EMT and the instructor for our school’s emergency medicine program. She has been a first responder with ambulance crews across our area. It is for this reason that I reach out to Becky as a source of layman’s medical knowledge.
Recently, we got into a conversation about different levels of first aid kits. Her knowledge and experience has led her to look at varying tiers of kits. For the average Joe, who is using basic goods from around the house to tend to the most generic types of emergencies, Becky mentioned several items, many of which I had not considered.
Some of the Level I goodies:
Baby aspirin – 324 mg (4 tablets) is given to those individuals who may be experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. For the old guy, climbing a hill and exhibiting the classic heart attack signs, this is standard operating procedure. It won’t hurt but it can definitely save a life.
Cold packs – for reducing swelling as well as lowering body temperature when overheated.
Heat packs – for treating hypothermia by raising body temperature.
Bandaids, gauze pads, 4″x4″ bandages, athletic tape –
for treating most general minor cut/scrape bleeding occasions.
Feminine protection – nothing absorbs blood better for pennies on the dollar like a good old fashioned maxi pad. They come in their own, individual packaging and this keeps them sanitary until ready for use.
Wool blanket – always good to have on hand for keeping victims covered and warm.
Tylenol/Ibuprofen – for treating minor aches and pains.
Antihistamine – for treating pain and itching, the result of insect bites, minor cuts and burns, poison, allergies, etc.
ACE compression bandage – holds dressings in place, supports sprained joints and limbs and many other uses.
Dry wool socks – goes a long way to relieving cold, wet, itchy feet, relief and prevention of athlete’s foot.
Super glue – for closing a cut, especially on the fingers that just won’t quit bleeding.
Bath towels – keep them in a clean plastic bag for adding direct pressure to a bleeding wound.
Flashlight – for obvious reasons.
Duct tape – for anything that athletic tape can’t handle.
Level II items are more advanced or specialized. They aren’t always lying around the house but may be worth purchasing on the Internet for a few bucks.
These are some Level II items on my list:
Trauma shears – Any type of scissors are better than nothing, but for cutting through clothing, dressings, cord, rope, or whatever needs cutting, trauma shears work best.
Tourniquet – nothing like one when it hits the fan.
Quick clot – coagulation powder or saturated trauma dressing that is better for stopping bleeding, especially on more serious wounds.
Naloxone (opioid antagonist) – for overdose cases. I am seeing this more frequently as it has become available over the counter.
It is my hope that you’ll never need most of these items, but as we say in the law enforcement circles, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”
Thanks to Becky May for her expertise in such matters. Stay safe.
Dave Bates writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.com