Episode 80 | Backcountry First Aid Kits

Any thoughts on Tegaderm as wound dressing material? NOLS WFA introduced me to this material. I now carry a couple feet off of a 4” wide roll. I like that it is waterproof and allows observation of the wound.

Constipation:  Man, my problem is usually the opposite of that.  When I did 8 days on the JMT last year I was remarkably regular.  Filling a cathole was usually part of my morning routine.

Sharon, you could try a fiber supplement or crushed bran cereal flakes (what I use) added to oatmeal or other foods.

Fiber isn’t necessary, although suddenly changing your fiber intake is going to surprise your gut microbiome. Any sudden changes in diet can do that; results range from diarrhea to constipation.

High fat diet? That doesn’t sound right to me. Fat is one of the keys to lubricating stools. Of course, suddenly changing your fat intake: See above.

Water, salt, and sufficient fat (not necessarily excessive fat) should do the trick.

Jeff: Yeah, Quick-Clot may be better for actual dressings. Or non-stick gauze. I haven’t used Tegaderm, but that might be a good suggestion from Matthew. I’m more thinking about multi-purpose stuff that is easy to carry. Sanitary pads are tiny highly absorbent sponges; useful for cleanup and prep, or as pads in a pinch. Get the little ones; no need for the huge kind. They may not be ideal dressings, but they are better than a t-shirt or bandana. I have also been carrying dehydrated cloths for similar purposes.

Dieticians, heh. She also thinks you need fiber, which is clearly untrue. Fat is necessary to prevent constipation.

It’s the sudden change that is troublesome rather than the food itself.

Oooh! I forgot about Chia seeds! I already like to use those in overnight oats…The bran flakes are a great idea as well – another great fiber source I often forget about.

I also have found the laxatives I have tried to cause more problems than they solve.

I did wonder (and maybe someone here knows): do veggies that have been dehydrated or freeze dried offer the same or similar fiber/roughage action as they would have when fresh or fresh cooked? Just thinking about it, it seems like they would – but not everything works the way I think it would intuitively… Hahaha.

May I suggest a Larabar or two per day to keep things moving? Delicious, high calorie density, small, cheap, very short ingredient lists… Good stuff imo.

I have strong opinions on this topic! Lemon and cherry are delightful. Apple is tolerable. The limited edition pineapple/coconut was amazing. I think the tartness masks the date flavor well.

I find the chocolate chip and related flavors to be foul but ymmv.

“Oooh! I forgot about Chia seeds!”

Sharon chia grows wild in our Sonoran desert country. We see it near trails and washes. They have been blooming for several weeks now. When the heads dry you just turn them upside down, shake them out into your hand. Took this photo at the end of March. However our most used FAK item is a pair of Silver Gripper tweezers. Lol

I always bring ginger tea as well as dried ginger. Great for tummy upset, bowel issues of either extreme, nausea, and the dried ginger also makes a nice sweet snack. And the tea is nice after dinner, for digestion. I would recommend trying it for constipation (or just have your gall bladder removed, that works great for a permanent solution!).

I have to admit my traveling pharmacy is more substantial than most but I have used every item on one trip or another, either for myself or others. It’s still under 4 ounces and compact in a quart ziplock bag. The only thing I’ve ever really not had when I needed it were enough bandaids when a fellow traveler got bad blisters on both feet; we used everyone’s kits to patch her up.

I bring just a few of: loperamide, percocet or vicodin, tagamet, neomycin, burn gel, cortisone cream, alcohol pads

I bring quite a few: acetaminophen, aspirin, benadryl

Other things: eye drops, various bandaids, tape, a bit of gauze, 2nd skin, bleach drops (taped shut so I don’t mistake it for my eye drops!), tweezers

Tale for the ladies: my mom told me a story of a remote trip she took well after menopause. She hadn’t bothered to bring any feminine hygiene supplies because she hadn’t needed any in years. Suddenly, a week out from civilization, she started bleeding again! No one had any supplies for her. She ended up using an extra pair of socks, and rinsing and drying them. Since I heard that story, I do always have some pads in my first aid kit!

I heartily agree with Ryan’s advice to take a wilderness first aid class. Learning to use items already in your pack as splints, slings, etc. was very helpful. Thankfully, I’ve never needed any of it. But knowledge is the lightest weight first aid item. (I need to retake that class!)

* First Aid scissors – Suggestions on make and size

I believe he meant “bandage scissors” (also called “trauma shears”). They are available at any pharmacy. It is just scissors with blunt ends to avoid damaging skin, while being sharp enough to cut fibrous gauze, tape, and clothing. Prices vary; the inexpensive ones are often lightweight. Real medics and EMTs might carry fancier scissors in holsters.

* Tensore (Or was it Tensure) Robinson adhesive in the small glass capsules

I believe you are referring to Tincture of Benzoin (at about 18:07 in the podcast) in small vials. It isn’t adhesive itself; it is an adhesive-helper. It cleans skin and preps it for adhesive. Leukotape sticks pretty well without the benzoin, but a few ampules weigh almost nothing (about 3 grams each, including sterile wrap).

And then I am looking for a suggestion of how NOT to take the whole huge roll of Leukotape.

The method commonly attributed to Andrew Skurka is to stick a length of Leukotape to release paper (the non-stick backing paper from sticky labels). Trim the release paper to the size of the tape. This gives you individual strips of Leukotape that do not lose their stickiness by re-rolling tape around some object.

And does anyone carry an old school ace bandage?

Sure, carry what you know how to use and think you might need. Rolled gauze can often make the same bandage at lighter weight, but elastic is convenient for adding compression. I carry self-stick medical tape for similar purpose; it is lighter than elastic.

Hey Billy. Thank you so much for your reply to my questions. You were most helpful.  I figured I did not hear correctly on the  Tincture of Benzoin. So that was great that you clarified what was said.

Happy Trails to you,

Todd