[pct-l] Ultralight first aid

[chelin at teleport.com (Sharon & Chuck Chelin)]

Good evening, Tom,

My first aid kit is pretty minimal.  It is possible to do quite a bit with
common stuff like duct tape, TP, and stove alcohol.  About the only "real"
first aid item I carry is 2-3 days worth of the heavy-duty analgesic,
meperidine (Demerol).   This is a potentially dangerous narcotic, a
synthetic morphine type stuff that is defiantly prescription-only.  If you
are not comfortable with the responsibility of knowing how and when to use
it, then you better stick to one of the popular over-the-counter pain
relievers.  Its only purpose is to allow me to haul my sorry, broken ....
whatever, off the trail to get real help.  I get a fresh prescription every
few years and dump the old stuff down the toidy.  Fortunately, in 15 or 20
years I have never had to use any of it.

Keep well,

Steel-Eye

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom" <weir@turbonet.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 9:21 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Ultralight first aid


> I am working on getting my pack weight down.  I have noticed that the one
> thing that I haven't reduced is my first aid kit.  Obviously, this is one
of
> those items that is an exception to the "if I didn't use it last trip, get
> rid of it" rule.  I believe that a first aid kit should be truly an
> emergency item.  Not for blister treatment or other maintenance items.
The
> only time that I ever really used it was for someone who wasn't even
hiking
> in my group.  And then it wasn't life threatening.  I have one of those
> prepackaged REI kits in the nifty fold-up zip-shut pouches.  Clearly, the
> pouch is the first thing that needs to go.  It is probably half of the
> weight.  Next would be the little first aid book.  This information is
much
> lighter and more useful if carried in ones head.
>
> My real question is; what is really important?  Do I really need such a
big
> assortment of Band-Aids?  I can take care of small wounds with a little
> toilet paper and some duct tape.  Maybe my first-aid kit should
concentrate
> on the big stuff.  I am thinking, maybe a wad of gauze and some tape, a
> butterfly closure or two, maybe some antiseptic.
>
> Any advice?
>
> Tom
>
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