Inherent Risk, Field Care and Rescue

rooihond

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We as hunters are generally careful and concerned about emergencies and the likelihood of injury. We research weather patterns, political environment, wildlife aggression, consider double or CRF rifles, caliber, etc. Or, at least we should. To be safe, we also buy emergency medical and security insurance. This should help get us into life saving care or safety as soon as can be expected. What I notice among many hunters is the disregard and lack of kit that can keep us alive until we can get to help or until additional services arrive.

I urge you to get some gear that can address blood loss in particular. We carry guns, arrows, and knives. We go looking for animals that have big teeth and claws(or at least venture into their habitat). We travel by air, land, and water under unusual circumstances. These elements create a higher chance of injury with blood loss than many other sports and lifestyles. Blood loss is a leading cause of preventable death while on the way to or waiting for aid. Get some med gear(and get trained). It can save your life or the life of someone else.

Keep a simple kit while hunting or at the range. If hunting in the water, I can still keep a tourniquet on my person or at least on my buoy. That can be carried by even the most streamlined minimalist hunter.

There are other aspects that need to be covered as well. Please chime in with common injuries and illnesses as well as the appropriate kit or remedy.

Be ready. There is inherent risk in what we love.
 
I drag this baby along with me. I do a lot of traveling without a PH present to save me from my headaches.

Adventure Medical Backcountry First Aid Kit - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available

I also make sure I have the tick repellant.
Tabard or Watkins.

Anything else that you personally require should also get chucked in.

Know the local emergency number, just in case.

All in the name of being prepared.

9 times out of ten you PH will have training and a good first aid kit.
 
I drag this baby along with me. I do a lot of traveling without a PH present to save me from my headaches.

Adventure Medical Backcountry First Aid Kit - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available

I also make sure I have the tick repellant.
Tabard or Watkins.

Anything else that you personally require should also get chucked in.

Know the local emergency number, just in case.

All in the name of being prepared.

9 times out of ten you PH will have training and a good first aid kit.

Nice! I hope my deet formulation will do the trick for me and the bugs. I need to get local numbers for some of the areas in Zim/ Zambia/ Bwana where I will be headed soon. I did find that a clinic on Polokwane will accept my regular health insurance while in the Limpopo.

This is my usual kit.

D.A.R.K., Complete Kit, Ranger Green

It is bare bones but has the necessities for serious injury.
I would suggest getting the SOF Tourniquet option. The CAT has a plastic windlass than can fail especially after being exposed to heat(in a car) or extreme cold after time. The SOF has a metal windlass, better retention, and a buckle.

I also keep a few decompression needles handy.

Is there an industry standard for PH med training?
 
in America I would've thought the cold would ve been right up there as one of the biggest risks .
here l keep a couple of bandages and iodine ,as definates in my pack
along with super glue for cuts .
vitamin supplements .
candle and a lighter for ticks .(this is a new trail )and havnt used it yet .
and salt sachets for for leeches ( compliments of maca ds)
and l never leave with out ,my epirb.
I also keep space blankets in there
along with atleast 3 fire lighters and another lighter ,in a vaccum sealed bag .
3 flares vaccum sealed aswell one smoke and 2 handheld red distress.. these are the best firlighters on the planet .
in the ute under the back seat there a better medical kit
 
Yes, cold can be a biggie almost anywhere.

I'm used to an EPIRB when on the water. Great idea on land.
 
epirb .... plb
same thing basically
work off the same satelites
monitored by the same authorities
even work on the same frequencies .. 406 or 121 khtz
just regerstration is different
piece of mind for oneself and family in a little package
 
Has anybody noticed higher wound infection rates in Africa? I'm talking non life threatening injuries that turn bad quickly. MRSA kind of stuff. I would imagine any wound from an animal would have a serious risk of infection.
 
epirb .... plb
same thing basically
work off the same satelites
monitored by the same authorities
even work on the same frequencies .. 406 or 121 khtz
just regerstration is different
piece of mind for oneself and family in a little package

What make and model do you recommend?
 
I cant recommend one ,but the one l use is
GME
ACCUSAT
POCKET SERIES
40 B /121,5 MHZ
when I first started looking for one about 3 years ago there wasn't much available in Australia .
so l went with what AMSA (Australian Maratime Safety Agency ) recommended .
since then ive seen a few more advertised ,but havnt had to replace or use mine ..... so that's what ive got .
and take with me all the time .
if you look into it im sure you will find a more compact and better priced one is available
mines goood for five years then it must be sent off for a survey .if its not up to scratch I will replace it .
I test it every so often (usually before going for a good walk )
and its always active .
if im going over seas I jump on line and punch in the new activities and areas ( all registered plbs/epirbs should be re registered if travelling abroad and taking it with you )
to the AMSA database , and they then phone me to activate the new registration .
they will still work in other countries with out doing this , but it will create confussion and a time delay once distress code is activated .
whern travelling abroad ,I take it in my carryon bag along with all other gadgets that I will need .(rangefinder,gps,camera,binos,camera and release aid)
just make it clear that its in there when clearing customs .
now it lives in the console in my ute .when not needed.
 
I admit to very much disregard most risks to my own health, specially when hunting.
I know I should be much better at this. Specially because I am a single dad for 2 great kids of 5 and 8 years.
At least I have stopped traveling to and visiting places with lots of dangerous 2 legged predators.

