Bushwalk Australia

Please list all so we can come up with a good "walking fist aid kit' to cover the smallest to that which is in our capacity to handle.
c

Fell down the side of a slippery , gravelly track once (with my pack on)

Used my fingernails and knees to stop sliding further (the momentum from the pack wanted to keep me going further than the 1.5 m I had already slid down.)

Ended up with:
1) 2-3 finger nails lifted
2) superficial grazes to my hands
3) 15cm * 7cm "graze" on one thigh - like gravel rash but a bit deeper
4) Opposite knee, full thickness laceration in a triangular flap about 2cm each side. Still attached on the 3rd side.
5) Few other deep holes on same knee

Was walking with a mate of mine who is an anaesthetist. The main issue was the cut on the knee (the rest was just "painful") We cleaned it out with our drinking water, dried it and used a few steristrips to try and approximate the edges. He had a couple of sutures but we decided it was too dirty to sew up.

Steristrips failed several times due to bleeding and sweat lifting them off. Ended up just using a non adhesive dressing and crepe bangage to cover it for the next 3 days. (we were well out in the Aust Alps and did not want to interrupt the trip) This dressing ended up falling down all the time, so we taped it up and never opened it till the end of the trip.

On return, had to allow it to do "secondary" healing i.e. from the bottom up rather than the edges in. Took about 3-4 weeks to create the final scar. had to dress it several times a day with a special gel that cleaned out the "gunk" and promoted this type of healing.

Funny thing about that trip was we never say anyone for 6 days OTHER than the two doctors who walked past us 10 min after I fell. V weird. Three doctors in one place, just after the injury.

In conclusion we used:
- 2 packets steristrips
- 6" crepe
- non stick dressing

Hope this helps.

Corvus
Something you might consider is Super glue for cuts etc, While a bit rough its better than bleeding. Also my friend Voltarin. Years of abusing my body on dirt bikes led me to discover this little wonder I have backed up for plenty of rides with quite serious injuries. From a hiking perspective if you sprained your knee/ ankle etc it would greatly assist your ability to self recover. It doesn’t fix it, more delays the effects until you get home.
I always carry both
Just a thought
Darren

Several weeks ago came across a girl on track with a leech embedded on her eye. Had a saline preparation to squirt on but that was not too much help. Luckily had heaps of salt so prepared an eye wash and had a small lid of something to use as an eye wash cup. It took about 20 mins and heaps of pain for the poor girl but eventually it let go . The lesson , bring enough salt . It also helps with cramp.Steve C

This is a list of injuries and sicknesses that me and people with me have experienced while walking.

Blisters on feet (most common), when available used blister pads, even though I very rarely get blisters will not walk without blister pads in the first aid kit now.
Headache, used pain killers
Toothache, used pain killers (not me)
Head cold, used to use cold tablets but now use nothing
Diarrhea, used Imodium
Atrial Fibrillation attack, used appropriate medication
Minor scratches and bruises, bandiads or nothing
Muscle soreness, used pain killers (not me)
Fishing hook piercing skin, used forceps to remove
Sore knee, used pain killers (not me)
Ligament damage to knee, walked out carefully (not me)
Mild hypothermia, (found hut both times) lit fire and crawled into sleeping bag. (not me)
Exhaustion, rested (not me)
Broken thumb, Skied out
Sprained wrist, skied out

I think this is all but will update if I can think of any more.

Tony

Fortunately only minor stuff to date (and hopefully in future). Nothing preventing completion of a walk, although once with difficulty:

Blisters. Rarely these days - seem to have got the footwear/sock combo right. Use Scholl Moleskin (or similar) if necessary.
Grazes
Lacerations
Bruises
Muscle strains
Twisted ankle (not sprained)
Knee injury ("floating" knee cap)
Leech bites
Mosquito bites
March fly bites
Sand fly bites
Possum bite
Lizard bite
Headache (not really an injury, but always include painkillers for this and other aches and pains)
Nausea (ditto, use Stemetil if it becomes a real problem)
Foreign object in eye (not serious)

My worst injury was when I slipped on ice and bashed the knee rather badly. Had to strap it so I could make it back to the car, and then couldn't use it to clutch.

