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1st aid kit?

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Started 6 years ago by whitecaps
Latest reply from JoeVanGeaux

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whitecaps
Member

Ok why do you carry what do you have? to be legal?, to do some good?, or just what comes in a kit?

You would be better off with CWolf with a T shirt and some duck tape then me with a trauma kit.

Ok me and me only what I consider most is stopping bleeding, shock, and hypothrema (getting cold

I have no spell checker so forgive or just put up with it! .

Did a trip recently that had a portage, wheels were used, had to cross washed out cuvert that was crushed, and we had to kinda lift the boats over the mud. Went through with mine 1st and on the return for my buddies boat I fell in the mud and cut myself and bruised a leg. Well I fell on a nasty piece of tin and at an awakard angle.

Blood flowed from a hand cut and leg was sore as it took my weight in the fall. All was minor, polysporin and duck tape to hold the self holding gauze, Yea a lot of stuff works in ideal conditions like at home,

You are not at home and your enviroment is wet, salt water, river water, and nasty with stuff that will mess you up in the long term.

Go stand in the rain at home and put a bandaid on your thumb or any other bandage while in the rain and tell me how it works? Hell your a Watertriber so you can go stand in the rain and I will not make fun of you (well maybe).  When you get done with that tell me how you will contain the bleeding on you thumb?

  Viatiam buffrin to reduce the swelling and a lot of limping for two weeks and I can now run with the slow old guys.

What if? This could have been a majore gash with a lot of blood flow and a broken leg or arm. This was on part of UFC coarse. already seen surf boarders and paddlers step into oyster bars bare footed.

We could have handled it if it had been worse (been there done that).

The snake bite from the cotton mouth we could have had the next morning on the trail to the secret waterfall I am not sure how to handle? Dumb for a Florida boy but it changes every year? I be very ignorant on how to handle a snake bite in the back country with no phone service, you gonna die or what?

Hey come on now. When was the last time you heard of a snake bite death. Hell the sharks, pythons or lighting is gonna get ya 1st. In all reality you gonna be a traffic death doing this stuff.

What happens here is this was a fun trip, no sleep deperation, all daylight stuff. A race it all changes. We became instanly aware of the snake. Well rested, daylight, no hurry etc. Pay attention!

Reconsider what you carry for what you are doing.

I would not pass you on inspection with a bandaid and an asprin, But I do belive in Darwin! Chief would chastie me if I did pass you..

Add the comfort stuff last.

Comfort stuff, well cortiszone keeps the no see ums itching down, (dam it feels good to rub your feet together with sand though.) Hi quality hand lotion all over, (goldbond?) including feet is nice. Destin for the nether regions, also good for the chest and bobbies on the ladies.

You guys in neopreame foot wear better do something. At least wash with peroxide or witch hazel often. Air them piggys a lot.

Hey you can cheat a lot on this 5 or so day stuff, no big deal. You get old like 40 or so or do a twenty or more days wet trips you better have it together and not neglet small stuff.

Yep you can do long miles but you better practice. Did my most milage single bladeing in one 24hr day recently, 208 with a team, most before single bladeing that was 170 solo. Yep I hurt on both!

toby



Posted 6 years ago #
whitecaps
Member

One thing I want to add is if you need certain things let it be known. I paddle with diabetictics and what ever,

Give me a break and do not let me watch you die for some stupid pridefull addmission, You would hurt me so much.

toby

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

OK Whitecaps! We laughed together at the end of EC 2014 when you goofed with me on my crummy flashlights after I hit every mudflat in Florida Bay. Now you are talkin first aid. Most just buy a little kit for 10 bucks and let it ride in the bottom of the bag hoping to never need it. My qualification for this discussion is over 40 years as a pharmacist and camper and Boy Scouter and all around crash-test-dummy for self-inflicted "Hey, Bubba! Watch This!" ventures. Just keep an open mind and ride along!

Saran Wrap, Ace bandages, and those gooey jelly-like pads are good! You can slap the jelly patches on a bleeding wound, a bite, a burn, or a chafe, cover it with saran wrap, and wrap the Ace Bandage around it to keep it in place. Big gauze pads are also good. A little Ibuprofen, tylenol, aspirin, aleve, or whatever pain reliever you have tried is good for pain. I broke my neck one time and got some Percocet for pain. Good stuff! Took 6 years to use up the bottle of 30 so when I joined the water Tribe I went back to my doctor and got another 30 after explaining what it is we do. Get the good prescription stuff. You will be needing it! Don't be shy! We play hard and narcotics work for all types of pain as well as helping out with sore throat and coughing. In your hallucinatory stages of the Challenges it will add to your making even worse navigational decisions if you don't just fall asleep at the tiller. Bring an anchor! I fell asleep 5 times in the last mile into Indian Key Pass going into Chokoloskee leading to much amusement on the part of my co-pilot Ozymandius! He got the helm!

