We have been reading of several accidents regarding DG ,and i want to contribute with a few things that can save your life .Of course this isnt a manual of tactical care and you must investigate in tactical care manuals if you want to learn a bit more .
But every PH must have a small cases of surgery in the LANDY ,and caryy a combat bandage of quick clot ,hen com ,or similar besides some more quick clot for closing injures .I used the quick clot in an open liver injury -it was never used INSIDE the abdomen and i save the life of a 16 years old child .a combatgauze and a TAC tourniquet .With this 3 things that have not weigth you can save the life of an injured hunter .you must remember the rules of the SAS .
CH CATASTROPHIC BLEEDING .YOU MUST STOP IT .
BREATHING .YOU MUST INVESTIGATE BREATHING .
AND THEN EXPLORE THE REST OF THE BODY .
TO MAKE THINGS EASIER REMEBER THE 5 FIRST LETTERS OF THE ABECEDARY ,YES I KNOW THAT YOU ARENT STUPID ,BUT IN AN EMERGENCY YOU CAN FORGET EVERYTHING .
A AIR
B BREATHING
C CIRCULATION BLOOD STOP BLEEDING OR PERFORM RCP .
D NEUROLOGICAL DISFUNCTTION
E EXPOSURE .
IN MY TACTICAL CARE COURSE FOR COMANDOS AND PHs they even finnish the course performing small surgeries under my supervision .
HOPE THIS CAN BE USEFULL ,BUT I ACCEPT ANY QUESTIONS .

Medical kits are available at lodges and in safari vehicles to treat minor inflictions.
You, however, should pack your own basic medical kit with painkillers, antiseptic cream, anti histamine and plasters.
Prescription medicines must be brought with on safari and it is important to note that a description of the medicine should be obtained from your practitioner in case of emergency while on safari.
The description will allow for medical personal in Africa to find a replacement prescription if necessary.

Doctor:

I always carry my own "first-aid" kit. It's always a bit over the top and usually gets raided substantially before I get home.

But one thing I've never carried is a serious trauma kit. I've thought about putting one together (probably to take and leave), but I'm not a doctor and my courses on first aid were decades ago.

Maybe you could put together a list of what you would like to see. Maybe a day-long course in Argentina with a bit of bird hunting and fishing? Just an idea.

Thanks for all your input on the forum.

make it a week long continuing med education course with morning teaching sessions and afternoon bird shoots. those of us in the profession could then attend and take a tax write-off

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
make it a week long continuing med education course with morning teaching sessions and afternoon bird shoots. those of us in the profession could then attend and take a tax write-off

I'm in as well as Joyce!! Just swap the birds for something that snorts!!

Juan
I agree with you 100%
We have problems here in SA as they will not give us access to these life saving basics.

We find ways to get what we want, but I always feel that there should be far more access to Trauma Management supplies for PHs and Guides. When I guided in Dubai I had everything from Epinephrine to a Defib in my car.
Now I cant even get an injectable anti histhamine.

When do you run your next course?
Please send details to hunt@bushpighunt.co.za
Ian

quote:

We have problems here in SA as they will not give us access to these life saving basics.

If you have connections with PHs in TZ give them a list of your requirements and I'm pretty sure they can obtain just about anything you want.

Be sure and get a portable defibrillator---so when we get the bill for trophy fees you can revive our hearts.

quote:

Originally posted by Sean Russell:
Be sure and get a portable defibrillator---so when we get the bill for trophy fees you can revive our hearts.

Funny joke about the defibrillator!

But in all seriousness, Juan is correct. Outdoorsmen in general should have quick access to some basic medical supplies and the knowhow to use them. In fact, for Christmas this year, I am giving the men that hunt in my family a vacuum sealed pack of medical supplies and equipment to keep in their boats / trucks / packs etc. The actual list is developing, but I will be happy to add it to this post once it is finalized.

I imagine, PHs and guides, have MANY clients in camp who are approaching their Golden Years and bring to camp wisdom, experience, and of course various medical problems. For example, my father-in-law is a ticking time bomb. My wife and I returned from our honeymoon in Italy and we immediately found him having a heart attack (maybe she broke his heart marrying me??) that ultimately ended with a 3 vessel cardiac bypass surgery at age 53. He later revealed that he had chest pain when we were turkey hunting weeks prior to his MI, but was silent about it. I also imagine your paying clients would hide and brush off early warning signs of trouble so as to not interrupt the hunt for themselves or others. As you know, waiting for shit to hit the fan is a recipe for disaster.

