First Aid Kit

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Singing Bridge
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First Aid Kit

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Thu May 27, 2010 11:45 am

With all of the experienced Outdoors people on the Beast, this cool new forum can be a learning experience for all of us. In addition to all of the experienced members, I know there's at least one doctor- several nurses- a couple of paramedics- and first responders on board at the "Beast." Thought I'd start with a very basic question? Do you take a first aid kit or first aid type supplies on outdoor excursions- fishing, hunting, camping and the like? If so what are we looking at content wise, I for one am curious?


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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby AC Rider » Fri May 28, 2010 1:53 am

I carry stuff but in no way is my kit complete. I have the very basics like band-aids, super glue, eye wash, ibuprofen...
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby dan » Fri May 28, 2010 4:29 am

I had a pretty good kit I was gifted at a safety meeting... but it was taken over by my injury prone family. I need to either purchase or make a new one...
I think 1st of all, an outdoor kit could probably be specialized towards the risks you consider possible. So a list should be made off possible injurys or illnesses and from there we could decide what we need for each type of injury or emergancy...
We should also probably catagorize divisions of the "kit".
One division could be medicine and ointments, another could be bandages, or trama...
Each of us probably faces different degrees of injury in the field. For me, hunting near home, or out on camping fishing trips, generally leaves me near advanced medical help and the basics are all that would be needed here. But when hunting in remote areas like Northern Minnesota a minor accident can be a major ordeal. Cell phones don't work and help can be hours away.
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby Goober » Sat May 29, 2010 4:01 pm

I usually carry one on trips, but it changes for every trip. A few things that are always in the kit in my hunting truck are

1.quick clot (a device developed by the military to stop dangerous bleeding, rumor has it that cabelas actually carries it now.
2. Suture kit. I carry this as much for my hutning dog as anything, obivously this requires some training!!
3. Vet wrap. Strechty kling wrap, numerous uses.
4. tweezers
5. gauze
6. skin stapler. I picked one of these up from my vet last year, and I think it will see more use than the stiches for the dog. very handy.

like I said, often items added/subtracted depending on length and remoteness of the trip. Being a paramedic, I tend to overpack on the first aid kit.
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Sun May 30, 2010 2:22 am

I have to admit to being pretty lazy about taking stuff deep into the field. I go through a lot of bandaids, a lot more of them than anything else. I have a few commercial first aid kits that were given to me, so I usually stuff one in my truck, boat, portable ice shanty, etc.

I believe I have an extra one or two that I'll get to Dan for one of our hunting contest give aways.
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby dan » Mon May 31, 2010 1:27 am

I believe I have an extra one or two that I'll get to Dan for one of our hunting contest give aways.

Awesome! 8-)
1.quick clot (a device developed by the military to stop dangerous bleeding, rumor has it that cabelas actually carries it now.

They showed me some video of using quick clot in an emergency response class last Wednesday looked like pretty useful stuff. That was the 1st time I ever heard of it.
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby publiclandhunter » Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:31 am

I honestly am lacking in this department. I carry some electrical tape for multiple use as well as a mini-roll of duct tape, compact space blanket, drag rope, fire starters and chocolate bars. I haven't really jumped into an all-out survival kit and should. My wife is an Emergency Room Nurse and she has hounded me about that for years - ever since I have taken to the wilderness hunts. I will look into developing a small but effective kit based on your reccomendations in the post. All good ideas.

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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby rancid crabtree » Thu Jun 10, 2010 11:44 am

Im am over achiever so this is a first aid kit and more.

I made this kit a few years back. I teach wilderness survival to the Boys and Girls Scouts. I will have Wilderness survival merit badge weekends where I have the kids make a kit based on what they think they will need to survive 3 days in the wild. (You would be surprised to see what some kids think they need to survive) I stress that they need to make a kit that covers the basics like shelter, water procurement and purification, Signaling, fire starting, first aid and food.The second day they have to make an impromptu shelter and spend a night in it. Spending a night alone in the woods in a shelter that you made, helps remove the biggest fear that people have about getting lost. Here is the kit I made. It weighs six pounds and has 101 items/uses (some items have multiple uses) It even includes a tent that is 4 feet wide by 3 feet tall by 8 feet long.

The entire kit kits into a fanny pack with multiple pockets. If it is not comfortable and easy to take along, you will end up leaving it at home, or in the truck.

