First aid kit

[Scots_Charles_River]

Nice kit. How about diaorrhea pills eg Diocalm, tiny to squeeze in.

[VFR800Essex]

I haven't noticed anyone packing anything for burns/scalds. I would have thought being in the wild with fire and hot liquids this would have been a must have item. I pack a Burnshield of varying size dependant on the type of outdoor experience.

[Scots_Charles_River]

Burns,

Been a bit of debate on these but just cellophane and lots of water is the First Aid practice I'm aware of. I was told on my last First Aid, any burn bigger than a 50 piece, straight to hospital.

[VFR800Essex]

I don't know much but i know the cooler you keep it the less scaring you can get. What if you're a fair way from hospital? I see people have plastic bags in their kit but i don't see rolls of cling film.

[John Fenna]

My REC trainer recommends industrial cling film - pallet wrap! - just as good as kitchen cling film but more durable - my basecamp kit contains a roll now.
I did a REC course the end of last year and an HSE course last friday ... both the trainers recommend cling film for burns - poly bags for hands/feet burn treatment.
Incontinence pads/disposable nappies/panty liners all make good non adherant dressings, gaffa tape makes good slings etc etc etc.

[Graveworm]

My REC trainer recommends industrial cling film - pallet wrap! - just as good as kitchen cling film but more durable - my basecamp kit contains a roll now.
I did a REC course the end of last year and an HSE course last friday ... both the trainers recommend cling film for burns - poly bags for hands/feet burn treatment.
Incontinence pads/disposable nappies/panty liners all make good non adherant dressings, gaffa tape makes good slings etc etc etc.

You can use Pallet wrap of course and it will be much better than leaving it to the elements but food grade is made under sterile (Positive air pressure etc) conditions and has to be certified as such, also you don't want to be wrapping it tight so heavy duty is not such an issue, personally I'd get food grade if I was buying it just for first aid.

Again anything in a pinch, Nappies etc always used to be mentioned, however there have been some changes recently. I am not sure about incontinence pads but I suspect it is the same, I do know modern disposable nappies, sanitary towels and panty liners are discouraged now as they have semi-permeable membranes designed to help transport liquid away, that is great for menstrual blood and baby poo but the opposite of what you want in a dressing, as it hinders clotting.

[mrcairney]

I've got a burn patch in my kit. Never had to use it. In fact, I've never had to use anything bar a plaster when I cut myself, and that was last year.

Having a comprehensive first aid kit is a good idea married with knowledge on how to act, but I'd be interested to hear how often people actually need to dip into it aside from maybe a blister patch or two.

Example, I've had a trauma dressing for a while, it's still in the vacuum packaging it came in. I only have it next to me when I'm carving with the axe, in case I take a leg off or something. In my living room.

[John Fenna]

I've got a burn patch in my kit. Never had to use it. In fact, I've never had to use anything bar a plaster when I cut myself, and that was last year.

Having a comprehensive first aid kit is a good idea married with knowledge on how to act, but I'd be interested to hear how often people actually need to dip into it aside from maybe a blister patch or two.

Example, I've had a trauma dressing for a while, it's still in the vacuum packaging it came in. I only have it next to me when I'm carving with the axe, in case I take a leg off or something. In my living room.

I have had little use for my kit other than for patching up minor axe and knife cuts and treating a dislocated knee, the odd leech bite (I hate leeches!) and a couple of grazes - mainly on other folk!
Not bad for a lifetime in the outdoors!
The worst I had to deal with was a dislocated fracture of both sides of the elbow joint (on my father!) and that was just a case of imobilisation until the paramedics arrived ... no kit needed....

[entropydog]

Common sense is the most important.....Burns need to be cooled and hydrated as soon as possible, your fat reserve can keep heating and burning even after the original source is eliminated..A constant flow of cool water is best...the longer the better for any burn....However as I said common sense. A minor burn once saturated for as long as possible is best left in the open air...If we are thinking outdoors cling film is more likley to promote infection.. If you have a more serious burn you should be calling emergency services and maintaining constant saturation/hydration at all cost..Cling film is for no other option and you having to transport them yourself, like in a war zone....

[Graveworm]

Common sense is the most important.....Burns need to be cooled and hydrated as soon as possible, your fat reserve can keep heating and burning even after the original source is eliminated..A constant flow of cool water is best...the longer the better for any burn....However as I said common sense. A minor burn once saturated for as long as possible is best left in the open air...If we are thinking outdoors cling film is more likley to promote infection.. If you have a more serious burn you should be calling emergency services and maintaining constant saturation/hydration at all cost..Cling film is for no other option and you having to transport them yourself, like in a war zone....

I love common sense, running water is good for cooling, I have reservations about the "Hydration" claims (drinking the water is probably better for that) but after the burn has been cooled infection is the biggest risk. The best way to prevent that is the cling film. When the emergency services arrive (1% partial thickness facial etc) that's exactly what they would do.

[Lister]

One thing i've not seen in this thread (if it's in here i apologise) is the importance to check dates on dressings and medicines, or do people tend not to worry at that so much these days? I know on dresssings the day is only there to give a guide to how old the dressing is and when the sterility of it runs out (it'll still cover wounds etc but may not be sterile as it once was....least i think that's why they put the dates on them) and of course on meds it's the date the active ingredient deactivates so may not be as effective.

[entropydog]

check out this link for info on the use of cling film it seems to suggest use after about 20min of running water. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Burns-a...Treatment.aspx

[Genty]

Good advice, well found. Just for ref is says to treat within 20mins of the injury.

Here is my take on cling film in a wilderness setting. I am a strong advocate of it but it is not to be used with impunity.

[entropydog]

Heres another link on the many uses of aspirin. http://www.mritechnicianschools.org/...s-for-aspirin/
some of this stuff is amazing from starting a dead battery to fungal infections... Just as long as you dont have an allergy to aspirin !.... wonder if willow inner bark is as effective as some of this...

[Martin Otten]

You can find a video of my first aid kit here;

http://youtu.be/N2U1-9V7vVY