Tackle Box Morphed into Baja First-Aid Kit

My sister who lives in Baja is a retired nurse. Thus, she decided that she, us and some friends needed some first-aid kits for at home in Baja, and for travelling, especially out into the back country. At first, we thought it might be a small and very basic kit, but it her idea grew and here it is

The Box



The list inside that also has a place for personal emergency information.



Some basic information for if someone is alone and has a heart attack---and she suggested that as we find other useful medical information on the internet, that we print it and slip it into the jacket



What the top layer of this kit looks like -- I think that perhaps only a nurse would think of having the notebook and pen to record everything. Also, she included some empty small containers for a stash of personal medications in case one is stranded.



And the second layer of the kit---love the paint sticks for possible splints; she admitted that one was her friend's idea. The item not seen well is a small flashlight with the batteries attached on the outside.



I am sure her friends are as thrilled to have this as we are. We just think it is such a special gift as she put so much into this project!

Wanted to share this as she also wants us to think about anything she might have forgetten! None of this, of course, takes the place of professional medical care, but all of it sure could help in an emergency.

would be interested to know whats in the "snake bite kit"?...the fine print at the bottom seems to indicate a "suction pump"...if that is the case: "DO NOT USE IT"...the suction pump was banned many moons ago...it caused MORE tissue damage than the bite itself. The CURRENT teaching is to immobilize the limb, if possible, below the level of the heart, stay as calm as possible and seek medical attention as soon as possible. No amount of tourniquets, suction, cut and suck..any of the old "Boy Scout" methods is going to stop any significant amount of venom, but WILL increase the chance for tissue damage and infection...many bites are actually "dry" bites...but the only cure for a "wet" is "antivenin"...this info is taken, paraphrased, from the latest info from the University of Arizona Poison Control Center...PS NO ice packs or tourniquets either....otherwise NICE first aid kit...

[Edited on 4-25-2012 by dizzyspots]

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Originally posted by DianaT My sister who lives in Baja is a retired nurse. Thus, she decided that she, us and some friends needed some first-aid kits for at home in Baja, and for travelling, especially out into the back country. At first, we thought it might be a small and very basic kit, but it her idea grew and here it is The Box The list inside that also has a place for personal emergency information. Some basic information for if someone is alone and has a heart attack---and she suggested that as we find other useful medical information on the internet, that we print it and slip it into the jacket What the top layer of this kit looks like -- I think that perhaps only a nurse would think of having the notebook and pen to record everything. Also, she included some empty small containers for a stash of personal medications in case one is stranded. And the second layer of the kit---love the paint sticks for possible splints; she admitted that one was her friend's idea. The item not seen well is a small flashlight with the batteries attached on the outside. I am sure her friends are as thrilled to have this as we are. We just think it is such a special gift as she put so much into this project! Wanted to share this as she also wants us to think about anything she might have forgetten! None of this, of course, takes the place of professional medical care, but all of it sure could help in an emergency.

Diana...you are correct an Epi-pen IS a LIFESAVER!!! Stateside, we get used to calling 911 and getting Paramedic level help within 8-10 minutes, most places...for those of us that love Baja...the remoteness of ANY level of medical care behoves(sp?) us to all be prepared and ready to assit our selves or other Nomads should the need arise....

It is very handy to have a trained nurse along.

Good looking first-aid kit! Except I don't see the bourbon listed.....

On the snakebite subject----what are your chances if you don't get medical attention? What if you just stay put? I'm under the impression that bites are not always fatal.

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Originally posted by Mexitron Good looking first-aid kit! Except I don't see the bourbon listed..... On the snakebite subject----what are your chances if you don't get medical attention? What if you just stay put? I'm under the impression that bites are not always fatal.

Jeez---where is the bourbon is the first question my son asked.

I am sure no expert on snakebites and I do my best to avoid all rattle snakes! However, I have read that if possible, it is best to not move, but in the back country, that is not always possible. And I have also read that not all rattlesnake bites are fatal and I think it often depends on what type of rattler, and lots of other variables. I sure hope to never have first hand experience in this area!

you're right, i'm a maroon! i meant http://www.google.com/products/catalog?oe=utf-8&rlz=1V4I...

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Originally posted by Mexitron Good looking first-aid kit! Except I don't see the bourbon listed..... On the snakebite subject----what are your chances if you don't get medical attention? What if you just stay put? I'm under the impression that bites are not always fatal.

If he's not out fishing or driving the beach looking for fish.

Do you think there is something in this kit that your wife may have forgotten? Now go find that picture!

