PC first Aid kit

[Ron LaClair]

After a lifetime in the outdoors I've learned it's a good idea to carry some kind of first aid stuff with you. Even if it's only a couple band-aids in your wallet, you're more likely to need it when you're handling sharp knives and such.

What do you think would be a good PC 1st aid kit to put together for your haversack? I'm thinkin a roll of gauze and some turpentine...... anything else?

 

[Brasilikilt]

A bottle of whiskey, or rum if you prefer :grin:

Sulphur powder has been used for years to stop bleeding

We've all seen movies where people have had their cuts sewn up with a strand of horse hair yanked right off the horse using whatever needle was handy

Laudinum was widely used back then, but it's a little tough to come by these days

Modern aspirin is derived from willow bark, if one could somehow make a concentrated willow bark tincture that could possibly be a decent substitute.

There are certain types of fungus which have powerful antiseptic qualities.
If you have read anything about the 5,000 year old iceman discovered in the Italian alps, you might remember the bit of fungus he carried with him threaded on a leather thong thought to be used for that purpose.

Other than that, I would study up on your local plants, go to a hippie herbal store you might be surprised as to how much they know about the medicinal qualities of plants and such.
And if you're really serious about it....talk to a naturalpathic doctor

I think we can all write off things like mercury and bleeding

 

[Slamfire]

I have the impression that their shirt tails were used for bandages, and alcohol was the antiseptic. A woman's petticoat would be handy, if you happend to have a woman along. :rotf:

 

[dkloos]

Did anyone else watch that segment of the history channel show on Lewis and Clarke where they said there was so much mercury used that they can trace the camp sites to this day by mercury deposits? wow.

 

[Bob Riegl]

:hmm: Many medications of the time made use of mercury in compounds as part of the general pharmacopea. For example Calomel was used for stomach ailments and fevers---calomel is Bichloride of Mercury. The existance of the Element mercury (Hg), in common mirrors of that period, the element mercury was used in producing decorations on glassware---either as pure mercury or mercury used in making amalgams of Silver and Gold. I cannot see any other practical use for pure elemental mercury, just on it weight alone having a density 13X that of water---too darn heavy to carry in anylarge amounts.

 

[Ron LaClair]

I'm looking for something to carry with me on weekend treks that would be considered Period correct and would keep a wound clean and protected from infection.

 

[bnail]

that's an interesting question. I just assembled a modern 1st aid kit and housed it in a period container. It was assembled to accomodate cuts, burns and sprains (plus Tums :redface: )
I wonder if the concept of a 1st aid kit itself isn't anachronistic :hmm:

 

[Legionair]

I'd second Skagan's idea...

IF... something goes wrong, I'd rather be live and healing than dying and PC.

What was the one tail of the mountainman who took a swig of whiskey and then cut off his own foot to fix a broken ankle?

I will go modern and hide it in something leather so you can't tell from the outside.

Best result... you don't need anything and no one knows the kit exists.

Worst case... you need something in the middle of nowhere and have it.

Just my opinion...

Legion

 

[blacksmithshoppe]

I have to agree with Skagan and Longhunter, Like the man said, " there's no reason to die a period correct death". Better safe that sorry.
Jeff

 

[Gemoke]

I`ve carried a modern kit for 10 years, and have used it a time or two,no one ever knew I had it till it was needed. usually for me, thats why they call me cut finger.

 

[Ron LaClair]

I have to agree with Skagan and Longhunter, Like the man said, " there's no reason to die a period correct death". Better safe that sorry.
Jeff

A lot of people cheat and put modern stuff in period containers, I prefer not to do that. :shake:
It defeats the effort in my opinion. :nono:

 

[Russianblood]

You could just carry extra pillow ticking and alcohol with you. Then you'll have bandages and antiseptic.

 

[Ron LaClair]

I think there are things you can carry to treat a cut and protect yourself from infection without going to "Wally World" and buying a FA kit :nono:

I'm not worried about what other people think, this is for my own satisfaction. If you can't do it right....why do it at all

 

[paulvallandigham]

The kit just helps remind you of what you need. A lot of thought goes into them. You can always go to the drug store of your choice, and buy as much, or as little as you want. It used to be that every fall, magazines like Outdoor Life, or Sports Afield would have an article listing what you might want in a survival/first aid kit, depending on what part of the world you find yourself in. There use to be a list in the Hunter Safety manual used in all 50 states and Canada to teach Hunter Safety courses, but it was removed a few years ago. If you have an older manual, you probably have the list. You probably can find hundreds of suggestions on the Net, by Googling First Aid kit. I found a small first aid kit at an Army-Navy surplus store that fit a nylon pouch I could buy that would fit on my web canteen belt. It has been there for years, and I have been fortunate not to need it, yet.

