Medical Questions

LeadOperator · 01-25-2012, 07:49 PM

Don't know if this is the right place.
Does anyone carry or keep on hand anything like Quik-Clot or Celox?
I have a few Quik-Clot sponges (the new and improved kind) and I'd love to try to get ahold of some Celox...I understand it doesn't burn as bad.
See, I take a couple of blood thinners and the idea of bleeding out before help could get to me is not very appealing.
Any of you vets or first responders have any experience with this stuff?

Judy Ann · 01-25-2012, 08:03 PM

Silver nitrate sticks if you can get your hands on them. Get your bloodwork checked before wilderness adventures. Bandanas to use a a tournaqet, gauze and compression wrap even if it is an ace bandage. There are several SAR folks here that can give you advice.

Grandpa · 01-25-2012, 08:11 PM

Where's Catspa, he'll have good info, as will some of the others in here, or do like I do and invite a doctor along

Also LeadOp, if you have a potential medical problem, you should consider investing in a SPOT tracker, especially if you travel alone. Pushing that 911 button will get you help mighty fast, anywhere, anytime.

LeadOperator · 01-25-2012, 08:20 PM

Hi Judy Ann...
I'm CONSTANTLY getting blood work done...diabetic.
The thinners are for a heart issue...love gettin old.
I do what I can to stay as healthy as I can but you never know what might happen. I started carrying Quik-clot in case of a car wreck...I drive 30 miles one way to work on the interstate...there's some outstandingly stupid drivers out there.
As far as a tourniquet (sp), I cut a finger and a thumb with a kitchen knife once (and I've had many first-aid courses), cleaned the cuts, wrapped them up, applied pressure, and an hour and a half later, I was still bleeding. Got my attention.
That's when I decided that I needed to do something. If I'm in a wreck, banged up pretty good, maybe even trapped in the truck, it would be a minimum of 30 minutes before medical personel got to me. Plenty of time to bleed out with a major laceration.

LeadOperator · 01-25-2012, 08:22 PM

You know, Grandpa, I've given that some thought. Sure I've got a cell, but what's to say it'll work when I need it. Great suggestion.

Judy Ann · 01-25-2012, 08:40 PM

Grandpa might be the reason that I carry a SPOT, and my family has come to depend on the messages that all is well, however if you take Coumadin you need to keep that pt/INR within normal limits. I know of a hard core backpacker that hikes alone in Alaska with diabetes. He has a site if you need advice. You may need to check your glucose more frequently, stop every couple of hours to check your feet, and take extra precautions as your diagnoses determine. Of course you could always hike with healthcare professionals as Grandpa suggested, but you will still have to take necessary precautions.

Catspa is a wonderful resource too, not only with emergency measures in the wilderness, but he is creative about making supplies on hand work.

LeadOperator · 01-25-2012, 08:54 PM

I'll hafta make his aquaintance. Thanx

Dura Mater · 01-25-2012, 10:41 PM

Quik clot works well and does as advertised, highly recommended. The best thing to do (even on anticoagulation therapy) is to use a proper dressing like an ABD pad, 10 pack of 4x4 gauge, or a rolled 4" kerlix gauze, then apply direct pressure and elevation of the limb if possible. The quik clot can be applied if necessary but I'd imagine that 99% of the time is not really needed. There are also things like the Israeli battle dressing that I haven't used personally but wouldn't mind getting a few.

ACE wrap can be helpful to apply pressure to the wound but be careful not to apply as a tourniquet. Speaking of tourniquets they are coming back in favor but I don't discuss them much in places like this as I feel they require a more advanced level of training to use.

Judy Ann · 01-26-2012, 06:17 AM

Have you taken a wilderness first aid course?

Pathfinder1 · 01-26-2012, 08:04 AM

Hi...

I carry the new QuikClot in two of my kits. Fortunately, I've never had to use it. Have not purchased Celox, as QuikClot-contained trauma kits were far less expensive. Such trauma kits are sold by Cabela's (for example).

For help/tourniquet in stopping major trauma (not fingers/toes, for example), you might like to carry the Israeli bandage(s). Good for more serious wounds, and has a built-in tournequet. It is also available in a type that will cover both the "in" and "out" entrance and exit bullet wounds. More for military use, but if you're a hunter...well, you never know.

Incidently, the military has been experimenting with self-contained tourniquets (built in) in their battle uniforms. They could be used with one hand.

PS...Regarding the SPOT, hopefully everybody knows about the DEFECTIVE ones sold in the fairly recent past. Be sure that yours is not one of them.