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Small Cabin Forum / General Forum / First Aid Kit vs Medical Supplies
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darz5150
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 00:47 - Edited by: darz5150
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I had an incident earlier that ironically ties with Paulz earlier post about battery jumpers.
I had to jump start an old wheel horse tractor. Then got stung a couple inches away from my jugular vein on my neck, by a wasp. Went to the cabin got the first aid kit put stingeze on the sting and an ice pack. That's first aid.
Then I went back to finish jump starting the tractor, got light-headed, my arms turned beet red. Started to walk back to the cabin and I wasn't sure I could make it,it was that bad.
Got back in the cabin. Busted out the medical supplies. Got out the blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter. Blood pressure was low. Normally high. Oxygen level was down to 88. Pulse was up to 120 BPM.
In the "Medical Kit", grabbed some benadryl, some high dose acetaminophen, and a rescue inhaler, since it was a little hard to breathe.
Got everything under control.
Been stung many, many, many times. Nothing like this reaction....ever.
Did I save my own life. I don't know. But I was able to get the tractor started, and still cook on the grill. Lol.
It would have taken more than 20 minutes before an ambulance got there. 15 minutes or more for my wife to take me to urgent care. But in less than 5 minutes we were able to do the things that they would have done.
I am not a doctor, this is not meant to be medical advice.
My advice is. A first aid kit works well for your car or 4 wheeler etc.
But if you live even somewhat rural or whatever.
If you can afford it. Beef up your medical supplies. Take some time to learn what you can about dealing with every day boo boos. And know the difference between what you can and can't handle.

FishHog
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 08:11
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Good reminder for everyone.
I’d like to keep an epipen at the cottage for an emergency but short shelf life, can’t freeze and cost means I always have Benadryl available

Glad you are ok

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 08:12
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I do have first aid kits at the cabin, several of them. I suppose I should look and see what is inside of them.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 08:34
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Benadryl is always a must when you could be semi allergic.

I never have sting reactions except for a few years ago I got stung on the side of my head and nearly swole my eye shut. We keep benadryl on hand. Even expired it works.

fiftyfifty
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 08:45 - Edited by: fiftyfifty
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You need to consider yourself wasp allergic at this point. This can happen even after years of doing fine with stings. Once you are sting-allergic, subsequent stings often will be even worse. You could have a fatal reaction next time. You absolutely must demand an epipen from your doctor. They officially expire in a year, but are still good as long as the solution remains visibly clear, not cloudy. And the next time you are stung, you need to go immediately to the ER (preferably in ambulance.) Do not wait to see if this one is bad first, that might be too late. Benedryl is not effective for anaphylactic reactions. It reduces itching, but it's not the itching that kills you, it is the total cardiovascular collapse, blood pressure that drops to nothing. Only epinephrine can reverse that, and each epinephrine shot lasts less than 30 minutes. In the ER they can give you multiple epinephrine shots as needed, IV steroids, and place you on a ventilator if needed. Do NOT believe you can treat this at home. I have had a patient die of anaphylaxis because he refused to carry an epipen and go to the ER. Don't be that guy.

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 09:03
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If I get bee/wasp stings I have 5 minuted before anaphylactic shock. Believe me when I say that is Really Scary ! I can't use an Epipen but used to carry an Epihaler (hard to get and really expensive).

Full strength Benadryl and chewing on an ASPIRIN (not other stuff) right away can control it but not great. It's enough to get to hospital or emergency clinic.

A First Aid when remote is a key to survival if/when "stuff" happens and it is best to be prepared for minor to major wounds. To that end I bought a Genuine St-Johns Ambulance Field Kit and ensure that it is always fully stocked.

https://www.sja.ca/en/shop/first-aid-kits-and-supplies

paulz
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 09:17
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Thought you were going to say you used the jumper box for a defibrillator.

What the others have said, thanks for the reminder and glad you're still here to post it.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 09:25
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We keep a fully stocked EMT Go bag. In addition benadryl in every rig as well as the cabin... I am allergic to NSAIDs and though it's been years since I have accidentally (? Ex-wife had Motrin in a Tylenol bottle, hmmm) had a reaction, at that time benadryl did help, but then used to have an epipen... should get another.

Oh, we also belong to AirMed just in case. It's over an hour to the nearest urgent care facility.

mj1angier
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 12:13
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My wife is a veterinarian and I am EMT. Short of an amputation, our med kit at cabin will cover it- i.v. fluids, surgery packs, antibiotics, pain meds,...

But try to find a band aid for a paper cut and your out of luck.

jhp
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 13:19 - Edited by: jhp
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Just a reminder for those with FSA funds that have to be used by the end of the year (or ongoing HSA funds) that a lot of first-aid kits and medical supplies are FSA/HSA eligible.

If you find yourself towards the end of the year and need to use up those dollars this is an easy way to stock up on supplies, or even get started with a well stocked first responder type kit.

If you use Amazon, most eligible items will have a label next to them that say "FSA or HSA eligible"

hueyjazz
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 14:45
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I'm with Nobadays. Very well stocked EMT bag and also Dog first aid bag. I was raised by surgical nurse and we got stitched at home. Mom taught us a few things. Mountain climbed and just have to stitch myself before. Real fun to do but had always carried sterile kit.
I was a first aid trainer for years.
We keep an AED at cabin. Country fire department isn't too far away if they can find us. (We always donate and our country butcher is one of volunteers)
Closest hospital is half an hour away.
did actually clear a section of woods near cabin just in case we need airlift.

Trick for your med kit is to anticipate what can go wrong and have best solution for it within your training. And training is one of the best solutions

NorthRick
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 16:23
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Quoting: mj1angier
My wife is a veterinarian and I am EMT. Short of an amputation, our med kit at cabin will cover it- i.v. fluids, surgery packs, antibiotics, pain meds,...

But try to find a band aid for a paper cut and your out of luck.


That's what duct tape is for.

darz5150
Member
# Posted: 21 Jul 2021 21:22 - Edited by: darz5150
Reply 


I appreciate all the replies. Hopefully every body will take a moment to check out their own supplies. It might save your life or someone you love.
Found out late last night that I had about a half a dozen more stings than the one on my neck.
Called the doc. Picking up epipens tomorrow.
Quoting: paulz
Thought you were going to say you used the jumper box for a defibrillator.

That one made me lmao. You sir, have a unique way of thinking 🤔. It reminded me of this.
Screenshot_20210623.png
Screenshot_20210623.png


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