You need sleep? Nyquil night-time killer green liquid will knock most people on their butt for a time. Mix it with some water cause your mouth will probably be dry when you eventually wake up. It has tylenol and cough suppressant in it as well. Benadryl for allergies can also be used (first try it out at home, Folks!) for sleeping, and itching. Just don't plan on waking up fast cause I'm talking about using this stuff for serious "I think I wanna quit" downtime along with earplugs and eyemask so you do sleep! You got 8 days to enjoy the EC so get your money's worth!

Skin takes a beating. Everything helps! Hydrocortisone cream or ointment and Triple-antibiotic ointment are good. Ointment is vaseline based and doesn't rub off and sticks in the cracks better. Also more moisture resistant. Keeps wet and dry suit cuffs pliable anyway. Cortisone for itch, rash, soothing skin and chafe. If it is kayak back chafing put it all over the chafe, cover with saran wrap, and wrap a 6 inch Ace bandage all around the torso. No time for finesse. Cover it up. Now we talk monkey-butt, or it's near-and-dear cousin, crotch-rot. OK Mistermoon! Here is the part where the poly something or other underewear under a drysuit comes into it's own! You were right! Prevention is preferable, but when it goes past that you got to Saran wrap it after applying copious amounts of cortisone ointment! Guys, you may need to wrap in separate parcels (don't ask me how I learned this)! Hold it in place anyway you can. Tape and snuggy compression shorts? Before it gets to Percocet-strength levels of pain we probably should have dried off better, dusted with powder, gone naked in the sun on the forward trampoline. Of course in the adrenaline-charged heat of competition we neglected to take any of these common-sense precautions. Suck it up and drive on! Next time I am shedding the drysuit at earliest opportunity for a quick wipedown with Witch Hazel pads and some cream or power on the nether regions. More trashtalking, but we can hope in EC 2015.

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

OK Whitecaps! We laughed together at the end of EC 2014 when you goofed with me on my crummy flashlights after I hit every mudflat in Florida Bay. Now you are talkin first aid. Most just buy a little kit for 10 bucks and let it ride in the bottom of the bag hoping to never need it. My qualification for this discussion is over 40 years as a pharmacist and camper and Boy Scouter and all around crash-test-dummy for self-inflicted "Hey, Bubba! Watch This!" ventures. Just keep an open mind and ride along!

Saran Wrap, Ace bandages, and those gooey jelly-like pads are good! You can slap the jelly patches on a bleeding wound, a bite, a burn, or a chafe, cover it with saran wrap, and wrap the Ace Bandage around it to keep it in place. Big gauze pads are also good. A little Ibuprofen, tylenol, aspirin, aleve, or whatever pain reliever you have tried is good for pain. I broke my neck one time and got some Percocet for pain. Good stuff! Took 6 years to use up the bottle of 30 so when I joined the water Tribe I went back to my doctor and got another 30 after explaining what it is we do. Get the good prescription stuff. You will be needing it! Don't be shy! We play hard and narcotics work for all types of pain as well as helping out with sore throat and coughing. In your hallucinatory stages of the Challenges it will add to your making even worse navigational decisions if you don't just fall asleep at the tiller. Bring an anchor! I fell asleep 5 times in the last mile into Indian Key Pass going into Chokoloskee leading to much amusement on the part of my co-pilot Ozymandius! He got the helm!

You need sleep? Nyquil night-time killer green liquid will knock most people on their butt for a time. Mix it with some water cause your mouth will probably be dry when you eventually wake up. It has tylenol and cough suppressant in it as well. Benadryl for allergies can also be used (first try it out at home, Folks!) for sleeping, and itching. Just don't plan on waking up fast cause I'm talking about using this stuff for serious "I think I wanna quit" downtime along with earplugs and eyemask so you do sleep! You got 8 days to enjoy the EC so get your money's worth!

