Ahh, camping and the great outdoors.  First aid kit for camping ready?  Don’t forget to stock your first aid kit first, before you need it.  Part of your integral first aid kit for camping should be always at the ready, and preparing the first aid kit, with all the emergency first aid supplies that will be needed, is made a little easier with these suggestions.

Although first aid kits are useful irrespective of where you are, they are especially important to have with you when you go camping. When you are outdoors, the chances of getting injured are much higher. For example, you are exposed to reptile or insect bites; you could get scratches or scrapes; extensive hiking could result in blisters; or you could even experience serious emergency situations far away from civilization, in some back country. A well-equipped first aid kit could come in useful to alleviate the pain of a sprained ankle or perhaps could even be a lifesaver.

While the items you include in your camping first aid kit will depend upon your activities, however, there are a few basic things that should be included in all kits. Given below is a list of items which you can keep in a container such as a cosmetic case, or a small drawstring bag, or any handy container that can be secured with a lid.

A typical camping first aid kit for the family should include:

• A pair of scissors
• Tweezers
• First aid tape
• Cotton swabs
• Antiseptic wipes
• A couple of large sized compress bandages
• 4-5 large sized gauze bandages
• 4-5 smaller sized gauze bandages
• Liquid pain relief spray
• Either a large tube of antibiotic ointment, or smaller individual tubes
• Different sizes of ACE bandages
• A small bottle of aspirin
• A small tube of hydrocortisone
• A breathing barrier kit for CPR
• A couple of pairs of latex-free medical gloves
• An oral thermometer which contains no glass or mercury
• A blanket for emergency

Although the above are the minimum requirements that you would want to have with you when you go on your camping trips, many outdoor experts also recommend adding the following items as well:

• Insect and bug repellent
• Eye wash or eye drops
• Water purifying tablets
• Aloe Vera lotion or any sun burn relief spray
• Eye patches
• Pain relief medication for tooth aches
• Smelling salts
• Calamine lotion
• Various medications to combat common ailments such as colds and coughs, headaches, stomach upsets, and so on.

There are many companies that have ready-made camping first aid kits on offer. If you plan on bicycling or hiking outings, or any other kind of outdoor activity that will involve moving away from the camp, you will require taking along an additional smaller sized first aid kit, with fewer supplies, that you can carry in your backpack.

And finally, keep in mind that maintaining your camping first aid kit is as important as taking care of your other camping gear. After coming back from a trip, check the supplies in your kit and replenish anything that has been used up. Remember to include the amount of supplies according to the number of people going on a trip. Check for expired or outdated supplies and medications, making sure to replace anything that you throw away.

By Rita Putatunda

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Basic first aid that you can render when a person is unconscious, bleeding, has broken bones, eye injuries and burns.  It is very important to have knowledge about the basic first aid steps because emergencies can happen anywhere and at anytime.

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So, are the great outdoors beckoning you to the adventures they promise? But, before slinging on the backpack, make sure to take along a well-stocked first aid kit. Nothing can ruin a hiking, camping, or backpacking trip as being unprepared if you happen to get injured, ill, or if some emergency situation should crop up. If you are setting out for some area that is new to you, it is a good idea to find out about the region to check out what the kinds of insects, poisonous plants, and reptiles that you are likely to come across, and take along first aid supplies accordingly.

Even if you travel to an urban location in the US, you may not want to hunt for a 24-hour pharmacy in an unfamiliar city, if you should require it. And, even when traveling to a location that you are familiar with, taking along a first aid kit can prevent discomfort and inconvenience if you should require first aid medications while on the road. If you should travel to another country, make sure to get information about the extent and quality of health care facilities available there, and it never hurts to take along your first aid kit.

While there are first aid kits that are available in the market these days, and most of them are well stocked, it is best to tailor your kit according to the activity, the distance or the length of time you will be away from access to medical care, as well as the number of people going on the trip. For example, while a small kit containing a few basic items will suffice for a hike lasting a day, you will need a better stocked and larger kit if you should go out camping with family or friends or on a long-distance hike.

Here are some of the essentials you will need to include in your travel first aid kit:

• A first aid manual
• Sunscreen - with SPF 30, preferably
• Sterile gauze pads - of various sizes
• Adhesive bandages - of various sizes
• Adhesive tape
• Aspirin - to counter mild pain
• Ibuprofen - a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication
• Antacid - in case of indigestion
• Antihistamine cream - to treat allergies
• Antidiarrheal medication - for example, Pepto-Bismol or Imodium
• Antiseptic agent - a small bottle of liquid antiseptic soap, to clean hands and wounds
• Antibiotic cream - to treat minor wounds and cuts
• Oral antihistamine - loratadine or diphenhydramine, for treating motion sickness and allergies of the nasal passage
• Dental kit - if teeth should break, or in case of loss of filling or crown
• Cough medication
• Flashlight
• Needles and tweezers - to remove splinters
• Sunburn spray or cream
• Eye washing solution
• Safety pins - small and large
• Knife - Swiss Army type
• Scissors
• Gloves
• Thermometer
• Lip emollient
• Insect repellant
• Moleskin - for blisters
• Mild sedative
• Water purification tablets
• High-altitude sickness medication
• Packets of oral rehydration solution
• Matches or Cigarette lighter - useful for sterilizing instruments as well as to get a fire going out in the wilderness, not only to keep warm, but also to make smoke in order to signal for help if in trouble.
• Cell phone - along with a list of people to call in an emergency
• Phone card - with at least 60 minutes of time, along with a few coins for a pay phone

Make sure to include your personal medications, taking enough with you to last the entire trip, and a little surplus. Also, check with your doctor about any medications that you may not be familiar with, along with their dosages.

