Perscription Drugs In Your Caching Kit

[teamh3]

I read one guy carried an epi pen in his first aid kit as well as a couple perscription pain pills. he did this just in case one of the people he was with either got really hurt or had an allergic reaction. I think this is a pretty good idea and I was going to post to the thread but I believe that the thread had been locked. it was locked being a duplicate thread ( I am not trying to start a duplicate thread here) but you can read that one here.even though I am just starting and so far have only managed to get about a 15 min walk from civilization

 

I do carry a couple things with me. I carry an extra inhaler since I am asthmatic. having an attack at any time really sicks and some of them felt like I was going to die. and while I dont carry perscription pain pills in my bag I have picked up a bottle of the strongest pain relievers I could get over the counter since I dont think I could ask my Doctor for a perscription for ever four of them.

 

The last thing I carry is two neoprene knee braces and two neoprene ankle wraps. They weigh almost nothing and could come in handy if I or someone I am with suffer a sprain in the knee or ankle.

 

I was hoping to include some of those chemical cold packs but I havent found any near by. I know that there have been alot of threads about what do you carry, I am hoping that this doesnt turn into one of those, what i am asking is what if any specialtiy items do you carry.

 

Edited to add link to mentioned thread

Edited September 26, 2004 by teamh3

[+YuccaPatrol]

I think I was the one with the Epi-pens in my first aid kit.

 

I also carry a couple of strong perscription painkillers in case someone is injured (broken leg, etc) and has to wait in pain to be evacuated. Most family doctors would not have a problem prescribing a very limited number of such pills if you explain that you are preparing a back-country first aid kit.

 

Acetazolamide (a prescription) and tylenol combine to be very helpful to someone suffering from altitude sickness, but the best treatment is to simply get the person to a lower altitude.

 

Defintely carry an extra inhaler if you has asthma, that would be awful to need it and have it a mile away in your car.

 

Your choice of prescription drugs for a first aid kit is certainly influenced by your personal health, your first-aid skills/knowledge/training, and how far into the backcountry you are planning to go. Certainly get your doctor's advice after you have researched your "perscription drug shopping list" for your kit.

[+1stimestar]

Sam splints and a roll of coban are great to bring with. Sam splint can roll up pretty small but when straightened out is strong like metal. Coban is like a roll of gauze but sticks to itself. You can buy a lot of interesting stuff at a medical supply store.

[teamh3]

I will have to check out a medical supply store

[+YuccaPatrol]

That coban stuff is great for patching up a dog's paw that gets cut on the trail, among its many uses. ..

[Dukie 'n' Dad]

My small hiker/Biker kit contains the following:

 

I started with an Adventure Medical Kits "Ultra-Light Cyclist" whcih is still the pouch i use, but the contents are probably all different now. Please note that I "ALWAYS" have a pocket knife or multi-tool and a flashlight, and that is assumed in designing this kit.

 

(1) set of survival/first aid plastic cards

(1) 4"x4" sterile Pad

(2) 3"x3" sterile Pad

(1) 3"x4" non-adhereent sterile Pad

(2) 3"x2" Spenco Second Skin pad

(2) Spenco Second Skin Blister Pads

(2) 3"x4" sheets of moleskin

(2) Oral Rehydration Salts

(1) package of wipe with 'ticture of Benzoin' (helps sticky stuff stick on skin)

(3) alcohol prep pads

(1) medicated first aid wipe

(12) butterfly closures

(1) Knucke bandage

(1) roll sterile gauze

(1) roll medical tape

(1) tiny bottle of liquid bandage

(2) large safety pins

(1) Secta-Sooth

(1) tick tweezers

(6) benadryl tablets

(12) Neproxin tablets

(4) Oxycodone (STRONG pain killers)

(3) Cyclobenzaprine (muscle relaxant)

(6) Excedin tablets

(4) Dayquil gel-caps

(1) small roll of Tums

(1) Blistex Extreme

(1) container of Glucose tablets

(1) waterprrof plastic tube containing:

(1) sterile surgical blade

(8) strike anywhere "Huricane" matches

(1) needle

(1) 4' of sterile suture thread

(1) piece of sandpaper for striking)

(1) 10' 8lb test fishline

(1) lead sinker

(1) fishhook

 

All medications are in tiny zip-lock baggies with name, purpose, and dosage info written on it with a Sharpie. These are then all in a larger baggie to both protect and keep dry. This entire kit fits very very tight but has shown to be highly useful.

 

Notice that there are no standard bandages in the kit. I have found that they take up more room than they are worth. The liquid bandages are better on smaller cuts and the gauze and tape hold better on larger ones.

 

There is no Epi-Pen in the kit as it is too large to fit, however I do have epi-pens and carry them in addition to this kit. Depending on where I am, I'll take either one adult or 2 child versions. You can use the 2 child versions for an adult.

 

Please note that this kit is designed for use in New England where medical attention is usually less than a day away in the worst conditions. Usually only a few hours. When I go on longer trips, the small pack is suplemented with a larger metal case kit in the vehicle that has far more comprhensive items. I have not done any long multi-day outings where help would be more than 24 hours off.