I guess I still think I am sort of invincible, like I did when I was a teenager :blush:

When hunting I use common sense and my experience, but I totally see that it would be smart to at least bring a small first aid kit.
I have been driving my father crazy for many years by being reckless in his opinion.
I understand him when I think about my own kids, and I hope to teach my kids to be smarter and more careful than I am.
 
What make and model do you recommend?

I carry an ACR. The specific model is no longer sold by them. They have lighter weight ones now. About all I can say about it that it gives some peace of mind. However, since I've never actually used it, I can't say any more than that. I think that it's better to pick a unit that relies on SARSAT rather than some private network.
 
in America I would've thought the cold would ve been right up there as one of the biggest risks .

Yep, but it doesn't have to be very cold for hypothermia to become a problem. They really emphasize that in any survival training here.

I also carry a couple of lighters also. However, I've been warned that if you should accidentally drop one in a fire, it can explode with deadly force.
 
Thanks, guys. I'll look into those devices. I should have picked one up a long time ago.

It's easy to get lazy with this stuff. It isn't as cool as some of the other toys we buy.
 
That's a really nice kit. I always bring along a water purifier, Zithromax and Flagyl (for bacteria and protozoans) whenever I go hunting. You just have to have dysentery or giardia once (I've had both) to learn to bring Flagyl. I also bring a prescription of vicodin as well. Nothing like breaking your angle 10 miles in, and having to hop out without some pain meds. For many years I hunted alone walking in 10 miles or so into wilderness areas in the Rockies. It's a great experience but comes with some risks (no snakes though). My back and heart are too weak now to pack an elk out in quarters so I hunt closer to where I can get a 4x4.
 
That's a really nice kit. I always bring along a water purifier, Zithromax and Flagyl (for bacteria and protozoans) whenever I go hunting. You just have to have dysentery or giardia once (I've had both) to learn to bring Flagyl. I also bring a prescription of vicodin as well. Nothing like breaking your angle 10 miles in, and having to hop out without some pain meds. For many years I hunted alone walking in 10 miles or so into wilderness areas in the Rockies. It's a great experience but comes with some risks (no snakes though). My back and heart are too weak now to pack an elk out in quarters so I hunt closer to where I can get a 4x4.

Thanks, the company is owned by some nice folks. The kit shown comes with the bandages that don't have the strip that will show up on X-ray. Not needed so much for our application, so no need to spend the extra money. Your son probably has some good info on what to keep handy.

An antibiotic may come along with me on my upcoming trip. Was debating whether or not to bother. My doc recommended it. Better to have and not need than... It doesn't take up much space so I think I will heed your advice. I somehow have been able to dodge infected wounds and waterborne pathogens so far. I've been lucky.

I was in Colorado when I first saw an elk in the wild. Beautiful animal in a beautiful state.
 
in America I would've thought the cold would ve been right up there as one of the biggest risks .
here l keep a couple of bandages and iodine ,as definates in my pack
along with super glue for cuts .
vitamin supplements .
candle and a lighter for ticks .(this is a new trail )and havnt used it yet .
and salt sachets for for leeches ( compliments of maca ds)
and l never leave with out ,my epirb.
I also keep space blankets in there
along with atleast 3 fire lighters and another lighter ,in a vaccum sealed bag .
3 flares vaccum sealed aswell one smoke and 2 handheld red distress.. these are the best firlighters on the planet .
in the ute under the back seat there a better medical kit

bluey,

I failed to mention, be careful with the "candle" method of tick removal. Heat can cause the tick to regurgitate into you.
 
enysse,

Any thoughts on this? I imagine that you keep some items handy. If I recall correctly, you have some special knowledge in the matter.
 
Well for Africa, I would bring something for an upset stomach...both times there I had diarrhea really bad. I think I know what caused it both times too. Water bottles filled from unclean source.

Usually the PH's have first aid kits. Getting Global Rescue isn't a bad idea.

I will tell you, I put myself on the line every day. I worked as a farmer, in the wastewater/water field and now a hospital. I don't have good insurance at all, but I practice precautions every step of the day. That is the key, I don't put myself in danger.
Taking aspirin puts you at bleeding risk, I only take Tylenol or ibuprofen for pain or headache.

I never have tick problems, I do a strip search at the end of the day. BTW, never clean ear wax out of the ear unless its a real problem. It's there to protect you.
 
Thanks, looks like I will include some water tabs and Imodium. I should have access to clean water throughout the trip but you never know.

I like to have kits that I am familiar with but good to know that another one will be there to fill in all of the blanks for minor injuries.

Global Rescue already purchased. Hopefully no injuries to require it's use and hopefully strife is minimal with the upcoming elections in RSA. I got the security more for the Zim leg of the trip or for a natural disaster surprise. I don't imagine local infrastructure to handle that well.

I had have some concern about aspirin for that very reason. Aleve works well for me.

Good idea. I find fewer creatures as disgusting as ticks or centipedes. At least the centipedes don't attach themselves. Nasty little things.

I keep decompression needles in my kit. Do you think there would be an issue with those? I have never brought them on international travel.
 
Along the lines of protecting your health and after finding a tick in the vicinity of the under carriage last year, my hunting clothes and boots will get a nice stout treatment of Permethrin just before my next trip.
 

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