Are you prepared to save a life in the backcountry?

[brianmtsinc]

Tag.... great thread. 

I appreciate the different ideas and opinions.  I think everything in my first  aid kit is expired and this has prompted me to completely rethink what I will carry in my pack in 2 weeks!!  Thanks ICEMAN! 

[jrebel]

Why don't we get a class together for people to learn CPR....I will volunteer myself as an instructor (been teaching for 10-15 years).   I am a certified / working paramedic and would love to educate those interested in learning CPR.  The only cost to participants would be for a card if they wanted the official certification ($10 shipped to your house).  My company prints cards in house so I would take the roster / cash to work and they would be mailed with in a couple days of completion.  They card would be an AHA (American Heart Association) CPR / AED card.

If we wanted to make a day out of it I would also volunteer to add first aid to the class. 

Here are the only two catches:

1.  It has to be in the greater Wenatchee area.......preferably in Wenatchee so we can use my companies education room.
2.  It will have to be after Sept. 15th....When I return from elk camp.  There is a very small window before the rifle season.  If this not work we can schedule a class in the off season in preparation for the 2014 season. 


We can totally customize the class so if there are any other members with special training in back country and / or military survival training we could also add that. 

Let me know what you think.

Johnny

[Bean Counter]

Outstanding Johnny! I wish I were 1,000 miles closer to help.

[westernarcher]

My big question is snake bite. I used to carry around the suction thing and then read that it wouldnt help at all. Ive looked online and asked many people what to do and the answer is just get to a hospital. That dont work work for me when Im in 5-10 miles.

[Knocker of rocks]

My big question is snake bite. I used to carry around the suction thing and then read that it wouldnt help at all. Ive looked online and asked many people what to do and the answer is just get to a hospital. That dont work work for me when Im in 5-10 miles.

Send someone else to get help?

[Knocker of rocks]

I used to carry around the suction thing and then read that it wouldnt help at all

The NIH says to use em if you got em
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000031.htm

[jrebel]

My big question is snake bite. I used to carry around the suction thing and then read that it wouldnt help at all. Ive looked online and asked many people what to do and the answer is just get to a hospital. That dont work work for me when Im in 5-10 miles.

Snake bites kill very few people in the US every year.  I don't remember the exact number....but last year we trained with our MPD (Medical Program Director) and the reported numbers nation wide of deaths by rattlesnakes was about 6 for the year and that training was in Sept.  Needless to say...if you die from a rattlesnake bite, you are really unlucky. 

[Knocker of rocks]

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0401/p1367.html

I have heard that there has never been a fatal bite in Washington except for puppies

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

If you are stung by a bee, and use the epi pen, will that be enough to remove you from the danger zone permanently? Or are they a temporary band aide?

[jrebel]

If you are stung by a bee, and use the epi pen, will that be enough to remove you from the danger zone permanently? Or are they a temporary band aide?

It is very possible that you have recurrent anaphylaxis up to 4-8 hours after using an Epi pen.  Most individuals that have an anaphylactic  reaction that go to the ER will be monitored for many hours.  In most cases they will be given Benadryl and some corticosteroid like solu Medrol. 

Due to the chance of recurrent anaphylaxis......the epi pen should be treated like a band aid.  You are gambling otherwise and it is not worth losing your life.

Johnny

[Jayfire83]

Cardiac arrest 3 miles from a rig plus however far in you are by road isnt good..the stats I have here at the hospital are not even close to 30%

Glad your optomistic about pre-hospital care!! I wouldnt be a paramedic if i based everything on stats. They may be slim, but hey you do what you can!

[Andrew]

Superglue and an ace bandage!  My neighbor (retired ER doc) saved me a trip to the ER when I slit my calf wide open with a piece of downspout. Simply pinched the skin together and glued away. Left a scare but thank god I'm not a leg model or I'd be screwed!  As for the ace bandage they come in very handy   I sprained my knee and it helped me get my arse off umtanum.  Without I'd be sheep food by now.

[acnewman55]

I don't carry anything but duct tape, ibuprofen, gold bond powder and benadryl (not for bees, just for itchy eyes, etc.) and a CAT tourniquet.

Most back-country medical emergencies can be prevented long before you get out of your truck by good physical conditioning, solid judgement, experience and hunter orange.  You can improvise splints, bandages, etc relatively easily.  Duct tape should solve 90% of your problems.

The reason I carry a tourniquet is a personal story.  It's really the only superfluous ounce I allow myself in the back-country.  I carry it for SAR, but I'm going to start carrying it while hunting because it looks cool - especially if you have the MOLLE kydex sheath  (I don't)

People love to bring up the emergency tracheotomy anytime first aid is mentioned...    (cue up the story about your uncle's coworker's sister that performed one on a transcontinental flight).

[Bean Counter]

My big question is snake bite. I used to carry around the suction thing and then read that it wouldnt help at all. Ive looked online and asked many people what to do and the answer is just get to a hospital. That dont work work for me when Im in 5-10 miles.

Snake bites kill very few people in the US every year.  I don't remember the exact number....but last year we trained with our MPD (Medical Program Director) and the reported numbers nation wide of deaths by rattlesnakes was about 6 for the year and that training was in Sept.  Needless to say...if you die from a rattlesnake bite, you are really unlucky.

Most snakebites happen in Arizona. 

I think the last CE class I went through for my volunteer EMT program they studied a recent year, maybe 2010 if I remember correct. There were little over 6,000 snake bites and like 3 fatailities.  Its more scary if the snake is little because they don't know how to control their venom.  I believe most fatailities involving a snake bite are because some genius decided to apply a torniquet. Do not apply a torniquet. There are at least  a few documented cases where the torniquet was even removed in a hospital setting and the individual dies. So much toxic crap builds up distal to the torniquet between the lactic acid and the venom that it is nearly impossible to neutralize.

Medical protocol in my area is to remove all constricting items such as watches, rings, shoes, etc. Even if it is not on the affected extremity. If you have a sharpie marker you can mark the line of the swelling and the time as it grows and that will help the doctors get an idea as to the extent of the envenomation. Do not ice. That draws the venom to the core of the limb and causes more harm than good.

Speaking for Arizona, there is no need to kill the snake and bring it to the hospital. All snakebites, at least in my state, are treated with the same antivenin. Attempting to capture the snake needlessly risks secondary bites. You can still get bit and injected by the head even if it is decapitated.

[dreamingbig]

Where do you get the epipen?

From my doctor, I explained how far back I hunt, and he authorized a prescription for it.

Bet they cost a bit more these days, been a few years...

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