Skin takes a beating. Everything helps! Hydrocortisone cream or ointment and Triple-antibiotic ointment are good. Ointment is vaseline based and doesn't rub off and sticks in the cracks better. Also more moisture resistant. Keeps wet and dry suit cuffs pliable anyway. Cortisone for itch, rash, soothing skin and chafe. If it is kayak back chafing put it all over the chafe, cover with saran wrap, and wrap a 6 inch Ace bandage all around the torso. No time for finesse. Cover it up. Now we talk monkey-butt, or it's near-and-dear cousin, crotch-rot. OK Mistermoon! Here is the part where the poly something or other underewear under a drysuit comes into it's own! You were right! Prevention is preferable, but when it goes past that you got to Saran wrap it after applying copious amounts of cortisone ointment! Guys, you may need to wrap in separate parcels (don't ask me how I learned this)! Hold it in place anyway you can. Tape and snuggy compression shorts? Before it gets to Percocet-strength levels of pain we probably should have dried off better, dusted with powder, gone naked in the sun on the forward trampoline. Of course in the adrenaline-charged heat of competition we neglected to take any of these common-sense precautions. Suck it up and drive on! Next time I am shedding the drysuit at earliest opportunity for a quick wipedown with Witch Hazel pads and some cream or power on the nether regions. More trashtalking, but we can hope in EC 2015.

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

OK Whitecaps! We laughed together at the end of EC 2014 when you goofed with me on my crummy flashlights after I hit every mudflat in Florida Bay. Now you are talkin first aid. Most just buy a little kit for 10 bucks and let it ride in the bottom of the bag hoping to never need it. My qualification for this discussion is over 40 years as a pharmacist and camper and Boy Scouter and all around crash-test-dummy for self-inflicted "Hey, Bubba! Watch This!" ventures. Just keep an open mind and ride along!

Saran Wrap, Ace bandages, and those gooey jelly-like pads are good! You can slap the jelly patches on a bleeding wound, a bite, a burn, or a chafe, cover it with saran wrap, and wrap the Ace Bandage around it to keep it in place. Big gauze pads are also good. A little Ibuprofen, tylenol, aspirin, aleve, or whatever pain reliever you have tried is good for pain. I broke my neck one time and got some Percocet for pain. Good stuff! Took 6 years to use up the bottle of 30 so when I joined the water Tribe I went back to my doctor and got another 30 after explaining what it is we do. Get the good prescription stuff. You will be needing it! Don't be shy! We play hard and narcotics work for all types of pain as well as helping out with sore throat and coughing. In your hallucinatory stages of the Challenges it will add to your making even worse navigational decisions if you don't just fall asleep at the tiller. Bring an anchor! I fell asleep 5 times in the last mile into Indian Key Pass going into Chokoloskee leading to much amusement on the part of my co-pilot Ozymandius! He got the helm!

You need sleep? Nyquil night-time killer green liquid will knock most people on their butt for a time. Mix it with some water cause your mouth will probably be dry when you eventually wake up. It has tylenol and cough suppressant in it as well. Benadryl for allergies can also be used (first try it out at home, Folks!) for sleeping, and itching. Just don't plan on waking up fast cause I'm talking about using this stuff for serious "I think I wanna quit" downtime along with earplugs and eyemask so you do sleep! You got 8 days to enjoy the EC so get your money's worth!

Skin takes a beating. Everything helps! Hydrocortisone cream or ointment and Triple-antibiotic ointment are good. Ointment is vaseline based and doesn't rub off and sticks in the cracks better. Also more moisture resistant. Keeps wet and dry suit cuffs pliable anyway. Cortisone for itch, rash, soothing skin and chafe. If it is kayak back chafing put it all over the chafe, cover with saran wrap, and wrap a 6 inch Ace bandage all around the torso. No time for finesse. Cover it up. Now we talk monkey-butt, or it's near-and-dear cousin, crotch-rot. OK Mistermoon! Here is the part where the poly something or other underewear under a drysuit comes into it's own! You were right! Prevention is preferable, but when it goes past that you got to Saran wrap it after applying copious amounts of cortisone ointment! Guys, you may need to wrap in separate parcels (don't ask me how I learned this)! Hold it in place anyway you can. Tape and snuggy compression shorts? Before it gets to Percocet-strength levels of pain we probably should have dried off better, dusted with powder, gone naked in the sun on the forward trampoline. Of course in the adrenaline-charged heat of competition we neglected to take any of these common-sense precautions. Suck it up and drive on! Next time I am shedding the drysuit at earliest opportunity for a quick wipedown with Witch Hazel pads and some cream or power on the nether regions. More trashtalking, but we can hope in EC 2015.