Last walk I had a long toe nail that dug into another toe. It all became badly infected and I ended up loosing the toe nail completely. Also had a simple cut at the base of one finger that became infected and the knuckles were all swollen. Had enough disinfectant to treat the hand so it came right in 24hrs, but the toe didn't respond to field treatment. Had to take an antibiotic when I got home.

Bruises,
Leech & Mozzie bites,
Minor cuts and grazes,
Nausea (bad water),
upset stomach.

scockburn wrote:Several weeks ago came across a girl on track with a leech embedded on her eye. Had a saline preparation to squirt on but that was not too much help. Luckily had heaps of salt so prepared an eye wash and had a small lid of something to use as an eye wash cup. It took about 20 mins and heaps of pain for the poor girl but eventually it let go . The lesson , bring enough salt . It also helps with cramp.Steve C

Salt is very painfull to use , I have found that a small spot of insect repellent(high DEET is best) applied directly on the leech (avoid getting any on the eye) causes it to release immediately.
c

I carry a fairly comprehensive kit - I dunno, all those first aid courses I did when I was a Firey, I guess.

Some other more exotic items I take include an epipen and some phenergan - due to my son having some severe allergies. I've never needed them, but to quote Alien vs. Predator: "Same principle as a condom. I'd rather have one and not need it, than need it and not have one."

scockburn wrote:Several weeks ago came across a girl on track with a leech embedded on her eye. Had a saline preparation to squirt on but that was not too much help. Luckily had heaps of salt so prepared an eye wash and had a small lid of something to use as an eye wash cup. It took about 20 mins and heaps of pain for the poor girl but eventually it let go . The lesson , bring enough salt . It also helps with cramp.Steve C

The same thing happened to my boss's daughter some years ago on the NSW north coast, a leach had entered her eye and worked its way behind the eye ball. She was very distressed, as luck has it they came upon some army personnel doing an exercise, there was a doctor amongst who recognized the problem and washed the eye with saline solution which forced the leach out, she was very lucky.

Tony

I had a billy of boiling water go down my boot years ago. By the time I got the boot and sock off most of the skin on the inside of my foot came off with it. Always keep water handy when cooking just in case.

Personally I have had only had minor issues in over 40 years of bushwalking.
•blisters (occasional) - fixed with smooth sports strapping tape and in recent years, blister patches
•twisted ankle (once) - strapped with sports tape after immersion in cold creek water to minimise swelling.
•leeches (heaps) - salt and Rid repellant.
•Evening headaches, mainly from summer walking in Queensland due to dehydration - paracetamol.
•sunburnt legs (once) - summer weekend on Frazer Island - learned my lesson that time!!! I hate the greasy feel of sunscreen but put up with it as the lesser of two evils.
•crotch rot (several times) - also mainly from walking in Qld and PNG where sweat and abrasion cause chaffing and development of skin infection - treated with anti-inflammatory cream containing cortisone.
•burn on hand from accidently coming in contact with just turned off stove - immediate dunking in cold water and cursed my carelessness!

Incidents that my first aid kit has been used to treat others.
•SE Qld weekend walk up Mt Barney, one BBW member slipped when climbing and gashed his calf muscle on a broken tree branch. Used sterile wound dressing and crepe bandage.
•PNG, walk over Owen Stanley Range, one party member on 3rd day out suffered severe vomiting and diahorrea after eating some village food the night before. I treated him with Lomotil and antibiotics, kept fluids up to him with regular sweet cups of tea, and after 24 hours complete rest, he was able to continue the trek OK. Full story here http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=-8&lon=147
•tropical ulcer on leg from leech bite on my first extended hike in PNG - treated with BFI (Bismuth Formic Iodide) antiseptic powder which was brilliant, but have not been able to purchase any locally for years.

