First Aid, Who's Needed It?

[Taudisio]

I've had some real bad luck (outcomes) in the first aid in the field area. The first was when I was shot while quail hunting - a nice load of lead #7's out of a 20ga at close range. Luckily it was a ricochet off the ground and only hit my lower legs and hands. I was 20 at the time. No first aid kit of course. And unfortunately the person with me wasn't able to drive stick so I had to drive out. It was a very long and bloody hour to the nearest hospital.

Next two were CPR incidents while dove hunting. Both happened in the parking lot after hunting. In both instances NO ONE present knew CPR (or was willing to help?) except me. Neither made it. It took over 25 minutes for the ambulance/paramedics to get there on the first one and the 2nd one was 15 minutes before help arrived. It's difficult to do effective CPR longer than ~10 minutes for most of us and I was exhausted both times. It was very sad both times as the family members (sons and grandsons) were present.

The next one happened while deer hunting. It was an accidental gun shot (negligent discharge?) by one of my hunting partners that took out the upper right lung of one of my other hunting partners. Despite 1st aid to stop the bleeding etc. he sadly did not survive. That was a very difficult time and I never in my life felt so helpless in the field.

Last one of note was a run of the mill finger slice/severed tendon. Easy first aid, a little surgery, and all is good.

Anyone up for a hunt with me?

Bummer run of luck you have had. Put an AED in your truck man.

No, I do not ever want to see you in the field.

 

[Coues123]

Had a horse wreck on an elk hunt. Ended up with a 3 inch gash on top of my head. It was bleeding like all head injuries do. Rode 2 miles to camp washed it with soap and water. Then we took small locks of hair on both side of the gash and tied them in knots in about 8 places like stitches. Checked it every night and killed a bull 4 days later.

 

[Jaspero37]

My buddy sunk his knife into his calf on the first cut of a downed bull. There were 4 of us on that trip. We cleaned it out as best we could with alcohol and then bandaged it with gauze pads and what not yo stop the bleeding. We were roughly 6 miles in. He was a trooper and hobbled out of there while the other three hauled the meat out alongside him. We always joke that he just didn't want to pack meat. Went to the hospital for cleaning and stitches. I'd always rather have first aid and not need it than vice versa.

 

[dusky]

In addition to a standard first aid kit, I keep an athletic knee brace in my bag. My fear is twisting a knee by myself in the backcountry and being unable to pack out even with half a dozen Advil. All that side hilling takes a toll. Haven't needed it yet. Just bandaids. But the thing I've had to watch the most are my tiredness and overzealousness because that's always what gets me in trouble. Rest, refuel, and remember slow is fast. Younger self had to learn all that the hard way, times over.

 

[idahodave]

This wasn’t awesome…especially given I still had a few miles and 2,000+ feet of elevation to climb out. Was a looong day, and probably the lowest I’ve ever felt physically.

Anti-clotting agent helped. So did game bag material. So did electrical tape to hold it all together.

A moment of carelessness with a Havalon was the cause of this mess. Buried it into the base of my hand/wrist.


Dave

 

[Weldor]

Ouch! quick clot for sure, ace bandages.epi-pen. I do need to get some medical super glue.

 

[Cliff Gray]

great thread!

I used to carry this USFS approved list of first aid items... it was 95% bogus. bwhahah

I've gotten where if it doesn't potentially change the life/death outcome I don't carry it. cat tourniquet 2x, Israeli bandage, small block of compressed gauze, baby aspirin, two chest seals... A guy could probably even go either/or on Israeli bandage/compressed gauze. Know how to do chest compressions. Know how to do the heimlich and back blows on guys that eat too big of a piece of steak.

as others mentioned, keeping warm is probably the number one thing. Have a way to start a fire on you at all times (ignition and tinder)... practice at slow times in the field. I used to make fires all the time at lunch when it was safe to do so. It will amaze you how hard it is, if you don't practice where you hunt.

puncture wounds are surprisingly common up in the mountains on humans and livestock. know how to stuff one and hold pressure.

I've used the inreach sos button four times for clients. when you need it, it changes the outcome more so than anything else, once you're beyond the items I mentioned above.

 

[Pharmseller]

View attachment 860288


This wasn’t awesome…especially given I still had a few miles and 2,000+ feet of elevation to climb out. Was a looong day, and probably the lowest I’ve ever felt physically.

Anti-clotting agent helped. So did game bag material. So did electrical tape to hold it all together.

A moment of carelessness with a Havalon was the cause of this mess. Buried it into the base of my hand/wrist.


Dave

I won’t use a Havalon in the field for just this reason.

My Gerber is sharp enough to gut and quarter.

Havalon is too sharp.

Great for butchering at home, though.







P