First aid kit

J

James H

Moderator
What do you carry in your first aid kits when you're out hunting? I realize I could search for this and find good suggestions, but TFL seems like a good up-to-date place to find things out. I know this isn't exactly about guns, either, but the only time I can see this being an issue in my present life is when I'm out hunting and carrying a gun.

I realize that this depends on how long you're out and where you're going, but I just went through the first aid ziplock in my upland hunting vest. Granted, when I'm out after birds, I never spend the night, so I'm always probably within at least 3 miles of my truck. But it seems kinda lacking.

I tend to carry first aid kits in a ziplock with a bunch of different 'one-use' packets of burn ointment, electrolyte tabs, aspirin, various types of smaller bandages and tape, various sizes of safety pins, antihistamine packet, some more thin athletic tape on a cardboard tube that looks too dirty for me to use now...I'm looking at my kit that has been in my upland vest for a couple of years.
 
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Thanks for the link.

I think I have the scissors covered with my knife, not sure what the pill bottles are for, I never had to carry gloves for gutting an animal and anyone that I've hunted with so far I'm not scared to get my un-gloved hands full of their blood if it actually came to that desperate of a situation...(that's my opinion...I like to get my hands dirty)...

The instant heat or ice packs seem like a good idea if anyone sprains/strains something. I never thought of that.
 
I take Quick-clot and a wound closure kit. Just about anything else is either too serious for any first aid kit, or too minor to worry about.

In my years of hunting, we've only had one serious injury - me - when I broke a rib and punctured a lung...(long story I won't re-live here) like I said, no first aid kit would have helped that.

Otherwise, we've had some nasty cuts when people got cut by knifes while gutting (Quick-clot worked pretty good on one of those), and one lady who hunts with us was walking her horse when it knocked her over. She fell and a 1/4" branch went through her calf (through her jeans!). Though I didn't close that wound, I had to clean it and pull the branch out for her. That hurt - and that's one tough lady!

You just never know what the heck's gonna happen out there.

Tom
 
After having worked in EMS in one of the busiest counties in Southern California and also working in a busy regional trauma center here in south east Idaho I can honestly tell you that your first aid kit should fit nicely in one of the smaller pockets on your pack.

Gloves are a must if you plan on touching any one without fear of being intimate with any of your family again. Imagine being scared to kiss your wife or one of your kids because your not sure if you have something, and there is worse than Aids. Personal safety is the most important thing you can plan for.

Some 4X4 sponges to clean and help control bleeding.

couple of sterile 2X2 and 4X4 non stick bandages for dressing wounds.

2" roller gauze for dressing wounds and splinting.

1 triangle bandage lots of uses.

Anti biotic ointment of some kind.

regular band-aids.

1 roll first aid tape

One or two pieces of Vaseline gauze, If you can't find em make them by saturating 4X4 sponge or bandage and then sealing them in a zip lock bag. they are good for chaffing and what we mostly used them for were for occlusive dressing for bandaging gun shot wounds or other puncture wounds to the chest.
Cut any thing shears, way more handy when dressing a wound or removing clothing than a knife.

assorted medicines anti inflammatory, allergy and what not or any meds regularly taken.

You don't really need a lot of any of one of these supplies be resourceful and use what you have. A wilderness first aid course would be time and money well spent. Along with a first aid field guide or boy scout book.
 
I've had a bit of wilderness first aid training...not very much, not NOLS, but enough that I'd probably have some idea of what to do if an emergency arose. Not in the sense of in a city where you seem to have to ask the victim if it's ok to perform first aid (legal issue like I was taught) but to actually do what's necessary right away in a field emergency. It's been awhile since any sort of training and your responses reminded of a splint that I've carried before called SAM splint.

http://www.allthingsfirstaid.com/store/p/1079-SAM-Splint-36-.aspx

The blood clotting product seems like a good one too.

Grubbylabs,
In all seriousness, without wearing gloves, what would I catch that could be transmitted to family members if I got blood all over my hands from a friend (sorry for the image, but that's the only way I can put it)? Even intimate family members like a wife? Are you talking herpes? That's the only one short of Ebola I can think of regarding this. I realize the potential of blood/bodily fluid spread of HIV/AIDS (I think anyone that is older than 12 knows this), but what else just by contacting a friends blood with closed hands...meaning no open wounds on your hands. I didn't think I was, but maybe I'm ignorant on this.

Edit..again...

My last question still stands, but after 5 mins. of thinking about it, I realize that I could always run into someone I don't know that needs help...hence, the gloves.
 
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The realization you had after 5 mins is the big reason, you never know who or what you are going to come across. But are you willing to bet your life that your friends don't have any viral disease like hepatitis, or an STD like syphilis. Pretty much any thing viral they may have you could get. And while the chances are remote at best they are possible and it has happened in the past, all it takes is a small break in the skin to transfer body fluids, a splinter, a nick by your pocket knife, any thing really.

To me it is just a good piece of mind knowing I don't have to worry about it if I take precautions like that.

I don't think I would worry about a SAM splint, even though they are handy and do work good, the forest is full of sticks and yours or the injured's pack probably has lots of straps on it you could use for splinting. Again carry only what you need and be resourceful. I could take all of my stuff out of my pack and put it in a small zip lock freezer bag, the one just bigger than a sandwich bag.
 
Thanks...I've always used a ziplock for my kit. You're right about not really needing the SAM splint. Plenty of stuff already for splinting. You've convinced me that gloves are a good idea. Probably also for gutting animals. Never used them, but good and cheap insurance. I remember shoving a splintered bone underneath a fingernail while cleaning a pheasant once. I bled on that one. I think the bird was just trying one more time to outsmart me or get back at me for shooting him. Not that latex gloves would necessarily have prevented that. Maybe.
 
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My list (Penna.)

Here's what I'd call the 1st aid items:

*first aid kit in Ziploc sandwich bag with following: misc-gauze & bandages, Neosporin, alcohol wipes, butterfly bandages, tape, couple each of aspirin & ibuprophen & pepto-tabs & tums
*4" & 6” IBD (Israeli Battle Dressing)
*foil emergency blanket
*altoid tin with following: survival wire saw, Mg firestarter, 6 waterproof matches, couple of birthday candles(that don’t blow out), signal mirror, 2-3 needles & bobbin of floss, 4-6 safety pins, ~6 water pur. tabs., pencil & water resistant paper, razor blade, tiny temp & compass
 
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