Whats in YOUR First Aid Kit?

[Michael Palozzola]

Here's a question for any avid outdoors man. Whats in YOUR First Aid kit? Is it a store bought? a home made? a combination of both? What would you not be caught dead (no pun intended) without in the wilderness? And I'm not talking STRICTLY first aid but what is in your "Survival kit?"

[Kim Gass]

If you are bitten stay quiet, remove any constricting item and send for help. That is where a PLB shines.

Antivenin is stocked in hospitals and not for personal use.

It is true that a fasciotomy sometimes has to be done in order to save the limb..but it is far better than being dead.

Interesting article..particulary on what is ineffective

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

Make sure you know EXACTLY how to use each item in your kit.

[Swamp Hunter]

In the beginning it says: "suction with a venom extractor within the first five minutes after the bite may be useful." 

 

But later it says: "No study has shown any benefit in survival or outcome from incision and suction.11–13 However, a venom extractor can be beneficial if applied within five minutes of the bite and left in place for 30 minutes."

 

Other sites say it needs to used within 5 seconds which Im more inclined to believe for reasons stated earlier.  Studies show it removes less than one hundreths of the venom.

 

 At least one hunter was bitten by a Diamondback last year in the Big Cypress. He told me he called ahead and walked several miles to Turner River Road. Two  rangers were waiting in a car and advised him he could be lifted to Naples. Since he lives in Miami, he requested to go east but they refused. He chose to drive himself to a hospital with no escort. He told me the Rangers said to him "Good Luck" and drove in the opposite direction.

 

I think I would have gone to Naples but his point was that in case of a long hospital stay he would have requested to be transferred east anyway close to family. Now I only heard the hunters side of the story but the point is sometimes you need to help yourself. I dont know what would have happened if he was unable to walk to the road.

 

When he got out of the hospital, he put in a complaint. Luckily it was a dry bite.

[Swamp Hunter]

Thanks Kim. I learned a new word. (fasciotomy)

[Michael Palozzola]

Depending on the location of the bite and severity of the situation (as in are you hours from rescue), Having something tight fitting(such as a belt even or rope) can actually save your life, a turnicate means, yes you lose the arm/hand/etc but, No you don't die, because it helps to keep the venom from spreading throughout the body and reaching the heart/brain.

Also honestly if a ranger says your going to Tampa, you don't argue it. Not every hospital is equipped to dealing with snake bites the same way. There is probably a good reason they are trying to get you to one side of the state and not another even after you say you live closer to the other.

[Swamp Hunter]

That would be a good question if anybody knows which hospital is best. In the old days they always contacted Haas from the Serpentarium for advice. I would think the east coast hopitals would be more experienced but I dont really know. The hunters main beef was that they should have at least escorted him out of the park. He is lucky he didnt pass out while driving.

 

Im not sure of a tourniquets value either. According to my theory, it would have to be used within 5 seconds. My advice would be not to use a tourniquet in that case, and pretty much never, ever, unless the limb is already lost and other methods fail to stop the bleeding.

I have read something about a compression wrap possibly being helpful and I have my doubts but always make sure you are able to insert 2 fingers under the bandage.

[Kim Gass]

The idea is to keep the venom from entering your heart so quiet is advised as well as keeping the appendage low..though that seems kind of futile.  My experience as a paramedic was not with snakes but with jellyfish in coastal New England. Man O wars are not your friends either.

That said I have never encountered any snake in my paddling travels. Maybe I have not spent enough time in the Everglades inland.  Just some 11 weeks paddling over six years but of course most of that is in brackish or salt  water.

Reviewing other articles it seems field treatment is difficult and of dubious outcome. The only consistent recommendation is treatment at a facility that can administer antivenin which is not a DIY endeavor.

I will stick with my PLB. If its good for rescue in two hours in Antartica its good for the Glades. First flag down a powerboater though. That might be even faster.

[Swamp Hunter]

I spend all my time inland and encountering poisonous snakes in the Everglades is a common occurance.  Mostly Moccassins and Pygmys but Diamondbacks are making a comeback.

 

Its usually not a problem, if you see them first. Its not hard to walk around them. The danger is when you dont see them until its too late.

[Michael Palozzola]

In 5 seconds it wouldn't be all throughout your body. It may have already worked into your muscle and therfore be unable to be "extracted" but your not dead yet, the poison reaches the heart or brain you die. There is footage out there from snake bites of actually being able to "watch" the necrosis work its way up the blood stream and farther up the body. A turnicate is a LAST ditch effort, because to apply a turnicate correctly you WILL lose the appendage because the point of it is that you are stopping the flow of blood into and out of that body part. Its the old resident evil belief, quarantine and cleans the city to stop the spread beyond.

The issue id be MOST worried about snakes kim is I also hike a bit, and thats where I have spent some time within big cypress. Last trip out we ran into our first moccasin within 10ft of the start of the trail, and I had actually walked RIGHT past him. My buddy stopped me and goes, "Mike come tell me what I just barely missed stepping on."

And yes I would HIGHLY recommend anyone out there carry a PLB, the tech is there now a days; use it. PLB you have a chance any other scenario your chance is a crap shoot. Like i said earlier, as soon as I can actually afford one, it will be going onto my perma-kit. Speaking of, Kim which brand PLB do you have and what is the yearly cost for the service?

[Kim Gass]

I carry a dedicated PLB. It is intended for "I am in a life threatening emergency". Ergo a helo from US Coast Guard is what I would expect. They would rescue me but not my gear. If that were salvageable I would have to hire a private extractor.

It is a Mc Murdo FastFind that I bought for about $200.  There is no annual fee. However after five years the battery needs replacing at a cost of $200. PLBs however transmit at a higher power than SPOT. It kinda depends on your needs ...SPOT is great for family and perhaps not so good at saving your butt.

From this Northern Prune visiting only paddleable sites, I can attest that your threats are:

1. Dehydration

2. Sun 

3. Cutting your feet ( or boat ) on oyster bars.

Never mind the machete. Bring good footwear and leave the open toed sandal at home . Bring water. One gallon a day is a good guide. In January I use less. In March that is not enough.  Also  I remember you are coming in Dec. Its possible you might get cold so pack hat and gloves and wool sox and a down or Primaloft  jacket

So Michael investigate a PLB. The newer ones are small and fit in a pocket on your PFD.

Random musings from a sometimes Glades paddler.

1. I have trouble FINDING a snake

2. The wind will beat you up.

3. Gators don't care for salt water...and I rarely see one out there paddling.

4. Your enemy either has six eight or four legs and I will put my money on the four legged bandits.

5. Be ready for bugs and tropical bugs do not respond to what flattens Northern bugs.

6. Usually there is a powerboater around . Sometimes this is not what you want. If you Kung Fu with a snake this could be a good thing,

7. The wind can beat you up.

The wonderful thing about the Everglades is the variety of ecosystems!  What works in Big Cypress might have no pertinence at Picnic Key!

[Swamp Hunter]

Summation:

 

Wilderness Waterway = no snakes or very few????

 

Big Cypress =  many snakes and many are poisonous.

 

If you take a long hike in the BCNP and dont see a snake, you are either very lucky or not very observant of your surroundings.  

 

I wouldnt count on somebody coming to the rescue deep inside the Loop Unit.

[Kim Gass]

ayup.

(seeking  lobster leftovers in fridge)

[Swamp Hunter]

Im having late dinner myself lol.  (leftovers)