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

Well, my post got stuck! Diarrhea is another fine subject. Imodium is pretty much the gold standard for treatment so get some. And clean, clean, clean the area and then apply ointments to protect from moisture. I took a couple of Taco Bell provisions along on EC 2015. Fine fare, but I had never used a drysuit before! Diet can affect your well-being in unexpected ways!

Bring eye drops. Carboxymethylcellulose is preferable to polyvinylalcohol in most cases. Don't need to get the red out but you do need to flood the eyes. Plain is best since you can use the moistening eye drops as often as you like, while the tetrahydrozoline used in the decongestants are not recommended for continuous use. You can also use the plain eye drops in the ears safely. Or if you fall out of your boat you can also bring eardrops. They all work! Eye ointment is good if you are prone to infections or your wear contact lenses. I am also bringing some swimming goggles to wear when it gets fun out there.

Needles, tweezers, a sharp blade are sometimes useful. I don't care what you do, but I stab and drain blisters! Then apply antibiotic ointment and cover it up. Gauze or jelly pads, band-aids, or duct tape! Use what you like. It is all good. I kind of like the paper tape for first aid quickies. Wrap it all the way around so it sticks to itself cause it sometimes does not stick to wet skin well. For feet you can wrap toes gently and leave it on! Then there is the waterproof plastic first aid tape that really does stick as long as you apply it first before you hit the water. Gloves can be useful. Rubber, vinyl, cloth, or leather! Sometimes you just gotta cover them up.

Ah, nausea! I like Gummy Worms or soft gooey sugary candy. Also Lifesavers candy, either hard or soft. Diluted Coca Cola, diluted Gatorade, ice cubes, popsickles, Lifesavers peppermints for upset stomach. Bring alongs some Tums fruit-flavored antacid tablets for crappy feeling stomach pains. Suck on them. Also provides calcium which may help with cramps, although cramping may be due to dehydration and stupidity such as participating in extreme sporting events!

Muscle pain and cramps can be alleviated by stopping doing stupid stuff! Not an option with EC and WaterTribe events. Drink fluids, but don't overdue the sports drinks. Mix everything with water and you can't go wrong. Warm water, usually. Is there any other kind on a boat? I like Tums antacid tablets for cramps, along with magnesium tablets about 250 to 500 mg maybe twice a day. A lot of this stuff may ber in your sports bars or supplements so take a look. A multivitamin may be useful each day. Just don't overdue anything which may make things worse. Ibuprofen, naproxyn, and aspirin all have advocates, just eat when you take them or you may get stomach problems. Tylenol is OK, but is not an anti-inflammatory so I never use it, except it is in the killer Green Nyquil that helps you sleep. The ultimate for all pain is of course narcotics. As a pharmacist I recommend them, Percocet is my favorite big-time pain reliever. Oxycontin is a great drug too, pretty safe for most people in deep pain, but don't crack, chew, split, or grind them up or you will be dead in less than an hour. You can race on narcotics, but don't blame me when you hit things or fall alseep! Camp or anchor! Live it up and get high in the mangroves! Hey, you are the one responsible and you can always use the rest. If you take them with Nyquil you may wake up a day later! Rest and recuperation is fun while a good no-see-um screen on the tent keeps the bugs and sun at by while you are unconcious.

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

I like WaterTribers because they ascribe to the ethic of a Positive Mental Attitude. Put that in your first aid kit and relax and enjoy the ride. Common sense and taking care of the little things before they become big things is the way to go. Nothing is written in stone and you have the freedom to experience an adventure that is exquisitely designed to take you beyond wherever you imagined your capabilities ended. Or not! You make the choice and then write about it so other idiots can enjoy it vicariously. And you will meet some of those idiots on the beach at your next event and you will all have another exciting adventure together. We are gonna drive the National Park Service crazy! I get my jollies reading about your follies and triumphs on the forum here. It makes me more capable in so may ways because I don't have the luxury of time to go out and screw up all these things in person! Have fun, enjoy life, and write it up here! And Whitecaps! I still haven't found the perfect flashlight to get me through Rabbit Key Pass in the dark on the first 5 or 10 tries. I think I may need to put up my personal beacon the north channel in screaming neon colors before EC 2015.

