Medicine cabinet or first aid on the road

[fireaunt]

I was minding my own business last Wed. pm. and was attacked by a kamakazzy wasp in the fold of my eye. It was the most extreme pain for over an hour and I never saw it- coming or going. I still have blurry vision and a very swollen eye. I know it isn't life threatening but made me think about emergency care on the road.

My first aid kit, and I think a tackle box would work, needs tylenol, benedryl, epipen, alcohol, band-aids, tums and pepto.

What items or home remedies do you count on? How severe a situation have you encountered?

Marilyn

---------------
never saw it coming

[alffink]

Marilyn

I spent 23 years in the Coast Guard, primarily as a boarding officer in Boating Safety units. during that time I learned that most of the fancy stuff that you can put in a good first aid kit, will probably never be used.
And I had the luck to deliver babies on two seperate occasions and had the misfortune to be the first on scene, where a young mother had her own ski-boat backdown on her, severing a leg I say this so I can honestly say that two things that should be in your kit is a good emergency blanket, for shock and what we called a trauma pack, this is a large pad nearly 8" square, with long tails that can tie around the body or around the head to control severe bleeding, if it soaks through add another, hopefully never to be unpacked but this is truly a lifesaver when needed.
other than than that your list is pretty good, add a couple days doses of any specials meds that you may be taking, a GOOD pair of tweezers
a bee sting kit. I'm sure others will come up with their own favorites, but one other thing, if you do not know CPR take a class and learn!

[doug hodder]

I usually carry a standard first aid kit, but after an episode with my sister that had to make a trip to the hospital for a couple of wasp stings, I'm thinking about one of those injection kits for bee stings. I ought to be carrying one. As a kid up in Wash. state, about 1962. I got stung by like 35 bees one time. Had them up under my shirt on my back and head. It was a hospital trip for me too! Talk about one flipped out 9 year old! Doug

[satch]

Also, one should keep in mind that some items, like creams or ointments, may have expiration dates. I had a med kit in my car that was given to me, after checking the packages, I noticed the ointments expired 7years earlier. Allways a good idea to check and update any med kit. jmo

[oklahomajewel]

I have a J & J first aid kit in my teardrop, the $10 kind from Wally World.

The one time that I was SOOOOOO glad to have it was last year camping at Joe Pool in Dallas with some other teardroppers...


It may not seem like an emergency, but about 1 in the morning I woke up with the oddest , itchy-est and I mean ABSOLUTELY , AGGRAVATING , and UNREAL OUT OF CONTROL ITCHING ON THE TOP OF MY FEET...

Okay, just itching? I was going crazy and scratching so hard my feet were getting red... I thought I would have to go to the bath house, maybe washing my feet would help.... what else could I do ? Jump in the car at 1 am , and drive as far as I had to to get to a Walmart or store... but well, just check the first aid kit --- it was in the galley though --- THANK GOD... anti itch cream !!!!! It saved my life, well at least my night.

It may not seem like a real emergency , but believe me -- I made sure I replaced it with a new tube (Cortaid)



I

[fireaunt]

Anti itch is good- those EBEE-JEBEES can drive you crazy. I need to make up a kit with it all together. I also think I'll include a sprained ankle bandage. At the Memorial day campout there were 2 people that could have used one each.

Some jellyfish sting stuff too - what's good meat tenderizer or bleach?

[jhjspecks]

one thing that i keep with me is a large bottle of rubbing alcohol, small bottle of bleach, small bottle of aloe gel, meat tenderizer, and BC powder packets. bleach and alcohol for cleaning cuts or punchures after fishing, neat tenderizer for the fishing creatures stings/burns, and the aloe/BC is for actuall burns. you mix the BC powder in the aloe and plzce it on the burn. It takes the pain out and sooths the burn at the same time.

[fireaunt]

I've never used the BC powder. The BC/meat tenderizer is a neat trick.

Marilyn

[asianflava]

I've never used the BC powder. The BC/meat tenderizer is a neat trick.

Marilyn

What about a Goody's powder?

We have a small 1st aid kit but I added some Advil, Tylenol, and Claritin to it. Samples are nice to put in there.

[jhjspecks]

I use the BC powder because it is already in powder form, but you could crush an aspril or tylenol I guess.

[Gaelen]

Hydrogen peroxide.
Betadine, either as swabs, wipes or a bottle. Failing that, Povodine Iodine.
Baby powder, or cornstarch (for any chafing, or for inflamed but not open skin that is too big an area for a band-aid.)
Q-tips.
Extra bandaids (figure on adding a whole package of bandaids to any over-the-counter first aid kit you buy.)
A couple of rolls of Vetrap (bandage that sticks to itself, that comes in 2" and 4" wide rolls.)
Good, waterproof tape.
Plastic ziploc bags.
GLOVES--so that you stay safe if tending to someone else. Even if all you've got is a pair of Rubbermaid dishwashers between you and someone else's wounds, that's better than nothing. In a pinch, I've also used baggies. Latex and nitrile are sensitive to heat and cold, though, so be prepared to replace gloves in your kit at least once a season.
Heavy duty emergency scissors (that can cut through anything.) Failing that, get a serious pair of kitchen shears, the kind designed to cut poultry.

And I second the recommendation to take a CPR course, and to keep your certification up to date (especially if you're not involved as some sort of first responder.) The important thing about CPR is remembering what to do when you need it--so stay current!

[FireLion]

...and....aspirin, baking soda, vinegar, cold pack, rubber tubing for a tourniquet. Also a good book about nature's natural soothers and cures.

[mechmagcn]

Also, one should keep in mind that some items, like creams or ointments, may have expiration dates. I had a med kit in my car that was given to me, after checking the packages, I noticed the ointments expired 7years earlier. Allways a good idea to check and update any med kit. jmo

When we bought our Mercedes the original first aid kit was still in place along with all ointments, and this car is an 82 model I think they are a little out of date
In all of our trailers and vehicles, we carry the better version of a first aid kit that Wal-Mart sells. It might not have all items that are necessary, but it is much better than none.

[S. Heisley]

Here are some surprising ideas for times when you don't have much and have a problem:

This one is interesting: If you've eaten a banana within 24 hours, mosquitos will be more attracted to you. However, to take the ich away once you've been bitten? Rub the inside of the banana peel over the bite. (I've tried this one and it worked for me!) Also, ammonia will take away the pain/ich of an insect bite. (I've tried that one too. The stores sell little tubes of ammonia just for that purpose.)

Jellyfish sting? Ammonia or urinating on it really is supposed to work. (I haven't tried it...never been stung by one.) I'd prefer to use the tube of ammonia.

[alffink]

Actually

If your stung by that Sting Ray you just stept on, your usually ready to take a piss immediately, planning to or not, convenient aint it.