Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Kell wrote:Thanks guys this is a really interesting thread.....I have never done a first aid course - wouldn't even know where to start to give someone CPR From memory if you have Medibank Private you can use your $100.00 bonus in that to put towards them. Does anyone know how you find out when a course in your area is taking place? I have been trying to get work to organise something but they won't have anything to do with it. I also need a new kit, mine is a few years old now and I noticed when looking in there the other day that things like blades that were in plastic - the glue has deterioated and the paper is falling away from the object - time to invest I think

call st johns, or the ambo service in your area, or even the council

BLKMAV is the pic big enough!?

bogged wrote:

Kell wrote:Thanks guys this is a really interesting thread.....I have never done a first aid course - wouldn't even know where to start to give someone CPR From memory if you have Medibank Private you can use your $100.00 bonus in that to put towards them. Does anyone know how you find out when a course in your area is taking place? I have been trying to get work to organise something but they won't have anything to do with it. I also need a new kit, mine is a few years old now and I noticed when looking in there the other day that things like blades that were in plastic - the glue has deterioated and the paper is falling away from the object - time to invest I think

call st johns, or the ambo service in your area, or even the council

Thanks ill do that mondya

Well for all those interesting I have just called both Queensland Ambulance and St Johns - QLD Ambo is $113.00 for the basic everything to know first aid and St Johns is $125.00 for the same thing. I've booked for next month

As a Paramedic this is one area that I think does get ignored. I think it very important for everyone to do a first aid course. It doesn't matter who you do it through, just do one and keep it current. Some organisations do offer remote first aid courses. An alternative is to ask around a find a paramedic who has a 4WD, and invite them to your club for a night. There is plenty of us around.

With first aid kits it is something that needs to be checked on a regular basis. Things do expire. I like bogged's idea of just using a list and making up one of your own. They are expensive. I did the same. Although you can imagine mine did end up a liitle bigger than the average size kit!

The other big thing is ambulance cover. Check with your health insurance company that you are covered. Not all of them do. Also RFDS is a private comapny, you will probably get a bill.


Good thread!

So how did ya go Grimbo?? any interest from your club?

Interesting topic !
Myself, I'm with the rescue squad for more than 10 yrs. now and we have a 2 day course incl. CPR and defibrillator every year. A basic first aid course is mandatory to get a driving license in Germany, though.
Even our Junior (14 yrs.) just finished his first aid training (8 weekends!) and is now school paramedic.
My first aid kit consists of the standard, mandatory one with some additions (i.e. 2 stifnecks, extra bandages, etc.).
When we go on trips into the Sahara we always make sure that there are at least 2 trained people with us.
The weekend first aid course is free of charge here, BTW.

Ozjeeper,

Can you contact me again, I lost the info I got from you.

Did anyone else get his PH #? could you PM it to me pls.

thanks.

Wonderin if Ozjeeper still does this gig?

Keep an eye out in your club newsletter Bogged there's a course coming your way

GUJohnno wrote:Keep an eye out in your club newsletter Bogged there's a course coming your way

what a top club they really are

l trained as a Rescue Medical technician -a course for remote area paramedical staff on Mining sites etc (1 lived on an island at the time andisi1 ran the paramedical care unit.) I have a big Kit which I put together myself, and some smaller kits for day walks and to keep in the car all the time.

Make your own kit. Use "sanitary napkins" (just cheap no-name ones) as pads for wound dressing, throw in half a dozen crepe bandages or theh better ones (pink) brown, stronger, re-usable, and get some Betadine. plenty of gloves, a bit of normal saline to wash out eyes, and that's probably enough for most people.

Forget other "antiseptics" , throw out your Savlon don't bother with expensive gauze. Add a good Permanent marker - to write times on people I usually write on their arm, or if they're Unconscious, on their forehead.(eg. 0915 Tuesday, snake bite LEFT ankle) because notes get lost during handover.

There are lots of toys you can take, but you probably don't need them. Shears (like big scissors) are very handy.

Guys here's one of the most comprehensive lists of first aid equipment you can find on the Net.

http://www.gotya.net.au/files/First%20A ... ntents.pdf

These guys run a great nationally accredited 3 day Level 2 Remote Area Course and can accomodate any sized groups. I have done this course about 3 times now over 6 years and it really is very specific to situations most 4wders would find themselves in while in remote areas.

