First Aid Kit

[2airishuman]

dental packing.......

there are some nice kits now with temp filling replacements or crown work repair....

having one of these can turn a painful short trip into a tolerable vacation...
while looking for a southoftheborder dentist......

cheers
2air'

[maxandgeorgia]

". . .suture tying is fun if done correctly...."

and on someone other than yourself! (Sorry, couldn't overlook that one!) Thanks, all, really for the good reminders contained throughout this thread. I will be reprovisioning our kit this week with these lists in hand. ~G

[bryanl]

Where can you find a kit that will remain useful after 20 years in a trailer that gets up past 110F in the summer and down below 0F in the winter?

It seems that one of the big hassles, especially if you have a pharmacy like 2air's, is providing a proper storage environment.

A second big hassle is replacing materials to make sure that what you have is current, fresh, and effective. and how do you replace small quanitities of this and that to keep it up to date, anyway?

A first aid and emergency kit is one of those things that you need out of the way but immediate to hand when its needed. Its one of those things that is out of sight and out of mind but needs proper attention and maintenance.

Don nearly lost a thumb bashing sticks on a tree to break them up (still don't see how he did it). We did get to a nearby ER (30 mi) but they were thinking of transport 300 miles until they found a guy used to repairing snow blower and chain saw victims. Don pretty much patched himself up for First Aid. Good to have others available to help out when needed as a first first aid.

[2airishuman]

i've been meaning to get back to this thread but haven't had time......

as for medications......the truth is that most expiration dates are stamped/written arbitarily....there is very little good science on how long most meds remain active and bioavailable.....

many pharmacies routinely stamp a date......1 year from now.....when the manufacturer many have 3 years listed.....also makers know very little about when a given medication becomes ineffective.....each year billions of dollars of still fresh medications are tossed because of premature expiration dates.......

i routinely consume meds that are 1-3 years past the expiration date....for non life threating needs like allergies, heartburn or headaches....not that i'm suggesting anyone else do this....

yes heat and cold are issues but the trailer doesn't have to be a deep freeze or oven....

single use meds like aspirin for a heart attach or antibotics for giradia or steroids for asthma....can be vacumn packed, foil covered, and stored in a moderate temp location for years....like wine or peanut butter or energy bars....

so one way to look at these first aid/emergency supplies/health aids and medications is to group them like the galley.....

-pots and pans (gauze and tape and needles) last for decades
-dry goods like beans/rice salt, spices (saline, bandaids, antiseptics, ointments) can last for 5 years or more.....
-regional fare like vadialia onions or snake bite kits are best purchased just before traveling to a given region where they might be needed....
-and current needs like fresh fruit or your current personal medication list are best loaded and unloaded each time the trip begins.....

travel trailers are more like homes than a backpack or shelter house....so we need to and will carry a more complete, broad and potentially diverse supply of health, wellness, first aid and emergency supplies....

my point is think beyond the barebones first aid. like an international traveler visit your doc occasionally before the camping season and get scripts for a few supplies....and rotate every few years...

anticipate your needs, the family and pets when the season kicks into gear....

cheers
2air'

[troubleskeep]

While everyone is airing out the AS and hopefully checking to make sure the First Aid Kits are fully stocked and up to date, now would also be a good time to check the fire extinguishers, smoke, CO, and propane detectors too. If your detectors have batteries, go ahead and change them so they are fresh for the season.

Ya'll travel safe now, ya hear!

[janetb]

Love this thread! May seem kinda boring but worth going over. 2 Air's comments are still current and suggestions very appropriate--especially for those traveling with kids, or those dealing with the vagaries of illnesses--and worth paying careful attention to. Best to make sure all meds and most supplies are not only up to date, but also kept in a cool location. And it would be oh so wonderful if everyone had at least a basic CPR course...Those 1st 3 minutes mean everything, and we're all capable of doing what needs to be done to save a life.
Have all those amazing paramedics, emts, docs, and nurses out there who travel in their Airstreams taught their significant others the ABCs? Not really all that challenging. Let's keep each other safe!
Janet

[rickandsandi]

Hi All! Everyone has mentioned some really great stuff above and it is all worth noting. Being a first responder volunteer my Med Bag is always ready to go. But I do have a very simple and realiable method I use each spring. I know this was mentioned earlier but well worth mentioning again. When de-winterizing, change all detector batteries, and clean out and replenish Med Kit in AS. The clean out medicine cabinet. When we do a spring cleaning it is fron tongue to rear bumper!

[wahoonc]

We used to build our own First Aid kits for the BSA using a small Rubbermaid container. I started using the Adventure Medical Kits about 15 years ago and have used them since then. We currently keep the Sportsman kit with our travel supplies. Both the wife and I have been trained as First Responders at our respective jobs, so our kit has a tendency to be a bit more comprehensive than most general first aid kits....and No I won't put a big Red Cross on my Airstream

Aaron

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Leipper

Where can you find a kit that will remain useful after 20 years in a trailer that gets up past 110F in the summer and down below 0F in the winter?

First Aid kits need maintenance just like everything else. Get a good comprehensive one and check it every year, or even every quarter if need be.

second big hassle is replacing materials to make sure that what you have is current, fresh, and effective. and how do you replace small quanitities of this and that to keep it up to date, anyway?

You can buy small lot items from places like Adventure Medicals or Wilderness Medical will update their kits for you for a price.

Don nearly lost a thumb bashing sticks on a tree to break them up (still don't see how he did it)

.

And do we let Don play with Scissors

Aaron

[overlander63]

It's almost time to hit the road again (March 1 is tomorrow). With Spring just around the corner, don't forget to check over your first aid kit, and make sure everything is still in good shape, filled, and all expirable (is that a word?) items are within their dates. There's nothing like suffering a bee sting on your first outing of the season, and finding out the medicine for it is out of date.

[troubleskeep]

Spring Forward - Daylight Saving Time is a great benchmark for checking your first aid kits. Also, please check your smoke/fire, propane & CO detectors prior to loading up and heading out.

Remember, Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in MARCH now, so that will be March 11th this year. DST ends on the first Sunday in NOVEMBER also, but that's a ways off.

[Gen Disarray]

The most important item in your kit is the the stuff between your ears. Do know what to do with the stuff IN the kit if you need it?

[woodedareas]

Since I am a hunter and travel in remote areas, I have learned to carry a complete up to date kit. The kits are available in about any size for any pupose. Since some of the RV camps and parks are not in cell range I periodically carry a satellite telephone. Serious health problems can present themselves any where at any time and consideration should be given to emergency response time for all campers and travelers. I would recommend that rally organizers include the location of the nearest hospital to the camp site and the availability of a 911 call center.

[overlander63]

Just another reminder, if you haven't checked/restocked your trailer's first aid kit, now is a great time to look it over, and freshen it if needed.