Are you prepared to save a life in the backcountry?

[BOWHUNTER45]

Good post Ice !! Something we all take for granite ...One time I had the boys about 5 miles in on a bear hunt ..we crossed a creek and Ted jumped up on a log and found a yellow jackets nest ...One stung him in the neck ...basically in the center of his throat .... STARTED TO SWELL UP ...Scared the heck out of me ...Luckily I had some Benadryl .... I never leave home without it now !!!!!

[Bean Counter]

I am now alergic to nectarines.  Two epipens cost me a $15 copay.

That ain't too bad. My copay for two is $40.

[Knocker of rocks]

Good post Ice !! Something we all take for granite ...

No schist, that was gneiss of him

[cvandervort]

Ha. Quick work Knocker...
I like the post, and tend to agree with the "duct tapers"...besides the medicine, there's not much that a roll of the silver stuff can't do. Not as sexy as pro stuff though. Just out of curiosity, has anyone had to use quick clot before? I assume it works well...?

[wt]

Iceman , this will sound like a stupid question, on the epipen, do you worry about expiration date? I ask because my son has food allergies and we update them every year and toss the old ones. At 125$ each I can't afford a new one for general purposes in the back country, but if still effective I could pack a year old one in my kit. Needles to say when my son is with me we bring two current pens.

[npaull]

I'm a surgeon, so I gotta say i think the quick-clot stuff is probably fairly gimmicky. I'm not saying it doesn't work - it probably does provide some benefit - but here's the thing. If you have normal blood, ALL bleeding that can be stopped will stop with direct pressure eventually. If you're dealing with a bad wound, put pressure on it and DO NOT let up. That's the key - the temptation to look is almost overwhelming. You've gotta put pressure on and keep it up. I've seen someone survive having a leg literally ripped off at the hip because the person they were with had the presence of mind to get pressure on the wound and not let up until the patient was in the operating room.

Similarly, I think an epipen is a waste of money for most people unless you have a known anaphylactic reaction to something that you may well encounter out there (bees, for example). Same goes for snakebite kit - probably worthless.

You want a life-saving med in your kit, bring aspirin.

I carry suture kit/local anesthesia in camp or in the car etc (not practical for everyone), aspirin, pain meds, something to clean water... that's about it most of the time. If going to be gone a long time, may add a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Most other stuff is just for comfort and amounts to toiletries more than first aid.

[ICEMAN]

wt, yes I was concerned over the expiration date, hence this thread...

[Knocker of rocks]

I'm a surgeon, so I gotta say i think the quick-clot stuff is probably fairly gimmicky. I'm not saying it doesn't work - it probably does provide some benefit - but here's the thing. If you have normal blood, ALL bleeding that can be stopped will stop with direct pressure eventually. If you're dealing with a bad wound, put pressure on it and DO NOT let up. That's the key - the temptation to look is almost overwhelming. You've gotta put pressure on and keep it up. I've seen someone survive having a leg literally ripped off at the hip because the person they were with had the presence of mind to get pressure on the wound and not let up until the patient was in the operating room.

Similarly, I think an epipen is a waste of money for most people unless you have a known anaphylactic reaction to something that you may well encounter out there (bees, for example). Same goes for snakebite kit - probably worthless.

You want a life-saving med in your kit, bring aspirin.

I carry suture kit/local anesthesia in camp or in the car etc (not practical for everyone), aspirin, pain meds, something to clean water... that's about it most of the time. If going to be gone a long time, may add a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Most other stuff is just for comfort and amounts to toiletries more than first aid.

I think you have to have a prescription for an epi-pen, and then it is only good for that individual.  So we gotta be careful about giving out meds.

I have heard good things about the clot products.

[3nails]

Tag.

[MLHSN]

I have a hard time with the idea of blood clotting. Yes, I get the need.  Let me preface with the fact that I'm a chronic pessimist. 

I've seen 2 people bleed to death.  Probably the hardest thing I've ever witnessed in my whole life.  Especially while we tried so hard to get them to a field hospital. 

When you are in the woods, it takes a heck of a long time to get someone to the doctor.  In some situations, they are assed out, or they are not.  Taking extra equipment, might make you feel better because "you did all you could." But the facts don't change.  If someone hits a major artery, 10 mi. back.  There isn't much I can do for them.   

[npaull]

Mlhsn, there absolutely is man. PRESSURE. It will work and it saves lives. A major artery in the torso is of course a serious problem, but no one should EVER die from an injury to an extremity artery.

[MLHSN]

Yes, NPaul, I do understand the need for pressure.  I was thinking more along the lines if someone cuts there femoral or carotid artery by gunshot or broadhead.  We're going to have problems, pressure bandage or not.

[G.R.K]

One thing no one mentioned is a Albuteral Inhaler,i always have 1 in the truck and pack.

[ICEMAN]

Bringing this back up to the top!

Time to go thru things again and make sure everything is working and current!  Is your sawyer extractor working? Epipen expired? Benadryl dead?