Igor, When we lived in Honduras I was bitten by some unknown insect right on my elbow and it swelled quite a bit. I finally went to see one of the local doctors who had very little training and he gave me a shot of something. The next day my entire arm swelled up HUGE and it scared me to death. The doctor said it was a normal reaction to the medicine------I still don't know. I was ready to drive 3 hours to Tegus and catch the next plane north!

So, I just can't imagine me ever sitting and remaining unconcerned and calm as my arm swelled and turned purple. I wonder if his method would work for everyone in all bite situations---it sure is something to ponder and it sure seemed to work for him!

[Edited on 4-26-2012 by DianaT]

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Originally posted by DianaT Quote: Originally posted by rts551 Diane Stop it. My better half is a nurse and has "these" kits every where. and always adding more... need to hide this post some how! more stuff.... now where is my picture of that snake Do you think there is something in this kit that your wife may have forgotten? Now go find that picture! Igor, When we lived in Honduras I was bitten by some unknown insect right on my elbow and it swelled quite a bit. I finally went to see one of the local doctors who had very little training and he gave me a shot of something. The next day my entire arm swelled up HUGE and it scared me to death. The doctor said it was a normal reaction to the medicine------I still don't know. I was ready to drive 3 hours to Tegus and catch the next plane north! So, I just can't imagine me ever sitting and remaining unconcerned and calm as my arm swelled and turned purple. I wonder if his method would work for everyone in all bite situations---it sure is something to ponder and it sure seemed to work for him! [Edited on 4-26-2012 by DianaT]

My first and foremost thought upon seeing the photographs was: can a tackle box really be THAT clean?????

A great thread and post to make people think about the subject and maybe do some work on their own kit.

I would also add a few points. Some of the items in this (and most ) kits have expiration dates so it is wise to check them now and then...you won't die if your ointment is a year past date but you might as well have the best of the best in remote areas like Baja. These items would include eye wash, ointments, peroxide,antiseptic wipes (the "pad" type wipes can get old and be completely dry and useless.) Eye wash makes an excellent irrigation solution for cuts and is sterile..good to have two bottles or some smaller 1 oz sizes. The last I read peroxide is NOT good for serious, deeper cuts. The "ace" bandages are nice to have but what is really really great are the self adhering wraps. Gloves as mentioned are essential and I put them right on top of my kits where I literally have to move them to get to the other items forcing me to think about it. A really good pair of virtus forceps is a life saver for cactus spines (ok..yes, and for taking bones out of fish....just clean em....oh...right....have two pair.) There are tons and tons of ways to get good (bad) burns while camping or cooking or car repair. Water Jel makes a good line of products for minor to serious burns.

Great post and thanks!

Some really good discussion and ideas--- especially the reminder about expiration dates --- for personal meds, I might put a note in as to when they expire. Also, I really like the water gel idea. I am going to made of list of some of the things I think my sister might like to include.

I think of this kit more as having about the BA home some things that are difficult to find in BA. ---even things like adhesive tape, bandaids, bandages, etc. While these things are available there, the quality is not as good. And for me, having everything in ONE place is a good thing. Other than that, I don't worry much while in Bahia Asuncion as we do have the clinic and doctors and for professional medical help, that is where we would go. It is limited, but it is there and fortunately, we have had to use it only once.

And we like to go out into the back country and travel around, this kit, with a couple more things added thanks to the suggestions, will be with us.

Thanks for all the input --- tis a good thing.

BTW--A couple of dog first-aid ideas---just can't ignore the pups. We carry individually antiseptic wipes as they don't dry out for cleaning us just a mess or a wound. Hemostats are great for sticker and thorn removal, and peroxide is a good emetic for dogs.

For a good paw bandage, this is what we came up with a few months back--- and it worked. Tom had an injury on the bottom of his paw that was quite painful. We have Bamitol from the Vet in GN that we keep with us and it works quite well. So, we cleaned the wound and applied the ointment along with Triple Antibiotic gel.

It needed a bandage. Anyone who has been in the hospital for anything has come home with those little ankle socks with the non-skid pads on the bottom---perfect for dog on tile floors. We put cotton balls over the salve but we could not find any large and thick gauze pads in town, so we bought a small package of sanitary pads --- we didn't tell Tom that was what we were using. We put a couple of pads in different directions, tape around that, then the sock and lots more tape!

It gave the wound a chance to begin to heal and all the padding made it more comfortable for him to walk. And of course, all of this had to have a dog picture attached.



Hope to keep hearing more ideas.

Thanks. I guess one danger of all of this being in a tackle box is that some fisherperson might make a mistake and either start fishing with some gauze, or start throwing things into the box and make it as smelly as the other tackle boxes.