By Rita Putatunda

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Clinicians  working in a family practice are confronted with a huge number of cases of burns, stings, bruises and bites. However, parents have traditionally solved these types of problems without taking their children to an emergency room.

Nowadays, there are amazing first aid kits in the market. Many of them are assembled to meet the needs of families with children or for other specific purposes.

First aid first means safety first

The first thing families with children should learn about is safety. Preventing an accident is better than responding to one. Regarding children, however, we know that is almost impossible to have a completely accident-free environment. Consequently, parents should know something about first aid. First they should remember that children are often not able to express clearly what they feel or what have happen. Perhaps they were injured seriously for first time and therefore parents should learn to analyze the situation without necessarily asking what has happened.

Stings and bites

If you live in a place where insects could sting or bite your child, your first aid kit should include anti-swelling, instant ice packs, pain reliever, aseptic towels and an anti-inflammatory lotion. Remember that the reaction to a sting or a bite can be local (less severe) or systemic, which affects the function of the lungs or the heart. In the latter case, parents should call immediately the emergencies services, since a further diagnosis and treatment is very probably required. Symptoms of a systemic shock are abdominal or chest pain, dizziness, hives and difficulties breathing.

If there is simply a stinger, remove it gently and disinfect the region carefully. Protect it with an adhesive strip for at least one day. If it itches or hurts, an instant ice pack will be of some relief. Just don’t apply it directly to the skin.

Sunburn

Sunburns can equally be avoided but parents cannot completely discard that they will happen. For this case apply compresses or moisturizing gel. Aloe Vera is very effective in this case. If the pain is too intense, ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be used. As in the previous case, search professional medical advice if you think the burn is too severe.

Of course, there are other injuries and ailments that affect your child.  A basic first aid course for infants and children can be a life saver, and can enable the parent to feel more confident in any situation where their children are.

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As we discussed last post, we will continue with the 3 points of basic first aid:

• First - protection. Further damage can occur through mechanical impact, smoke, fire, explosion or electrical hazard. First aid helpers should protect themselves first and foremost, then concentrate on the victim. The location of the accident - if it was an accident - should be clearly signaled to avoid further casualties. Only move the victim if it is absolutely necessary to preserve his life. Moving an injured person can cause serious harm.

• Second - Competent first aid care. Check if the casualty is conscious, breathing, and has a pulse. Lie the casualty down sideways, if that can’t cause further damage. Ask the casualty for any symptoms, if the victim is conscious. This information may be extremely useful if he falls unconscious. In the case of wounds, do NOT remove any large objects from wounds. Treating wounds requires extensive professional training. Search for severe external bleeding and try to stop it. Although treating bleeding requires additional first aid training, any compression of the wound is better than letting the blood flow. Numerous techniques can -and should- be learned by everyone in a first aid help course. Certified first aiders can control bleeding, open the airways, perform CPR and chest compressions and many, many other life saving measures.

• Third - alert the emergency services. Call the emergency services and inform them clearly about the exact location, about what happened, how many persons are involved, and what first aid was provided so far. Try to provide as much relevant information as possible. The address alone sometimes doesn’t suffice. The emergency services have to know exactly where you are within a building.

These are just a few of the suggestions for basic first aid first response on a scene.  It is advisible to seek further first aid training whenever it is offered - the life you save could be your own or your loved ones!

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Today we begin a 2 part post on basic first aid.

Everyone should have a basic understanding about first aid. First aid is the primary assistance given to a casualty in case of sudden illness or accident, before any professional medical assistance can reach the location.

First aid comes first. Any other action should be postponed until the casualty is in the hands of professional medical experts. The first aid assistance is absolutely necessary in order to improve the survival chances, prevent worsening of the condition and mitigate long term damage.

First aid providers should assess the situation and remember three basic point. First, protect the casualty from further external damage. Second, provide basic first aid evaluation and care. Third, alert medical professionals.

Next we will examine these 3 points more closely, ensuring a better understanding of basic first aid first.