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

I like WaterTribers because they ascribe to the ethic of a Positive Mental Attitude. Put that in your first aid kit and relax and enjoy the ride. Common sense and taking care of the little things before they become big things is the way to go. Nothing is written in stone and you have the freedom to experience an adventure that is exquisitely designed to take you beyond wherever you imagined your capabilities ended. Or not! You make the choice and then write about it so other idiots can enjoy it vicariously. And you will meet some of those idiots on the beach at your next event and you will all have another exciting adventure together. We are gonna drive the National Park Service crazy! I get my jollies reading about your follies and triumphs on the forum here. It makes me more capable in so may ways because I don't have the luxury of time to go out and screw up all these things in person! Have fun, enjoy life, and write it up here! And Whitecaps! I still haven't found the perfect flashlight to get me through Rabbit Key Pass in the dark on the first 5 or 10 tries. I think I may need to put up my personal beacon the north channel in screaming neon colors before EC 2015.

Posted 6 years ago #
kayakman7
Member

My personal favorite bandage is high quality 3m electrical tape. It's stretchy, so you can tighten it up to stop bleeding quickly, then mostly remove it and rewrap loosely to cover the wound. It's waterproof and sticks to itself when wet. It's easy to remove, especially if you leave a tab at the end and it does not stick to wounds. In the event of a severe cut and lots of blood, I add a gauze pad or a bit of paper towel and tighten down hard. Ten minutes later or when the appendage starts turning blue, I loosen things up.
I carry a full first aid kit but all I use is tape and Advil.

Cheers

J

Posted 6 years ago #
kayakman7
Member

The server is being weird, sorry about the reposts

Posted 6 years ago #
kayakman7
Member

Posted 6 years ago #
BlueJay
Member

What works for bee stings? I carry benadryl but i do swell bad near the sting. I once was stung on the hand and within an hour could not make a fist. I do have an epipen but would only use that if i could not breath.

Posted 6 years ago #
JoeVanGeaux
Member

BlueJay, I fond that copius amounts of rubbing alcohol rubbed ... no, ground into the sting site works surprisingly well, BUT it must be done as quickly as possible, as-though-you-were-bleeding quick, that is!

The tox info I consulted with indicates that the alcohol denatures the offending protein in the sting rendeering it far less potent. This also works great for fireant bites, too.

I am really enjoying this discussion - even though there are double posts!

I am really enjoying this discussion - even though there are double posts!

JVG

Posted 6 years ago #
BeastOarman
Member

Here is what I carry, fortunately have not had to try them all:

First Aid

3x4 Gauze pads & tape, Neosporin mini pump spray, Waterproof blister bandaids (used for cuts not blisters, stay on for days wet), Advil Ligui-Gels, Snakebite kit (untried), New-skin spray & liquid (untried), Tums (but switching, they act fast but wear off quickly), Waterproof matches & fire starter (I carry multiple sets)

and now I will add Spot Buddy tracking of PainenDias' Floating Pharmacy, and CWolfe's Triber Triage

Prevention

Hydropel (until I run out), Gold Bond powder, Desitin, Deet, Suntan lotion, Baby wipes, Clean poly underwear & tech shirt for every day (sic), Hiking liner socks, Practice

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

I am easy to find on the Spot track in the EC! Look for the G-Cat stuck on the sand bar at CP 1, in the mud at Chokoloskee, flipped in Florida Bay, or impounded by FWC in the Keys. I will see you all at the finish line with more tales! I am at all these locations for extended periods of time so stop by if you need pharmaceuticals. I love company!

Posted 6 years ago #
feralcat
Blocked

The1st aid kit you carry has to reflect what type of injuries you can suffer based on the craft you use. For paddling the biggest hazards I feel were the most important to prepare for were cuts (yes it still knocked me out of the EC, but gauze, antibiotic cream, duct tape and advil got me through an additional 70 plus miles) blisters, and abrasions. I've had a bit of experience in wilderness medicine and feel comfortable with what I carry. Bottom line is you have to know how to use what you bring! The other stuff mentioned for prevention is a critical part of your kit but shouldn't be confused with a emergency 1st aid kit.

Cheers, FeralCat

Posted 6 years ago #
MicroTom
Key Master

A little thread consolidation

http://watertribe.org/forums/topic/discussion-comprehensive-survival-kit-for-watertribers

MicroTom wrote:

This forum has been a little slow lately so I am throwing out a little brain candy. Forgive me if its been discussed before. Maybe someone can point out past links.