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This is my son Jake modeling the pack

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Here is the left side pockets as packed

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Here is what is in the pockets

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A rain poncho which can also be a shelter and a water gathering device and it's bright orange so it can be a signaling device.
A Swiss Army multi function knife. (need I say more)
50 feet of mason twine which is by far the strongest and lightest stuff around (use your imagination for it's uses)
Safety pin
Compass
Hand warmers
A small flashlight
a few large pieces of aluminum foil folded into small squares which can be used as drinking and cooking utensils
A deck of cards because boredom will kill you and it stresses the fact that you need to stay still (don't get more lost) You can use them for starting fires too
food including homemade granola bars and jerky, beef bullion cubes, sugar packets, gum and hard candy

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The right side pockets as packed

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Here is what is in the pockets.

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Another rain poncho
A large black plastic garbage bag for shelter and water gathering
it is wrapped with bright orange signal tape
A signal mirror (plastic, not glass)
A whistle
A PAL survival flashlight which I also use for fire starting
Water purification tablets
A bottle of denatured alcohol for fuel for my stove
a mesh stand for my stove

The center or main pocket as packed

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Here is what is in the pocket

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The tent which I made from rip stop nylon and waterproofed ( will explain more later )
A Kutz-All saw ( I will explain more later )
50 feet of parachute cord
A Mylar space blanket
An Altoids tin that contains another saw (I will explain more later) the tin is also the stand for my stove.
The soda can stove ( I will explain later )
A glow stick
Toilet tissue ( the single biggest moral booster there is ) It is also a fire starter
A first aid kit
A fire starting kit ( I will explain later) The tin is also a cooking and drinking vessel

The tent

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Made from rip stop Nylon and bug netting. It has a zippered front entrance.
The tent poles are made from aluminum arrows that I cut down. They nest together for storage but slide together when assembled
Tent lines from mason twine
tent stakes
A large piece of Tyvek house wrap to act a floor to keep you off the wet ground. (very light weight and very hard to rip )

This is a pic of the tent made out of blue nylon

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The Kutz-All saw

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It has a hollow handle to store the blades which are really Sawz-all blades including a knife blade

the zip saw and the tin

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The soda can stove

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This stove, when filled with the denatured alcohol fuel will burn for 25 minutes and bring a container with 2 cups of cold tap water to a boil in 2 1/2 minutes
The fire starting tin or the tin foil will be the cooking vessels

The first aid kit is pretty basic but I added an instant scab powder that stop bleeding instantly

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The fire starting kit as packed

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The contents of the kit

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A small flint and steel
A blast match ( a one handed flint and steel)
Steel wool, which is the worlds best tinder. I use the 9V battery from the PAL light and the steel wool as a very fast fire starter.
Small birthday candles
Wax paper ( another good tinder when wrapped around small sticks and pine needles )
A butane lighter with a built in light
Sugar packets and a container of Potassium permanganate. I can eat the sugar or mix it with water to drink. The Potassium permanganate
when mixed with sugar makes an excellent fire starter if you use the fire by friction method (bow and drill) It is also a signaling device as it
turns bright purple when sprinkled on snow. It is also a water purification powder (an oxidizer) if you use more of it in some water it is an
anti bacterial wash
Water proof/wind proof matches (only one shown)
A small vile of magnesium shavings for instant and hot fire starting
Large candles
Rubber Bands ( I'm not sure why they ended up in the fire kit but still good to have)
A cotton make up removal pad soaked it melted paraffin wax is another good waterproof tinder
Alcohol wipes for cleaning and also a good tinder
The fishing kit just fit nicely into the tin as well

I keep several methods of fire starting in my fire box in my survival kit.

1. Waterproof/windproof matches
2. Butane lighter
3. Blast match
4. Flashlight (more later)
5. Steel Wool

More important that the actual method of striking the flame or the spark is the next step. What do you strike it onto??????????
Good Tinder is the key. A whole box of matches is useless if your trying to light a log on fire. I think the absolute best tinder in the world is 0000 Steel Wool.
Steel wool weights almost nothing, compresses/fits into whatever container it's placed in. Works even when wet, Never goes bad, ignites with every known
spark flame method (even a magnifying glass) It burns really hot, the more you blow in it. The hotter it gets. lasts a long time so it will ignite the next lager pieces of tinder. I tell all my Scouts that Steel wool is the first thing they should put into their fire starting kit.