Perhaps the incidence of actual first aid item use can be collated when this thread runs its course, giving us all an idea of what things really happen on walks compared to other concerns like snakebite, so an appropriate first aid item list can be draw up. What would be good would be ideas for multiple use items that will cover a range of situations, rather than carrying injury specific variants of items.

Nice to see this thread expanding ,please keep up your responses.
c

My $%^&%^@#@^ knee, which I hyper-extended rock-scrambling on Mt Buffalo 6 years ago, which when further injured at work lead to the end of my "extreme" bushwalking exploits.

And when I was a kid, I was sleeping in my jocks in the North Carolina mountains in the summer. It was hot, so I unzipped my bag. I managed to roll out of the bag, off my tarp and into a patch (carpet would be the better term) of poison ivy. BAD BAD BAD.

johnw wrote:Fortunately only minor stuff to date (and hopefully in future). Nothing preventing completion of a walk, although once with difficulty:

Blisters. Rarely these days - seem to have got the footwear/sock combo right. Use Scholl Moleskin (or similar) if necessary.
Grazes
Lacerations
Bruises
Muscle strains
Twisted ankle (not sprained)
Knee injury ("floating" knee cap)
Leech bites
Mosquito bites
March fly bites
Sand fly bites
Possum bite
Lizard bite
Headache (not really an injury, but always include painkillers for this and other aches and pains)
Nausea (ditto, use Stemetil if it becomes a real problem)
Foreign object in eye (not serious)

Forgot one - painful argument with a stinging tree.

I find HYPAFIX one of the handiest items in my first aid kit.
It is an adhesive flexible sheet dressing that can be cut to any size.
Have used it on myself and many, many other people loads of times.
Can be cut to size and used for used for:
Lacerations (alternative to steristrips)
Grazes (after washed thoroughly stick it directly onto the graze/burn and allow it to come off in it own time- DO NOT REMOVE TOO EARLY)
Burns (as above)
Blisters (Cut to size and add multiple layers)
You can use it to hold any type of dry dressing in place.
Cut it to use like tape, use it for all sorts of NON bodily repairs also (sun glasses/ map cases, maps etc). Sticks like mad even to damp surfaces.

Joe.

what about a mental injury i.e
lack of intestinal fortitude due to
no sleep for four nights on Western Arthur walk

Ear plugs sleeping pills

llareggub wrote:what about a mental injury i.e
lack of intestinal fortitude due to
no sleep for four nights on Western Arthur walk

If you are talking fear of hieghts I was petrified for most of the Arthurs. It's pretty draining being on edge for that long. Next time I think I'll just pack medicinal alcohol . 5 litres should be enuogh

I managed to tear a medial ligament in my knee (grade 1-2) while on Ben Lomond recently. Took a couple of Anti inflamatories which seem to help a little even if it is only in the mind.

I also carry a roll of sports strapping tape. This can be useful for strains and sprains as well as blisters.

My partner suffers from Ilio tibial band frictional syndrom. This manifests as a sharp pain on the outside of the knee, particularly when going down hill with a full pack. There's a strapping technique that can relieve it somewhat, which is another reason to stock up on that stuff.

Tweezers and bandaids are also pretty useful, as is some sort of vitamin C if you feel a cold coming on.

Wello

Josef wrote:I find HYPAFIX one of the handiest items in my first aid kit.
It is an adhesive flexible sheet dressing that can be cut to any size.Joe.

Joe where do we source this from.
c

I used to work as a nurse and would always seem to have some in my pocket at the end of the day. Now it is just supplied in an emergency medical kit that is issued by NT Health for the property that I live on. So Ive never actually had to buy any, however Im sure that I have seen it for sale in the dressings section of a good sized chemist. Have seen a number of brands over the years but it seems to be generically called HYPAFIX even though this is just one of the brand names. It really is a multi use product.
Cheers, Joe.

