[Paddlewise] Prepackaged Medical Kits?

Another useful item to take in your first aid kit is a first aid 
book.  I have carried "Medicine for Mountaineers" (I think that is 
the title, maybe "Medicine for the Mountains" published by the 
Mountaineers) while leading groups in Central and South America. With 
wilderness/remote first aid you may have to go in to longer term 
patient care and management (second aid...). Once you have dealt with 
the initial life threatening issues ( DABCC's  Danger, Airway, 
Breathing, Circulation, Cervical-spine, Shock) you will have time to 
read up on the finer details.

I have taught first aid off and on for the past twenty years, have 
held a current first aid certificate for the past 24 years, have 
taken two advanced wilderness first aid courses, have worked in the 
mountains and on the oceans in a professional search and rescue 
capacity. Lets just say I have done a little bit of training over the 
years. I carry as little as possible weight when out in the mountains 
but if I am responsible for a group I don't mind the weight of the 
book and a well stocked first aid kit.

For the Aussies in the group the NSW Rural Fire Brigade first aid 
book is excellent. I have got one in the car and one on the fridge , 
it comes with a magnet so it sits on the fridge door in your face 
everyday. One draw back with "Medicine for the Mountains" re: 
kayaking is that it doesn't cover coastal issues such as stingers.

If a book is a bit too much you can always get what you think is 
important down to a minimum and put it on a few sheets and then 
laminate them.

Phil
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