After years of being sat on my first aid kit in my roe sac is a mess. Had to use the scissors to gralloch a deer this morning (knife not in sheath ) and was greeted with a train wreck of ground pills, burst liniment etc.

What do you think is necessary for a field first aid kit for stalking a max of 1.5miles from civilisation.

I had:-

scissors
gauze
surgical tape
steristrips
antiseptic wipes
tweezers
aspirin
ibuprofen
first field dressing
whistle

Your thoughts?

I have a "Motorcycle first aid kit" in my backpack - something like this:

http://www.hermosaworks.com/

1894mk2
A good mobile telephone with charged batteries and well charged card if you are hunting alone, or a good radio if you are hunting in squad as we do in Italy when hunting wild boars. In your first aid item list include only bandaid and rubber gloves.

I'm sorry, if I can appear careless and sarcastic, but in many year of various sport activity, from diving to sailing or to shooting or to hunting the only occasion I had to use a first aid kit has been in Turkey, 30 miles from any civilized place in 1989.
The skipper of the sailing boat that we were using in our holidays broke his left leg with an exposed (bones) fracture. I had the First Aid Bag, mandatory on a boat and , as it is here defined, a GI Spec Surgical Set GI Spec Surgical Set.
I cleaned the wound using antiseptic wipes, put in the right position the leg fixed it using sticks obtained breaking a wood box, gauze and bandages.
Then we sailed for 4 hours to arrive to the nearest harbor.
In all the other sport activities nothing happened that need more than a bandaid. By my opinion when more than a bandaid is needed, is the moment that the professionals of the rescue begin to work.

quote:

Originally posted by 1894mk2:
After years of being sat on my first aid kit in my roe sac is a mess. Had to use the scissors to gralloch a deer this morning (knife not in sheath ) and was greeted with a train wreck of ground pills, burst liniment etc.

What do you think is necessary for a field first aid kit for stalking a max of 1.5miles from civilisation.

I had:-

scissors
gauze
surgical tape
steristrips
antiseptic wipes
tweezers
aspirin
ibuprofen
first field dressing
whistle

Your thoughts?

God forbid you need to treat a gunshot wound, but if you did, the British FFD is less than ideal being essentially 1960's medical technology. I would suggest the so called Israeli Dressing or a similar modern product. These work far better in that you can apply more direct pressure to the wound.

To suppliment that, you need a roll of gauze to pack the wound with first, although some folks use a Tampax or similar.

You could also get a packet of the Quick_Clot or I believe you can get gauze impregnated with a similar clotting agent.

Finally, to round out a basic trauma kit, you would need a modern torniquet such as the C.A.T

Essentially you would are duplicating the modern Individual First Aid Kit that is now issued to troops in Afghanistan..There are a few more items that sometimes appear in these such as chest seals and airways, but they are not worth including unless you know how to use them.

Whether you feel the need to carry a modern kit like this is another matter. As already mentioned, thankfully the need to use one is very rare and i think i would be more inclned to carry one if I was taking people out commercially, or if i was doing a lot of high risk work as chain sawing...

Regards,

Peter

One Swiss Knife!!

Just to add, unless I am stalking somewhere remote, I normally only a basic first aid kit as shown below:





Basically its to cope with minor cuts, blisters, thorns, ticks and various aches and pains. If I am going to the range or doing a training day ect, I normally suppliment that with something a bit more extensive.

Regards,

Peter

sanitary towels, duct tape and super glue.

what more do you want?

quote:

Originally posted by Alex.Y:
sanitary towels, duct tape and super glue.

what more do you want?

Tampons are better for gunshot wounds.

I stress I have only heard the above, I will brook no flak having passed on what may one day prove to be lifesaving information.

On a more serious note perhaps Londonhunter will chime in on this one?

Adam.270's stalking partner takes a firstaid kit with him that fits into a pocket of his bumbag.

The tampons for bullet wounds is a myth. They hold so little blood that it will piss right through in seconds and medics will not thankyou for stuffing such crap in the wound.

If your serious about such wounds then source a decent military type wound dressing - ideally a yank, german or israeli type - UK kit isn't as good. Wrap it in a square of thick plastic which will keep it dry/clean and can also be used for a sucking chestwound.

I wouldn't recommend getting too creative with your kit nor your intentions. Best advice is to dress the wound, apply pressure and try to slow blood flow to the immediate area. You can make the situation alot worse by attempting procedures you have no training in.

Do not use a tourneque unless you know what you're doing. I've seen real damage caused by idiots applying one to wounds that just didn't require one and/or leaving it applied permanently.

I must admit that for stalking within a mile or so of my vehicle, I do not carry a first aid kit on my person though first aid materials can be found in my car at all times.

First of all, the Israeli Bandage is British issue too now, although I wouldn't know if one can buy them through the surplus market etc though. They are very good though. Ditto CAT tourniquets.

With regards to 1st Aid, if you are within a mile and a half of the car, my thinking is that anything minor (e.g. requiring a plaster/antiseptic wipe etc) can probably wait until you get back.

However, a gun shot or large laceration (eg, knife slips into leg) is the kind of thing that will require immediate attention, so of the two you're probably more likely to want a trauma type kit than a plasters and wipes type kit about your person. However, knowledge of how to use is key.

I would steer clear of tampons, sanitary towels, superglue and other such ad hoc stuff; if you're going to carry a trauma kit, an Israeli Bandage and a CAT will do the trick.

With regards tourniquets I have been advised by medical types that if you think someone will bleed to death if you don't use one, you should, after all, better to loose a leg than a life! Someone that seriously injured should/would be in hospital within the hour - two hours anywhere in the UK, so any likely complications from the tourniquet should be minimal and treatable.

On reflection, probably the biggest risk when stalking is an injury, like a broken ankle, that immobilises you, followed by hypothermia; or a pre-existing medical problem, e.g. Diabetes or a heart attack. I guess a mobile phone and someone who knows where you are is probably the best you can do, and maybe a space blanket.

I must admit though, I've never carried a first aid kit when stalking......

The field dressing is mainly to provide a sling for a broken arm etc unless I really stab myself.

The rest has been for cuts, hangovers, splinters etc not life threatening but great to be able to get sorted without having to break off.

The gauze with clotting agent sounds good - I'll have a look.

i use super glue on a regular basis for the immediate treatment of clean cuts/slices or gashes, i havnt come across anything yet to beat it, it keeps the cut shut and clean for the rest of the day, when i get home i clean it up if necessary.

sanitary towels and duct tape have been put to good use on chainsaw wounds.

i would hope out stalking you wouldn't be in the position of needing a serious trauma bandage!