 

I've heard talk about splints and other items. I have found that you can almost always find a natural solution around you. I have even taken part in training that has shown that if a group could carry out an injured party, then they would have the matierials to build and manuver a makeshift stretcher from young trees, belts, and clothing.

 

The first thing, is to take a first aid class and get to know how to deal with the basics.. The sad fact is that you could have the best book available, but wihout some knowledge panic and stress can make that book useless.

 

The best class I ever took was the week long Wilderness First Responder clsss taught by Wilderness Medical Associates. This is basically an EMT level class based outdoors with no special equipment with the idea that medical help will take time to arrive.

[+YuccaPatrol]

Dukie n Dad has a very good point:

 

Any specialized first aid/medical/emergency items are mostly useless (and possibly dangerous) if you do not have a plan or training for when/how to use them properly.

 

For instance, acetazolamide is great for altitude sickness, but you must know in advance how to dispense it to a patient and it is not a subsitute for moving the afflicted person to a lower altitude. It could be very dangerous to give someone the medication and then encourage them to continue climbing even higher up where their initial unpleasant symptoms could become life threatening.

[+1stimestar]

I keep the sam splint and coban as I often hike by myself. The most likely thing to happen would be to sprain my ankle and have a hard time getting out. A friend of mine is teaching a wilderness first aid course and so I will be taking that as soon as she gets the logistics of the class settled. I'm already cpr/first aid certified. I'll be excited to take the wilderness class though. I am really looking forward to it.

[moopgroop]

As an EMT and a D.C., I urge caution when dealing with prescription meds. First, giving prescription medication to someone they are not prescibed to may open you up to practicing medicine without a license. Second, due to the huge amount of pharmaceuticals, there are many drug interactions that even doctors don't realize. Your best source to find out if there are possible interactions between prescription meds, OTC meds, and supplements, is your phamacist.

There are many OTC analgesics and anti-inflammatories available without going the RX route.

 

As far a using anything to help someone else, especially someone you may not know well, make sure to use personal protective equipment such as gloves and if you need to do rescue breathing, a pocket mask or face shield is a must. Also, remember that the Good Samaritan Laws only protect you based on what "a reasonable person with similar training" would do. Laws vary by state so find out what yours says, and as I tell my students, the law doesn't keep you from getting sued, just from being found negligent, unless you were!

 

The best advice so far in this thread is take a class in first aid.

[+JohnnyVegas]

moopgroop hit the nail on the head, You just should not give perscription drugs to other people, it is not safe. I have to carry Nitro with me, would I give to someone else if I thought they were having a cardiac event, that is a tough one to answere, A pain killer no, nobody dies from pain. I do not know that Nitro can cause a problem for some one, not having a heart problem theres the rub.

[+nfa]

Hi,

 

As regards drugs, I bring Bayer, Tylenol, Advil, and Benedryl, Pepto in my first-aid kit. I wouldn't give somebody on the trail prescription meds, although I have given people stuff out of my fist-aid kit before.

 

nfa

[+YuccaPatrol]

I do understand the implications of giving someone else your prescription medications. It is illegal

 

But if someone's throat is constricting due to anaphylaxis after a bee sting and they are going to die wthin minutes without treatment, I am not going to stand there and debate the legal implications of practicing medicine without a license.

 

I am going to be a Good Samaritan and do my best to save their life and leave the debate where it belongs: in an internet forum

[moopgroop]

But if someone's throat is constricting due to anaphylaxis after a bee sting and they are going to die wthin minutes without treatment, I am not going to stand there and debate the legal implications of practicing medicine without a license.

 

And that my friend, is a decision that I hope no no one ever has to make. As for me, if I had to make it, knowing what I know, and if I had the epi-pen with me, I would probably do it as well.

[moopgroop]

I do not know that Nitro can cause a problem for some one, not having a heart problem theres the rub.

Nitroglycerin tablets and spray act as a vasodialtor, which means that it causes your blood vessels to get bigger. This will cause a drop, sometimes a dramatic drop, in blood pressure, which can be dangerous or life threatening, depending on the persons condition. Mostly, nitro is prescribed for angina, which is chest pain usually brought on by exertion (caching and bushwhacking?), but is relieved by rest. If chest pain persists for more than a few minutes, it may be more serious. In any case, if it is someone's first episode of chest pain, 911 as soon as possible is always a safe bet.

 

Also, if someone is taking medications for ED such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, (not implying anything JohnnyVegas ) giving them nitro is definitely not the thing to do. People can and do die from that interaction.

[+SixDogTeam]

Ever since we flunked out of Med School after that embarassing overdose deal, we've stopped dispensing prescription drugs...

