When it comes to first-aid, the needs of anyone who lives in the wild go far beyond the scope of your average sporting goods store kit. In the event that the worst should happen and someone has become sick or injured, you may be many miles away from the nearest ER or Urgent Care facility, so you may need to take matters into your own hands. The time to put together your first-aid kit is before you need it, and not after it’s too late. I’m Rob Raskin, and I’d like you to take a look at this list and make sure you have everything you need to make sure you and your loved ones are protected.
Your Basic First-Aid Kit
One absolute must-have for anyone who lives off the grid is a basic first-aid kit. Your kit should have:
- Tweezers
- Safety pins
- A needle and thread
- EMT shears
- Duct tape
- Antimicrobial wipes
- A headlamp
- A 20cc irrigation syringe
- Aloe vera
- Candles
- Cotton balls
- Cold packs
- Matches
- Antibiotic ointment
- Sunscreen
- Thermometer
- Iodine and tincture of benzoin
- Gauze
- Bandages
- Butterfly strips
- Ibuprofen
- Antihistamines
- Antibiotics
- Emergency contact numbers
It is also extremely helpful to have a first-aid book on-hand so you can refer to it in an emergency.
Snake Bite
One common injury you may come across as a homesteader or survivalist is snake bites. Snakes are more afraid of us than we are of them, and if you venture too close to one, it will defend itself, and that is why it is imperative to know what to do before you find yourself in this time-sensitive situation. The first thing you’ll need to do is move out of striking range as quickly as possible, and then look for distinguishing marks that signal that the snake is venomous. If the snake is venomous, you’ll want to splint the part that is bitten, if possible, as this will slow the spread of toxins to the area, and then go to a hospital ASAP.
Flesh Wounds
Anytime the flesh is broken, it opens up the potential for infection, which can quickly become a dangerous or even deadly situation. The first thing you’ll need to do in the case of a flesh wound is manually remove any dirt or debris, and then you’ll need to locate clean water to wash the injury. If you are not near a source of clean water, you can boil and then cool water before you clean the injury to try to disinfect it. Last but not least, dress the wound and apply any antiseptic ointment you have on-hand.
It’s important to familiarize yourself with the wildlife in the area and to learn to recognize potential dangers in any situation, because preventing injuries in the first place is far more effective than treating them yourself. This is Rob Raskin, hoping you stay safe.