First Aid Philosophy

[ken_nerve]

What's your First Aid Philosophy? For a day or overnight trip...

Are you the type that carries, a full sized FAK with epi-pens, drugs, all types of bandages, gauze pads in different sizes, splints, etc.

OR

Just a roll of duct tape and tampons.

For me, I lean towards the 2nd option. My kit is more for comfort items than real emergencies. Afterall, for a short day or overnight trip, you either need a band-aid or an ambulance.

In my personal kit I have the following items,

1 Triangular bandage
6 Band-Aids
2 Alcohol Wipes
2 packs of 10 pcs 7.5cm x 7.5cm Sterile gauze
1 tube antiseptic cream (can be used like calamine lotion to soothe minor skin irritations)
1 Tweezers

Its not in the kit but I carry a roll of duct tape all the time. Lots of uses...

[Ollie]

As you said, it kind of depends on the context of the trip.

For a day or overnight trip, I'd have to agree with you - if it's just overnight then the chances are that a team of paramedics wouldn't have too much difficulty getting to you.

However, with a large group on an expedition for example, i would probably lean more towards the first option, and spread it out over the group, for two reasons:


I don't have to carry it all
A first aid kit isn't much use if the person carrying it just fell of a cliff with all his kit. (Not that a first aid kit would be of much use in that situation, but you get the idea... :))
For the same reason, you should also make sure that no one person is carrying all the food, or all the purification tablets - if they get injured or seperated from the party, or lose their kit, then you're stuck in a pretty bad position :D


There's another thread on 'expedition' first aid kits here:
http://www.goxplore.net/showthread.php?t=153

[timmygowalkies]

I'm in the middle lol. I like to carry a fair amount but don't like going over the top. if I'm with the hillwalking group most people carry a persoanl first aid kit and if you put all those together you can cover most things.

[Keefy]

I was prescribed some OraMorph (oral morphine) for a recent operation and I hated the effects so much that I still have a bottle and a half left!
If I break a leg up a mountain I can just take a swig and walk back home! (unless my heart stops as a side effect) Hey presto, no need for anything else but the Oramorph! ( and maybe a defibrilator)

No, seriously, I do have a quite comprehensive first aid kit, just in case. I see the extra wieght as a bonus...... I get fitter than everyone else!

Keefy

[Superslogger]

I agree with Ollie. The size of my first aid kit is determined by where I am going and how long it is likely to take a medical team to get to the scene of an incident.