You get to do some great scenarios and a bit of acting to create lifelike situations. One scenario I did was a troopy full of pissed blokes coming home from the pub had a head on with a tree in the middle of the night...great experience and lots of fun as well! bring on the fake blood and rubber intestines!

I freelance in the outdoor industry and work for a lot of different outdoor activity providers but find these guys the most accommodating and friendly companies around.

Their First Aid kits are also top quality and being soft bags are easier to store than hardcases. Most of the the time to buy single items to build a first aid kit you would be paying at least 150% more than buying a ready made kit as a package. If you are a club i'm sure that they'd provide discounts for group purchases.

They are based in Hallam.



http://www.gotya.net.au/contact.htm

grimbo wrote: Is it better to only have equipment you can use properly or do you hope that those extra bits can be used by someone else you are travelling with?

I have a company motor vehicle and according to OH & S, I must keep a first aid kit in my car and keep it stocked at all times, it's even a compliance target for me!!!! How ever the firstaid kit contains an amputated limbs bag (WTF) and no bandaids????

Bandaids are good for leeches, but not much else. They used to say put a bandaid over a snake bite to collect sprayed venom, which could be used to test for the kind of snake - but it's BS. All they do is help a leech bite which would otherwise free-bleed and cause a mess.

If it's such a small injury that a bandaid will help, you don't need to do anything to it at all. Unless it's for the little'uns. They love 'em.

Rule 1: The most important skill you can have, is how to maintain an airway - how to put someone into a position where they don't obstruct. Teach your partner, your kids - everyone. This WILL SAVE LIVES and it's easy enough to teach to a 3 year old - I know, because I taught it to a 3 year old who SAVED HER FATHER'S LIFE doing it.

Rule 2: If it's going on anyone other than you, or immediate family, EVERYTHING is SINGLE USE ONLY.

Rule 3: How far away are you from an ambulance/chopper, really? Spend you money on gear to CALL one (radios, EPIRB, sat-phone) instead of trying to BE ONE.

In most cases if you have to resuscitate someone for more than half an hour, you might as well just boil the billy and have a cuppa, as it does just as much. Do you carry a defib?

Looking at that kit, at $250, the base camp kit is worth about $50, and is about half full of crap you don't need. The key ingredients are lots of bandages, gloves, and pads. The rest is just comfort, and you shouldn't confuse comfort (I have a splinter) with First Aid (I'm about to bleed to death).

• Bandages = take at least 6, maybe a finger one (1 inch) but mostly 4" ones are good - supermarket stuff is fine.
  Gloves = take twice as many as you were going to take before you read this
  Steri strip = you won't be able to use it - for most things gaffa tape is better and also fixes your car
  Wound dressing = home brand 'womens pads' - 24 for $2 - are cheap, clean, absorbent, cheap, disposable, big enough, can be cut up, cheap, and are designed to soak up blood. They fit all the criteria.
  Resus Mask - single use only = these are crap bits of plastic with fiber 'filters' on them. Forget it. Get a proper pocket mask or don't bother. If you're not a relative or a damn good friend (or a kid) I'm not doing resus on you unless I have a pocket mask at least.
  Alcoholic Swabs (disinfecting instruments) = NO NO NO. You shouldn't need to disinfect anything. If it gets blood on it, it should be disposable. Don't use alcohol swabs on wounds unless you want a black eye.
  You're not doing any surgery here, so what else do you need?
  Triangular bandages ... how long are you going away for? Do you REALLY know how to put one on without causing more injury? Patients naturally hold broken arms in the most comfortable position, so let them - don't force them to put on a sling.
  Instant cold pack = You don't have ice? No cold beer?
  Glass Thermometer = tell me what temperatures will kill an adult, and what is ok in the short term... you don't know? Why do you need a thermo then?
  Burnaid Gel 25g = waste of time and $ - Emla cream is good. Panadol will do.
  Stingose = bi carb soda and water in a paste
  CPR Wallet Card = if you need one of these, your CPR won't be worth crap so don't even bother.
  Splinter Probs (Disp). = use hypodermic needles if you must.
  Antiseptic Wipes = most people just wipe more crap into wounds with these. You either need a whole box of 48, or just get a bottle of Betadine and pour it on.
  Cetrimide = get betadine, forget this crap.
  Deep Heat = how is this first aid?
  Forceps, stainless steel = use plastic ones AND THROW THEM AWAY, or use none. DO NOT bother trying to 'disinfect' them, you're wasting your time unless you're carrying an autoclave or some very nasty cytotoxic crap to drown them in for a day.