Recently stumbled on this article and thought it would be a good staring point for creating a WT comprehensive survival kit. What would be on your list? How would you pack it and carry it? If something great comes out of the thread we can summarize it into an article and submit to Chief for the magazine section.

http://www.outdoorhub.com/how-to/what-is-a-comprehensive-wilderness-survival-kit-and-why-should-you-have-one/

CleanSlate wrote:

My thinking is that it needs to fit in your PFD pocket. I bought one already made up that was about the right size.

This one fits in one of my PFD pockets along with my PLB and an easily accessible extra whistle.

My other two PFD pockets contain my first-aid kit and my VHF handheld.

I also have a little piggyback pack for my PFD but I'm still working out what best to put in that. Maybe a flare or two and a couple of power bars along with a small quantity of water.

Posted 6 years ago #
MicroTom
Key Master

And then there was this one

http://watertribe.org/forums/topic/let-see-your-first-aid-kit

MicroTom wrote:

Mine is clearly overkill. A relic from Class 4 where space compared to class 1,2&3 was a luxury. Carrying all this around is just too much. What's yours look like?

In mine:

Bandages (lots)
Gaus
QuickClot
Suture kit
Various drugs (pain, stomach, throat, more pain)
Alcohol & wet wipes
Sting relief
Rubber gloves
Bandages
Tape
Emergency blanket
Tissue
His and hers body glide
Baby powder
Desitin

KnotSynced wrote:

Purchased a general first aid kit from an outdoor store that comes in a waterproof container about twice the size of an iphone. It has sting relief, a few medications and all that would be needed to treat minor cuts and scrapes. Electrical tape or rescue tape will be used to seal more serious wounds if they occur.

I had some past experience that is unlikely to be repeated that will cause me to add two things.

1.) Benedryl and possibly epi-pen. Nothing can be done for severe allergic reaction without it. Twice in the past I have had an allergic reaction to food and wound up having swelling airways and trouble breathing. Was very scary. I don't want to be caught by this in the wilderness when I can't get to antihistimines.

2.) Aspirin. I found a fisherman in a john boat having a heart attack while kayaking in a remote swamp. I had acetomenophen, which was about as useful as a wet cigarette.

Ouachiski wrote:

I allways carry lots of benadryll. verry bad alergic to red wasps even though they are not out this time of year to much still keep it.

What was overlooked in this thread was burn cream which I could have used. See my blog post from the 2014 EC.

http://watertribe.org/microtom/2014-everglades-challenge-race-report/

Posted 6 years ago #
Scareman
Member

Tom, since you mentioned Cottonmouths...

I am fortunate to have survived an unprovoked encounter where nearly stepped on a moccasin in my backyard next to a small pond. While filming 3 raccoons digging frogs out of the mud one hot summer afternoon,I almost stepped on a coiled water moccasin. Once I saw the moccasin about 2 feet from my right got, I leaned over and filmed from directly above the coiled snake.

Now is when I will share that my wife had been on me to buy snake boots. However, I am now more interested in a snake cup than boots. You will soon understand.

Back to filming the snake...I was wearing boat shoes without socks and shorts. All of a sudden, the cotton mouth jumped its entire body off of the ground straight up at the camera. I kept the snake in frame until after it landed back in another coil, and then gently stepped away two snake lengths, or about six feet. I watched the snake a bit more and then went up to the house.

The slow motion video was amazing. Again, I did not seek out and chase the snake. I literally almost stepped on it while filming other wildlife.

This water moccasin jumped with its jaws super wide open so the fangs could penetrate and inject me, the heat source that had unknowingly invaded the snake's space. This snake had jumped up above my waist beside me.

I did have too many snake removals at this house between copperheads in the garage and flowerbeds, and moccasins aggressively chasing me when I walked my dog out back between my wetlands and the pond behind me. We had oak snakes fall out of beautiful love oak branch while mating, but they stayed engaged in their writhing interlock after falling 15 feet. The oak snakes would coil back on me when I would relocate the from trees and flowerbeds, and neighbors yards and garages

So survival for a snakebite in my opinion...2 things; 1) do not approach a snake and you have a great chance to avoid a snake bite 2) if bitten, get to an ER ASAP while calling ahead to verify anti venom is available assuming that you were bitten by a venomous snake.

Also, venom is injected and poison is ingested.

Posted 6 years ago #
Scareman
Member

Oh, I can offer perspective on surviving a brown recluse bite. This unfortunate event led to 8 months of oozing flesh as the brown recluse venom continued to call cell membranes to break down up to 8 months after the bite. Wound management for this bite included many surgical excises of the necrotic tissue, daily reaming of the crater of rotting flesh, washing it with soap and water, packing the crater with Vaseline, and applying fashionable Spider-Man bandages to contain the oozing flesh.