[+XRN95]

Interesting discussion here. I have to agree with Moopgroop on many points. Meds warrant caution. Prescription meds are intended for the person the prescription is written for, no others plain and simple. I am a Trauma Intensive Care nurse and I give life saving drugs on a daily basis. Just because I know what drug, when and how to give it doesnt mean that I carry around a stash. Narcotics are not without danger, some of those can cause serious reactions (deadly) themselves. In addition to allergic reactions they can cause respiratory depression. Everyone reacts differently to medications. Most people dont know to ask an injured person about allergies, and even asking doesn't mean they will always remember. I am a big advocate for a good first aid kit but I advise caution on what you decide to dispense to others.

[teamh3]

I think we are getting away from the subject that I started. I know I mentioned perscriptions drugs and i talked about carring an inhaler (I have asthma) but the question was what kind of specialty items do you carry in a first aid kit. I am new to this and would like to be as equiped as possible.

[+fly46]

I talked about carrying an inhaler (I have asthma)

I'm assuming you have bad asthma? For anyone with slight asthma, drinking water will also help with the attack. I'm an asthmatic, too, but I don't have bad asthma, so any attack I have can be stopped by sitting still for a couple minutes.

 

Just an FYI for anyone who didn't know who may have this problem with a friend.

 

 

And to try to stay on your topic, I know some cachers carry snake bite kits with them.

[+YuccaPatrol]

Recently, my dog was seriously injured in a fall while hiking. We were 4 miles into the backcountry and were only able to evacuate the dog halfway before nightfall and the most treacherous part of the hike.

 

At this point, we were taking stock of our emergency inventory and developing our plan for staying with the dog overnight although we were only carrying gear for pleasant day hike. We pushed through to get back to the large creek where I knew we could find good level ground and water for the night.

 

For light, I had 3 very bright keychain LED flashlights.

For water: small bottle of iodine tablets

For shelter: two silver mylar emergency blankets

For Warmth (if needed): magnesium block and flint fire starter (in case the matches didnt work)

For food: a couple extra Balance bars and other small nutritious snacks.

 

All of this stuff is in my first aid kit. It would not have been a very pleasant night, but those few items were enough to comfort my girlfriend and let her know that we were prepared with everything we really needed to be just fine until the dog had rested for the night and we could safely move him again if he could not walk on his own.

 

We were very blessed (and I don't use that word lightly or often) to discover that a family of backpackers we had seen earlier in the day had set up camp about 300 feet from where we could go no further. The father was a scout leader and he helped me move the dog to his campsite. They offered to take care of the dog for the night so that we could get back to the truck to go to town and get more gear to build a stretcher to carry the dog out.

 

Long story short: the dog is doing great and healing quickly and I was prepared even though I did not need to use my emergency specialized items.

 

I would not bother with a snake bite kit. If you get bitten by rattlesnake, it is very very very unlikely you will die, but you will be happier the sooner you get your antivenin injection at the hospital. I would not waste a single minute with a snake bite kit if it meant taking longer for me to get to the hospital.

[teamh3]

Fly, usually my asthma isnt to bad but when it gets going I have had pretty bad attacks that seems small at the start. they just seem to get worse and worse until I felt like a 800 pound gorilla was sitting on my chest. I am always suprised and very happy how quickly a few puffs on the inhaler can stop one of these attacks before it gets that bad.

 

I was thinking of items for common injuries, sprained ankles bad cuts from broken glass, deep splinters, insect bites, and the like. I know I cant prepare for everything unless I want to drag a fair sized trailer behind me. I was thinking this becasue as i read all the "what do you keep in your backpack" threads I took a list made up of everything that everyone listed and found that if I tried to carry everything I would be lugging a 250 pound backpack around. Not really my idea of a nice walk in the park.

 

I have gotten several good ideas from this thread already, perhaps the best one is the liquid bandages. Having used them on several of my own cuts (boo boos) in areas of my body that band-aids just dont work well. (i.e. Fingers palm of my hand) I will be adding it to my kit.

Edited September 29, 2004 by teamh3

[+XRN95]

Sorry to have gotten off your original topic! As for specialty items, one thing I have is temporary filling material. Broken teeth and lost fillings can be painful. This material provides a temporary solution. I have used it and it works great ( so I was told by the person I used it on). The stuff I have is a small tube that takes up barely any space.

[+Gang of Groovy Girls]

What about infectious diseases? I haven't read where anyone has mentioned latex/nonlatex gloves. What about mouth shields for CPR? These two items are dirt cheap and I would not be caught without them.

[+XRN95]

To me, those items are standard....not specialty.

[+Kai Team]

I read one guy carried an epi pen  in his first aid kit as well as a couple perscription pain pills. he did this just in case one of the people he was with either got really hurt or had an allergic reaction. I think this is a pretty good idea...

Hope I'm not off topic here, but I'm allergic to bee stings and carry an Epi-pen. I wanted to mention that an Epi-pen is also a prescription item (at least in NY) and not to be used lightly. They're also expensive and expire about every 6 months (if stored under controlled conditions - yeah, right).

 

If I saw someone having an anaphylactic reaction I might use my Epi-pen, but I would consider doing so quite carefully before acting. So I would not add an Epi-pen to your first aid kit unless you need one yourself!