These days those long offshore fishing trips we take make me a little more worried because I know if my father-in-law develops issues at sea, a Coast Guard rescue will be the only chance of survival. Add to that the other semi-risky things we do, spear fishing on oil rigs, the need for medical equipment on-board is a necessity. Anyway, enough about my situation. The point is every one of us has a reason to have supplies AND knowledge available.


There are many companies out there offering medical kits ready that are ready to go. The Military IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) was designed for soldiers and airmen to carry in combat operations. It’s compact and fairly light to carry. A more comprehensive kit should be carried in the vehicle or boat, however.

In addition to the equipment & supplies, education on what to do is even more important. Juan touches on the ABCDEs of the initial medical assessment and priority for treatment. In 2010 the American Heart Association’s “Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care” now recommend that chest compressions be the first step for lay and professional rescuers to revive victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The guidelines now recommend the A-B-Cs (Airway-Breathing-Compressions) of CPR should be changed to C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing) .

I implore all of you and your family members to take a course in CPR. At a very minimum, take a few minutes to watch the videos at the link below. I have had multiple patients tell me that they saved a family member’s life due to them knowing basic CPR. It’s true. It works. Build upon that defibrillator training and one can be even more effective at saving someone's life.

Find a local course in both CPR and First Aid here:
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/...1118_SubHomePage.jsp



As for trauma (blunt or penetrating), the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program was developed by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma (COT). Although the ATLS course if reserved for physicians, the basic concepts of this program can be learned and applied to common field injuries as well. I have not taken the time to see if there are resources that summarize / simplify the things we learned in this course, but if you will certainly be effective if you at least learn to:

1) How to evaluate and apply pressure to bleeding wounds
2) When and how to use a tourniquet properly
3) How to apply an Israeli bandage
4) When and how to use Quick-clot
5) How to stabilize and splint a fracture


If anyone else has thoughts or expertise in this area, I think it could be a great discussion. Thanks for starting it, Juan!

Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The best thing you can do is the right thing. Then next best thing you can do is the wrong thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing."

Great points. another thing that I always bring and leave in camp is a surgical skin stapler. it is the fastest way to close the skin and can be used by almost anybody. Much faster than sutures and can help control bleeding from the skin very quickly.

Field first aid with a surgical skin stapler !

Picture a evening after a long days hunting, around a fire, and as per usual lots of fire water to go with the steak and chops on the hot coals.

One friend, a budding ortho surgeon in training decides to go take a view of Africa and on his way back climbs through a barb wire fence cutting his upper thigh in the process.

He then comes to stand in the fire light with blood streaming down his leg.

So one genius , another budding ortho surgeon promptly produces a surgical skin stapler!

Exactly the tool necessary for one of these unforseen mishaps that occur whilst hunting ! I mean every hunting first aid kit should have at least one of these fine gadgets !

Without much ado proceeds to staple the wound, no cleaning ! no prepping, just there and then! all the while administering liquid "bravery in a bottle" liberally passed around between the now "patient" and the staple wielding surgeon ; and off course all who were having verbal input in this life saving procedure with this novel device.

Two or more geniusses about to have a go at the art of field surgery. I mean what is wrong with this picture!


All went well untill the next morning when the "patient" discovered that the wound on his thigh was mere 2 inches long and that his buddy had stapled not just the wound but the trickle of blood all the way down his leg to almost his ankle !

quote:

All went well untill the next morning when the "patient" discovered that the wound on his thigh was mere 2 inches long and that his buddy had stapled not just the wound but the trickle of blood all the way down his leg to almost his ankle !

quote:

Originally posted by Singleshot03:

quote:

...his thigh was mere 2 inches long and that his buddy had stapled not just the wound but the trickle of blood all the way down his leg to almost his ankle !

Nah! A blank last will and testament and a good pen.

The courses were for sepc ops personnel of several countries and several guides with military xprience ,but we can do that for PHs and of course we can visit my family farms and shoot some birds too .Read TCCC courses and we can adap something similar for PHs with real practice in a military hospital .