Luckily, I was bitten on the forehead and not on a meaty area like a muscle. I must have been bitten when putting on a hooded sweat shirt (actually it was my Team Scare Man racing sweatshirt) I considered visiting a doctor when my entire face was so swollen that you could not tell that I had a nose and became rock hard. Once I had trouble breathing, I left work and kept going from doctor to doctor to figure this out. One nurse said my symptoms and erupted bump now appearing purple with a local fever looked like a brown recluse bite.

File that one away...no fun for Spider-Man. At least that is what they called me because I was bitten as a new hire 18 years ago with my company.

Posted 6 years ago #
Scareman
Member

Ticks, well one helped me find my skin cancer. Survivor Melanoma 2007.

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

Working the night shift for a decade behind the pharmacy counter brought me in contact with the truly desperate with regard to wounds. Many had no insurance and begged for something right now that they could use to plug up holes or slashes in their epidermis. Many came back to thank me for some off-the-wall advice I gave them. Hopefully the rest didn't die! The other 35 years on the day shift also provided some harrowing moments with regard to emergency treatment. You go with what you have on hand. I would like to mention my favorite quick coverup for skin. 2nd Skin® Moist Burn Pads are made from pure, sterile water. These pads provide a moist comfortable barrier to help keep the burn clean and to help protect the burn. 2nd Skin® Moist Burn Pads will not stick to the wound.2nd Skin® Moist Burn Pads are made of at least 80% sterile water and 4% polyethylene oxide, an inert material. There are other generic pads, but this is the one I had on the shelf. When the skin is gone and it is oozing crap all over the place and you have to have something this usually got results. One guy had a spider bite on the tip of a finger. He waved it under my nose and said he had been to the emergency room, his doctor, had taken antibiotics, and the bone wats sticking out because the flesh was rotting off. I sold him some Spenco 2nd Skin pads, told him to wrap the pad around the entire finger, cover it gently with Saran Wrap, and tape a condom over it to keep the thing on his hand. Then wrap an Ace elastic bandage around the whole hand to provide a shock cover when he bumped it aorund. Took two months to recover the finger and it was tender for 6 months. He changed the covering once a week since the burn pad absorbed most of the gunk from the wound and kept things moist. Also had a paraplegic in a wheelchair who dropped pizza on his leg and burned off a large area of skin. He had no feeling in the legs, but the skin was gone. After 3 months he came to the drug store wondering if there was a dressing he could apply. I put burn pads all across the wound, wrapped it in Saran Wrap, wrapped an 8 inch Ace compression bandage completely around his thigh and told him to change it once a week. Took 3 months to reskin, and more months to heal.

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

If you get the idea I love Saran Wrap, Ace bandages, Spenco 2nd skin, and triple-antibiotic ointment you are not wrong. I should mention you do need to wash off wounds to at least remove debris. Betadine topical solution does a quick job. Just dump it on the wound as a rinse. Most bites from insects, snakes, animals, or wheatever are recommended to be treated by rinsing so use a gentle motion with soap, Betadine, salt water, alcohol, drinking water or whatever you have that is cleaner than whatever is there. Yes, you can pee on it if you have to as urine is pretty much sterile. Don't get grossed out, and do what you must. These forums are so interesting because we get to explore the really rotten possibilities. I hate deep cuts, being struck by lightning (told you I was a crash-test-dummy), food poisoning, crush injuries, broken bones, and ripped ligaments. The shocking pain evinced in such injuries can be pretty spectacular. We are talking about first aid here, but in reality we are placing ourselves in situations where we are the only aid! It is gratifying to see the respondents in this thread bringing up a variety of ideas and remedies. The suggestions keep me thinking and re-evaluating my own first-aid preparations and treatments.

Posted 6 years ago #
BeastOarman
Member

Scareman, I used to think your name was derived from being scary, but after several years of reading your posts - venemous snakes, venemous spiders (I'm learning), melanoma, that thing where you almost die from too much gatorade, and if I recall something about being shot at while kayaking (?) - well, it is clear the name comes from the scares you and your family have had!

Hope the luck holds, and looking forward to the next Challenge you can join in.

Posted 6 years ago #
whitecaps
Member

Wow, I never expected this type of reponse. Just some woundering. Awesome stuff, and found a few new ideas for me. Saran wrap will be tried.