The Blast match and the flashlight are about the easiest methods to use for one handed fire starting. Position your steel wool nest into your bundle of tinder and push down with one stroke of the blast match to ignite the wool. You will be amazed at the amount and heat of the sparks generated by the blast match. Blow on the steel wool and add tinder and you will have a fire in no time.

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A similar method is to use my flashlight. It is another good one handed fire starter. For this you need a flashlight that uses a 9 volt battery. other batteries will work too but require two hands to use. I use a PAL light because it is water and shock proof. It is a great light with incredible battery time due to the fact that it uses a singe bright LED. It even has a strobe feature. Take the 9 volt battery out of the light and press the two terminals against the steel wool. BLOW!!!

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My fire kit also contains a small vile of magnesium shavings that I make ahead of time. A survival situation is no time to be doing this with cold shaky hands. (which is another reason I don't care for matches) Sprinkle the magnesium shavings onto the steel wool and you have just boosted the heat range and fire starting capacity in your tinder nest by at least double.

I am sure I could leave out some redundant stuff and add more. I am always adding and subtracting from the kit.
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby dan » Thu Jun 10, 2010 2:31 pm

Awesome 8-)
Probably should of started a new post called "survival kit" this goes way beyond 1st aid.
I would really like to see more posts about survival tactics. I had no idea that you were teaching that to kids! My hats off to you. Your an incredible man Rancid. I often wonder what this world is going to be like when our generation dies out. Hopefully some of your students carry on the traditions. 8-)
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:14 pm

Excellent post, Rancid- thanks for taking the time to make it. That's one well thought out survival kit in a relatively small package. 8-)
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby NSOUTFITTER » Sat Jun 12, 2010 2:11 pm

That right there is why I enjoy this forum !!!! Great advise from great hunters . You got to love and waqnt ot learn thigns or you just are not in the groove . Great tips , keep them coming !
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby publiclandhunter » Wed Jun 23, 2010 11:10 pm

Rancid - I love the kit! Give me more info on how to make the alcohol stove...that is a great idea!

PLH
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby Bucky » Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:38 am

Rubbing alcohol (91% or greater) will burn a blue flame for quite some time (you can also use HEET, denatured alcohol, Everclear etc). I assume Ron just puts the rubbing alcohol/denatured in a pop can made stove top and lights it (see link below).

I was taught this method while ice fishing to create a heat source, take an old coffee can, stick a roll of toilet paper in the can, soak with isoproply alcohol (91%-99%) and light it.... it will burn for many hours (4+) and generates enough heat to keep you warm in VENTILATED fishing tent or better yet outside as a heat source - don't due this in an enclosed space as inhaling the vapors will likely send you to la la land or make you pretty sick

http://www.ultimate-ultralight-backpack ... stove.html

I'm sure Ron is using his to cook/boil water in a more sophsticated survival way... see link above as an example
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby Chinook » Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:53 am

Holy Smokes!!! I take a lighter and a stick of magnesium :shock: :shock: . I used to take a small first aid kit but it got used up and I never replaced it. I fall into that catagory of, I know what can happen, but I think it'll never happen to me. I need to get on the ball. There's some GREAT ideas here.
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Re: First Aid Kit

Unread postby Goober » Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:16 am

Survival is far less about what supplies you have, then your knowledge and state of mind when encountering a survival situation.

When entering a wilderness setting, always on my person, stored in a Nalgene bottle are everything that I need to survive if needed

1. The Nalgene bottle itself (drinking container, storage device for kit.
2. 2 methods of fire starter. Stormproof lighter and magnesium fire stick
3. fixed blade hunting knife and small whetstone
4. a couple of feet of duct tape wrapped with a good length of para cord.
5. water purifier device. Either idoine tablets or a Steri-pen. I actually have both in there.

Thats it for me. Obviously it may grow depending on the adventure, but that kit is always with me. I feel like I can survive with that and a strong will and clear mind.

I think you can carry a whole backpack full of survival supplies, but if it is not ON YOUR PERSON when the stuff hits the fan, it is no good.

If you panic, it doesn't matter what you are carrying.

If you fail to realize you are in a survival situation, you are going to have a bad day, regardless of what you are carrying. I think this is the biggest killer. Realize and admit it when you are lost. Realize that when you become injured in the woods, you are in a survival situation and plan accordingly. Many people think "no big deal, I can make it" and they are still trying when the storm hits, or darkness falls. And now you are not prepared, you are low on energy, and pyschologically, you are going to be in a bad place real soon.


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