FIRST AID
When you spend a lot of time doing goofy things a long way from medical help you must be prepared to patch yourself up. A good medical kit and the knowledge to use it is imperative. The goal of this section is to share some of my must have items and how to use them. If you have ideas or knowledge to pass on please send all correspondence to the . Do not follow the links on this page if you are squeamish. Some of the photos are kind of graphic.
This is by no means a comprehensive medical guide. Just some observations from a layman who has a tendency to hurt himself. Do not take any of my suggestions to heart without first confirming my data and consulting with your personal physician. Remember your physician should be your best friend and confidant. This information is published for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to be used as a medical guide of any sort. This is just a tour through an experienced climbers med kit. We take no responsibility for anyone's use of this information.
I have spent most of my life participating in sports that extract a price when mistakes are made. Skating has subjected me to more pain than any other sport but the fun still outweighs the pitfalls. Mountain biking and skiing run a close second and third in injuries. Climbing actually falls even farther down on the list but the injuries seem to be more severe.
The most common injuries I have encountered have been sprains and broken bones. Cuts are also very common and if one is severe enough to need stitches then it must be closed within three hours. If you are more than three hours from the car and another couple of hours to the closest hospital then you must be able to deal with it. Injuries are actually the easiest medical issues for the layman to correct. Diagnosis of the problem is usually obvious. Disease is much harder for the outdoorsman to diagnose and treat. An honest attempt at learning some basic first aid is imperative. Common sense can also go a long way in solving medical issues, remember to stay calm and do the best you can. It will usually work out if you are prepared.
Over the years I seem to see a much lower percentage of medical kits in climbers packs. This trend alarms me, especially when I think of the folks that are going to suffer needlessly for the lack of a few basic medical supplies. If you spend time more than a couple of hours away from medical care then take a kit with you. The farther you are going from medical treatment facilities the better prepared your kit should be. Remember to verify everything you read on any medical subject and consult your physician if you have questions. I have an appointment once a year with my personal doctor just to go through the kit and keep it updated to the best of our abilities. Please bear with me as I try to put my thoughts on this subject into some sort of cohesive order.
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