First aid preparation for bowhunters.

[Papabull]

We use some seriously sharpt stuff in the woods. We climb metal pegs stuck in trees and hang out on a hunk of aluminum 20 feet up. We wear a safety belt that should keep us from busting our skulls but it can be very dangerous, too. First aid is something that could save your life or the life of a hunting partner. And if you feel remorese after shooting a deer, you might be able to nurse it back to health.... OK, maybe we won't go there, but being capable of applying first aid to yourself is something that shouldn't be overlooked as we pack our gear.

At the very least, I feel that super-glue, a whistle, compass, antiseptic of one sort or another and bandages are "must haves". They don't take up much space. Splints can be tied on with strips of clothing. Tourniquets can be fashioned easily from belts or cloth strips. But open wounds as are frequently experienced by hunters field dressing their prey can be a real problem. A little alcohol and some crazy glue to "suture" the wound does wonders for this type of injury

Any other ideas or cautions for first aid would be welcome here.

[O'B]

With everything you mentioned I also carry a small suturing kit for any "cuts" that are too large for super glue and tylenol. That's it.

O'B

[tuffshot]

I know there was another thread on the subject but for safetys sake a cell phone can be the safest thing one can take. Also a good location map of where you are and when to expect you home and leave it with the family "just in case"

When my son and I went to Denton Hill this year I ordered a trip tic from "AAA" and left it with my wife so she would know where we were at any stage of the trip in case of emergency.

[Pinelander]

Careful with tourniquets guys... if it's REAL bad, sometimes the only choice is to cut off the flow of main artery to save a life. But also keep in mind, if you can stop blood flow out of the wound without squeezing the main artery completely closed, that's a good thing. Remember, if you cut it off for too long, more than likely it will be dead as a door nail when it's time for the docs to do their thing, and unfortunately too late to save the limb then.

[Lambow]

That's true Piney..... Thats the reason they made us take the tourniquets out of our first aid kits at work.

Papa, i think it's a good idea to have at least, a minimun of a 1st aid kit of some type.

One time while hunting on stand in the eve, i had a mosquito fly into my ear drum, and wouldn't come out. I put my flashlight up to my ear, in hopeing it would draw him out. It didn't, and was about to drive me nutts, so i climed down and headed to the truck. When i got there, i turned on the headlights and stuck my ear to it, and he finally came flying out... What a relief, it felt like a helicopter flew out of my head..... My first aid for them now, is a Thermacell!!!!!!

[Papabull]

Good point, Piney. I keep forgetting that everyone doesn't know the danger of a tourniquet. It should not be used for snakebites. It shouldn't be used for anything but severe, unstoppable bleeding such as what would be experienced if the femoral artery was severed, in which case there's less than 60 seconds to get it done.

It's also a bad idea to use a tourniquet around the neck to stop bleeding from head wounds. ;) They actually made sure to tell us that explicitly during first aid training in the Army. I guess it's a good idea to assume people don't know anything at all when giving instructions for something that could have serious consequences if done improperly.

A good rule of thumb on the tourniquet is that it's a life-or-death last-resort. You are trading a limb for a life.

[stalker]

:) I think it's also important to ALWAYS let someone know where you are hunting and what time you should be back.
Then if you get hurt and can't move,someone can find you.

Stalker

[The Gray Fox]

A small notebook and pencil (ink can run when wet) are good for your first aid/survival kit. Whether in local or distant hunting areas, put a note under the windshield wiper to let people know the general area where you can be found. If you told someone you were going to be at stand "A", but decided to go to "B" once you got there, stick a note on "A" to let folks know where you went. The date and time are useful on notes, too. Lots of reasons why you might have to leave notes for someone looking for you.

[elkdreamer]

here's the first aid pack i carried in idaho during the guiding years......of course to have your guide license you had to have a first aid card.....in an idaho pack [ i think they are now bison packs ] in a 3x6x11 folding pack from rei i packed the following to save the dudes and my sorry ass if needed..........
25 pdi benzalkonium chloride antiseptic towlettes
1 tube neosporin plus
1 tube pf antiseptic firstaid powder
1 tube grazy glue
1 pack compeed skin protector
10 3"x3" 12 ply steri pad guaze pads
2 pacs ethlon black nylon with cutting needle
2 pacs chromic gut with cutting needle
chewable pepto
1 pill box of keflax [sp?]
1 pill box of excedrin
1 pill box of asprin
1 flat box of bandaid plastic
1 small roll of 3 in gauze
1 small roll of surgical tape
1 anaphylaxis emergency bee sting kit
1 small swiss army knife with scissors and twezzers
1 2 1/2 inch folding almar caping knife
1 ziplock rolled up with candle/cotton/and 12 books of matches
1 roll waxed thread
1 shooting glove
1 sliding bow stringer
1 dental floss roll
1 compact space blanket
4 large leaf garbage bags
1 uscg flat rescue whistle
1 small tube of mineral oil for ants that crawl into sleeping ears

as i mentioned ........all of this fit in the small 3x6x11 first aid pack......inside the bison back pack..........the bison pack was always carried on the saddle horn as i'm a firm believer in keeping all the weight i can off my mounts kidneys that i can during a days use.........carrying your backpak on your back
while mounted and riding just puts more weight on the horse where it shouldn't be.........now realize that the above kit was for back country hunting........and in all the years i guided .......other than blisters and headachs.........a few minor scrapes.......the only person that i had a big injury problem with was myself [ the cell phone thread ]..........i did spend more time than i cared for having to pack out training wheel bows back up to the top to pick up the horses in the evening because my dudes simple couldn't handle an all day hunt and climb back out..........sorta why i gave it up........clients in the last few years simply just never showed up in shape for the kind of hunting one has in the bitterroots of idaho......bow wise.....about as tough as elk hunting is ever going to get.......but .........that is country to behold......the visuals just never stop comming............elkdreamer

[pondscum2]

super glue, duct tape, & a plan if all goes up in smoke. the landowner i normally hunt on knows where i am at all times, & i leave notes for my wife & co-workers. at least they can locate the body without a lot of effort... :p ps2