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Today’s article is a timely one.  In the middle of winter when one begins to think of spring cleaning.  What better way to put first aid first than to organize your home first aid kit.  As I was reading here, the first aid kit does not necessarily need to be in the bathroom, as so many have it stored.  If they have a first aid kit, that is, and not just a medicine cabinet with some bandages stuffed in amongst the cosmetics, hair spray, and excess shampoos.

an excerpt from the article encourages us, “…the key to functional organization of any area, and especially one that can get as hard to manage as a household medicine cabinet, is to store items in a practical place, in accordance with who lives in your household…”

Begin to organize your first aid kit with these helpful, timely tips for first aid kit organization.

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Today’s article from Rome Newswire shows the effectiveness of first aid training.  The trainer, a former nail salon owner, is passing on her knowledge of first aid to others, and the response is - pay it forward.  Many people who put first aid first do decide to carry their knowledge forward to teach others.  Read the full article, and pick up some first aid tips as well as, perhaps, an encouragement to put first aid first in your life this new year.

Article:

Students at the second part of the Community Emergency Response Team training program learned Saturday that there are three kinds of bleeding — arterial, venous, capillary — and how to treat a bloody wound.

“It’s very interesting and very educational,” said Edward Washington, who is taking part in the certification program so he can later teach other members of Lovejoy Baptist Church what he learned. “I plan to take an instructors course in March so hopefully I can instruct others.”

The CERT instructor explained the differences in the types of bleeding like so: Arterial bleeding is what victims in slasher movies experience, with bright red blood squirting from the wound; venous bleeding is when a vein is cut, causing a slower flow of darker blood; and capillary bleeding is must less serious, like road rash or a bad carpet burn.

The more than 30 students were taught to apply direct pressure to the wound, then elevate the wound if possible, and to squeeze a pressure point to slow the flow of blood to the wound. They also learned how to apply different kinds of bandages.

Cheryl Zirkelbach looked to be well practiced when the students paired up try out what they learned, and with good reason. Zirkelback is currently working on a master’s degree in emergency management at Jacksonville State University and is an intern at the local Emergency Managment Agency.

“I needed this experience. I needed to be out there and have the hands-on experience,” she said.

A former nail salon owner, Zirkelbach decided to go to college and ended up graduating from Shorter College with three bachelor’s degrees (communications, history and Spanish). She said she hopes to work in emergency management once she earns her master’s, and she’s open to working anywhere in the world.

“There’s always going to be a another disaster or another war somewhere,” she said.

Students learned how to treat other wounds as well Saturday, such as burns, breaks, sprains, shock and airway obstruction.

“They’re going to learn to triage,” said Vicki Wiles, CERT coordinator and a former student herself.

The program began last weekend with search and rescue training and will conclude Feb. 7 with a training exercise during which the students will have to put out fires, aid victims and treat simulated wounds.

“The search and rescue, that’s one of the hardest things,” said Zirkelbach. “When you’re going into a building and it’s dark and smokey you can get lost really easily.”

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First Aid lessons save a life - and the life they save could be your own.  Many a time we hear this, but this woman in the UK took it to heart.  An article in the paper,  http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/ tells it quite well.  And we realize, once again, that first aid first does save lives.  Be encouraged as you read the full article here.

A PAINTER and decorator helped save the life of a customer thanks to skills she learned through family first aid lessons.

The mother-of-four, who also lives in Honiton, said: “I was just coming back from my parked van to the house when I heard a tremendous thud.

“I ran into the house and there was Peter collapsed in the hallway. He had said earlier that he was not feeling too well.

“I checked and could not find a pulse and he was very white. I carried out first aid procedures and put him in the recovery position while Audrey called the emergency services.

“I am so glad I knew some first aid otherwise it would have been terrible not knowing what to do.”

Lisa learned first aid with her husband Richard, 37, who is a Devon and Somerset retained firefighter in their home town of Honiton and is a full-time fireman at Exeter Airport.

She said: “With four children aged eight to 13 we thought it essential to learn first aid and fire drills and so forth and certainly this proved so useful on this occasion.”

Richard said: “Lisa did very well and it goes to show just how important it is to know first aid. You never know when it will make all the difference.

“The first few minutes in most incidents are the most crucial and it would be terrible if you did not know what to do.”

The patient, who is in his 70s, is currently at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital and tests are being conducted to find out what caused his illness.

St John Ambulance had this advice to offer regarding emergency first aid.

“As a first aider the priorities when dealing with a casualty are always the same — ABC: airway, breathing, circulation. A primary survey of a casualty will establish your priorities.

“When dealing with an unconscious casualty you should open and maintain their airway as your first priority. If the airway should become obstructed, possibly by the tongue falling to the back of the throat, then the casualty will be unable to breathe and this will lead to death if untreated.

“If the casualty is breathing, the simple procedure of placing the casualty into the recovery position should ensure that the airway will remain clear of obstructions.

“If the casualty has stopped breathing you can assist them by performing a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths.

“You breathe out enough oxygen to potentially keep the casualty alive until the emergency services arrive.

“The oxygen you breathe in will need to then be pumped around the body using chest compressions.

“It is important to remember that in any life threatening situation the emergency services should be called as soon as breathing or absence of breathing has been identified.”

First Aid Lessons Save a Life

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