Hi Corvus,
Thanks for this thread, - whilst I hav'nt had any injuries yet (early days), I have picked up a few things that I will add to my
first aid kit. I did'nt worry about leeches at all (had lots) before, but after reading about two incidents of leeches in or on the eye, - salt and an eye wash cup is on the list. Also too, whilst I am not allergic to stings or bites, my son is, so if Phenergen is in the kit I dont have to think every trip, "who is coming and what have I got".
And thanks to Sirius, a thermal blanket is now in there, - done first aid, however, this has been a bit of a check up, and have really thought about the kit and whats in it. Also we have realised we need another kit, because when I take the one from home, the family members at home dont have one! - A no brainer I know, however we have in the past fallen into the group that "it wont happen to us/me". - Thanks for the heads up!.... For others - Have you checked yours!
Cheers, Geoskid

Broken nose and gashes to the bone. Boy was I in a mess and than goodness I was not alone.

Swellings on the pad of the foot caused from continual walking on quartz track, that made walking very uncomfortable. Taped on some padding next to the tender spots and decided to traverse over the hills on heath and this helped in the recovery.

Over the years have had a few knocks to the legs that made the remainder of the walk hard going.

Suffered from a serious lack of water on a couple of trips. Felt quite crook on one of these occasions which was complicated by a tick bite and being several days to get to the end of the walk. When we did get to water I found it hard to drink; seems strange when your so thirsty.

And of course the other usual bites

Shattered ego.

Hurt my shoulder severely (pulled tendons) in the Pilot Wilderness (NSW) on an MTB, and accompanying gravel rash and bruising.

Sore ITB.

Burnt fingers.

All best fixed with painkillers.

Torn ankle ligaments when I fell down a steep slope one winter coming out the Wolfram Mines track many years ago - walked out with my pack on but needed crutches for several weeks afterwards. Recently hurt my thumb falling over in a boulder field - that'll teach me not to pay enough attention cos it won't slow me down . Another problem from many years ago was vomiting and diarrhoea at the end of the second day of what was meant to be a long bushwalk; my father had the same symptoms the next morning, and once back home it turned out that the whole family wasn't well.

Those two leech stories are interesting given how many you see here in Tasmania. Despite the small size of my first aid kit, I think I'll be adding a couple of sachets of salt from the work canteen.

Severe ITBFS (lasted about 6 months, eventually went to the sports doc and had an MRI to check it out)
http://users.bigpond.net.au/johnorchard ... ndrome.htm

A couple of stretching exercises I used to (eventually) rid myself of this curse:

One I made up (for temporary relief from pain):
1. Stand with something to hold on to.
2. Put the affected leg behind your good leg with the outside part of your ankle flat against the floor.
3. Squat down on the front leg and slightly twist your torso away from the affected leg.

You should feel the stretch through your hip.
As you lengthen your ITB, you can place your affected leg (as in step 2) further and further across behind the front leg until you can literally squat down with that bad leg flat pointing 90 degrees to your body underneath your other cheek.

Walt Reynolds' ITB Special (to fix it for good):
http://onemillionruns.blogspot.com/2006 ... ecial.html


Only other real injury I've had is a sprained ankle and this taught me that prevention is the key. Never jump! I have never jumped down when rock hoping (even just a foot or two) since.

I once scatched my leg but i was right the next day,although we did come across a bloke at the base of Pelverata Falls, he slipped off the track the previous evening unfortunately he was dead,we were going to do a little rockclimbing practise at the time.

Walked into a pointy tree root that was sticking out onto the middle of the track at knee height. Extremely painful for the next minute or two.

Got a big chunk knocked out of me and could almost see my kneecap. A bandaid fixed it up. Amazingly it didn't damage my trousers at all, baffles me how the heck it could stab into my knee and cut a chunk out without stabbing though my trousers.

butterfly pads and superglue are the go ,make sure you have one those crepe elastic bandages as well, beats needle and cotton anyday and less painful, if you dont have bandages just rip up your shirt into strips , also works with snake bite,our tiger snakes are one of the most venomous in the world so it is important to slow the rate of venom into your body as much as possible,dont panic