You shouldn't need a tourniquet for an axe wound to the knee! Tourniquets are for extreme situations like amputations. If you use them in non-extreme situations, you may well end up with an amputation.
I just recently took a Wilderness First Aid course (highly recommended). The instructor was clear. "Direct pressure works. If it isn't working, you're not doing it right." So I say, direct pressure for bleeding. For extreme situations (femoral artery) maybe quick clot. So I say, leave the tourniquet out of the first aid kit. It's more likely to cause problems when improperly used than it is to help. Here are some other things to consider putting in the kit, since not all emergencies are wounds: Aspirin, for suspected heart attacks. Yes, really, it makes a difference. Benadryl, can be *lifesaving* in the case of severe allergies; everyone who carries an EpiPen should also carry benadryl, because the EpiPen only works for twenty minutes and you need to get control of the allergic response. Ibuprofen, I'd put it in the kit just because I use it so often. Another funny but necessary thing we had in our practice emergency kit was little packets of honey. That also can be lifesaving for diabetics with hypoglycemia. Probably not necessary for urban first aid though. In our First Aid class, we learned that the first thing to do when confronted with a potential first aid situation is "Take a deep breath." The second thing is "Survey the situation and make sure it's safe to go in." The third thing is "Put on your gloves." On Sat, Oct 18, 2014 at 7:52 AM, Tony DeFilippo <vpi...@gmail.com> wrote: > Since early August I've had or have been close to others with some bad luck > on the bike and using a hatchet... I've been over the handlebars twice and > then this weekend a good friend put one of my axes (fiskars x15) into his > knee while splitting wood. All's well in each case thank goodness though two > out of the incidents involved the emergency room and the Axe wound required > an ambulance. > > Prevention of these incidents is definitely worth discussion and I've given > each allot of thought in that regards but the recent issue with the Axe > really has me thinking hard about my first aid kit for the woods and while on > the bike... We were lucky to have several level headed people (couple of > eagle scouts!) And the materials to improvise a tourniquet and compression > bandage. > > So as I've been pouring over trauma kits for my truck and campsite I also > started thinking that as a nearly every day commuter I should have some kit > with me on the bike just as I have repair tools for the bike. > > The things I'm thinking of so far include; > > -wound cleaner, alcohol wipes? > -antibiotic ointment > -sterile gauze bandages (typical road rash size) > -conforming wrap or athletic wrap or medical tape > -triangle bandage > -small assortment of band aids > -rubber gloves > > Would the following be overkill; > -CAT style tourniquet > -quick clot sponge or bandage > -'Israeli' style compression bandage > -trauma shears > > The scenario for this kit is urban commuting with professional emergency > responce time of 10 min or less, cell service at all times and the level of > training I have is relatively basic. (Scout and basic military level). Oh > and it needs to fit in either a large saddle wedge, frame bag or other such > unobtrusive, stays on bike type location. > > What, if anything, do you guys include in your on bike kit? > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- -- Anne Paulson It isn't a contest. Enjoy the ride. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