Peter, Scareman is scary! Big dude, and eats newbies for breaskfast before they wake up. Paddles a tamdem heavy Yak solo.

I did a fun trip with him! Yep ya want to camp with this Brad guy Scareman. Awesome fun and will entertain ya, and he will go more then out of his way to help you. A proven ambassodor for the watertribe for sure!

Gone out of his way to bring us so many trip reports and vids on the UFC, my hat is off to him. Thank ya Scareman.

Love you guys.

toby

Posted 6 years ago #
PrivateHam
Member

One thing I pack is the medical equivalent of superglue. You can't get the human stuff, but you can buy the animal grade stuff on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Vetbond-by-3M-3-mL/dp/B004C12Q46

Once you stop the bleeding, put the skin back together and then put a layer of the glue over it. The pain stops pretty much instantly and it's completely waterproof for days. It also helps for places where a bandage won't stick, like between the fingers or toes.

PainenDias, have you come across this kind of tissue bond before? Any thoughts on it if so?

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

I did have a motorcycle mechanic who called me on the midnight shift having cut his finger while repairing a customer bike. He said it was a deep gash and he did not have time to go for stitches. Having glued my fingers together with superglue on a few occasions and having talked to a few dermatologists and surgeons about medical glue for wound closure I mentioned that superglue definitely would hold skin together but it was not recommended for that because of legal issues. He was a cheerful person and not at all reluctant when it came to self-treatment and he proceeded to put a drop of superglue on the edge of the cut and then pinched it off without gluing his healthy fingers to the cut. He said it stung a bit, but ity got the cut closed and he went right down the slash until the skin was pretty much sealed. I told him to put some type of glove over that hand or some gauze taped over the wound to protect it from bumping it accidentally and re-opening the cut. Haven't we all done that before? It healed fine, but he did treat it gently for a while. We would all like to beleive we are qjuick healers, but the fact is that regular skin over a bone or muscle will probably take a minimum of 14 days to develop any connective strength after a deep cut or surgery. They can be glued, but the healing takes time. You can even re-open a would by bumping it on a sharp corner, or putting some stress that pulls on the skin. It heals fastest when it is kept moist (and there is a lot of argument with people who believe it should be kept dry. That often leads to keloid scars and sensitivity in the area of the injury. In WaterTribe type injuries you stop the bleeding, wrap it in in a jelly pad (as described above) slap Saran Wrap around it to hold things in place, and then wrap it again with something like an Ace bandage so it doesn't get worse when you bump it against things.

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

Some of this seems a bit off-the-wall, but I am really impressed with the responses and pictures of first aid items the WaterTribers employ. This stuff works, but it is emergency treatment and there is no guarantee as to what will happen. But it is better than nothing, and will probably get your battered body to shore in better shape than waiting around. Keep reading, keep learning, and keep the items that pertain to your types of activities at hand. Be a participant, not a victim! We are all thankful for Whitecaps bringing the subject up once again just before we take off on the next Challenge in September. I certainly added a few items to my personal kit as a result of this discussion. And I had forgotten the superglue!

Posted 6 years ago #
PainenDias
Blocked

The Vetbond looks like pretty good stuff!

Posted 6 years ago #
Ridgerunner
Member

Here is my 2 cents. I am a Wilderness EMT and a Lead Instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates.

Some vet wrap has latex, so be careful if you are allergic. Otherwise, it is much cheaper than the human version (Coban). Both can be reused several times. Some people react to the adhesive in duct tape (try it at home first). I find it useful as a friction reducer or friction reducer.

DON't close open wounds!! You will give the bacteria you left in a warm, dark place to breed. Wash and wash and wash again with lots of water sprayed under pressure (cut a small corner of a zip-loc if you don't have an irrigation syringe for this). Then pack with wet (with drinking quality water) sterile gauze and wrap with Coban or Saran Wrap. If the wound gets hot or smelly (= infection) or you get red streaks,open it all up again (use hot compresses) and irrigate the hell out of it.

Hydrogen peroxide does more harm. Only use neosporin or similar ointments on superficial wounds, such as road rash. Betadine (povodone iodine) will kill germs, but it can be rough on the tissues inside the wound. Use it to make a sterile field around the wound. You can also use it to purify water.

Don't cut and suck snakebites. Throw away the Sawyer Extractor and Wal mart snakebite kits. Most hospitals in the southeast carry anti venom. Go to the hospital. P

Posted 6 years ago #

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