 

[bnail]

If you can't do it right....why do it at all

I agree, but do you have documentation of a period first aid kit? Remember, a modern item (or concept)recreated with period materials is still a modern item, it's as anachronistic to try to create somethimg that didn't exist in a certain time period as it is to carry the modern equivelent hidden in a period container.
now, haveing said that, if you want a "period" first aid kit, here's a list:
alcohol, one vial
muslin, 3 1 yard squares (for turnaquit or sling)
3 yards of muslin bandage for cuts, abrasions, sprains, etc.
catgut and period needles for sutures
oh, and leeches for everything else. :winking:
seriously though, you should have no difficulty finding period substitutes for whatever you want to put in your kit.
you must, however, post a pic when you're done, as I guarentee you folks are taking notes.

 

[Roy]

The only thing I can think of would be clean water and clean linnen or cotton bandages. If the water is potable its cean enough to wash out a wound. The only other thing needed is something to keep out the dirt. A lot of people will say to use alcohol or peroxide, but unless its a unclean cut all this really does is kill the cells around the wound and allows for a slower healing process.
But before people start ripping my head off for giving bad advice I will add that when I was 17 or 18 I got a staff infection from deep blister on my hand. After a week in the hospital and about dying I have to agree with the others its better to be safe than sorry any day.

 

[Ron LaClair]

Here's an answer from another forum,

I try to keep my kit small but without crimping on what I need for me when in the woods. Here are some of the things I carry:

A half a bar of Sunlight soap ( a mild lye type soap for cleaning wounds.)
A couple of large squares of MUSLIN or cheesecloth for padding wounds.
A linen sling.
Several four inch wide strips of linen for bandage material.
Safety pins or a small tin with hawthorne needles in it (for the diehards!)
A small tube of Polysporin for general wounds, and a small tube of ointment for the eyes.
Sealed military shell dressings. Not PC... but timely if a lady has need of them.
A pair of chinese scissors in with my sewing gear.
Sewing needles... and a pair of tweezers.
Medications such as Aspirin, Tylenol Extra strength, Ibuprofen.
Some dder tallow... now that I have some... for lip balm purposes.
Some steri-strips for closing wounds.
5 finger cots.
A small brown bottle of Friars balsaam (Tincture of Benzoin) to stick the muslin or gauze bandages to skin. ( I like the Friars balsam... it is natural, smells nice and saves me having to carry adhesive backed bandages.

I try to carry this stuff in a small pillow ticking bag that is rolled up in my bedroll. I have a piece of red wool sewn all around the top of the bag to denote medical stuff.

This little bag doesn't weigh very much and just knowing I have some of this stuff helps maintain ones sense of preparedness. By the way, I have never had the Friars Balsam freeze either. It is relatively cheap to buy and I get mine from the Pharmacist.
I used to carrry some of my meds in the clear or yellow plastic containers most drugs store put your meds in... but cause they are brittle I now use small plastic film containers. Not HC but less chance of breaking. I also paint the med name on the lid plus the number "1" on the lid and on the container so that if perchance three containers were open at the same time then the meds couldn't get mixed up: Aspirin No 1 on the lid and the number 1 on the bottom; Tylenol X/S No 2 on the lid etc etc.
I don't like sticky labels.. cause if they get wet they can become blurred and /or come off. just paint the info on the film containers with a small fine artists brush and white acrylic craft paint.

These are just my thoughts and what I do. I also remember that I am not an x-ray machine nor a physician... if things get nasty I get out of the woods.

Rick Draper in the Canadas

 

[Gary]

A bullet, no, that's lead and we don't want to put it into our mouths. Better yet, a heavy piece of leather or a piece of soft wood to bite into when you're being carved up.

 

[musketman]

Peppermint or oil of peppermint to tame that nagging cough and upset stomach....

 

[chipper]

Honey has been used for thousands of years as an antiboitic ointment.
regards