stolenheron
Explorer
awesome job man!
i hope i run into folks like you if i ever get myself into a medical mess that's above my head.
i hope i run into folks like you if i ever get myself into a medical mess that's above my head.
Baja Medical Emergency, Hooked in to Help
- Thread starter 1leglance
- Start date
hahaha, that would have me sweating with or without the casualty...
Great job with the little girl guys!!! Medical training is definately not something to screw around with. I will never forget when that thought first entered my head. While downhill mountain biking a good friend of mine busted up 2 vertebrae in his lower back. Obviously nothing can be done in the bush for that but keeping him stable and staying calm. The kicker was getting him down the hill to where the chopper could get him out without doing more damage. Simply having a couple guys with basic training was absolutely invaluable as it really helped everyone else stay calm.
Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
Lance
A great example of doing so many things right. Being in the right place, helping the right people, having the right knowledge, the right equipment, and the right attitude.
I love that you were collected enough to "brew a cup of tea", I can't tell you how many bad situations are made disastrous when people blunder ahead without taking grasp of the situation, calm themselves down, and make a plan.
Thank you for sharing. I'd be happy to make tea next time something like this happens. :sombrero:
A great example of doing so many things right. Being in the right place, helping the right people, having the right knowledge, the right equipment, and the right attitude.
I love that you were collected enough to "brew a cup of tea", I can't tell you how many bad situations are made disastrous when people blunder ahead without taking grasp of the situation, calm themselves down, and make a plan.
Thank you for sharing. I'd be happy to make tea next time something like this happens. :sombrero:
stolenheron
Explorer
if no one has stated it already, the "brewing tea" mentality also goes for the victim as well. if you're hurt, staying calm can mean the difference between life and death. and sometimes the only way to stay calm is to know that you have prepared for disasters like this to occur.
training, preparation, and grounded mental state are key in these situations.
RttH
Member
Awesome job! Wife and I are both RN's and we often wonder if we are as prepared for such situations. We carry a very limited first aid kit and probably should beef it up, though no mater what we carry one usually does not have everything (wish we could carry-and give-versed/fentanyl, tetnus booster, antibiotics in such situations).
Good job! Now I think I will go through our first aid kit again!:victory:
Good job! Now I think I will go through our first aid kit again!:victory:
1leglance
2007 Expedition Trophy Champion, Overland Certifie
Thanks for the positive responses...
I am also looking forward to hearing from some of our folks with more training and knowledge as to anything we could have done better.
After this episode we kept our ham radios buzzing with some debriefing on what happened, what else we could carry (AED's, iv fluids, xylocaine jelly, huricaine spray) and the nature of the wound....internal pocket wound with 2 small holes vs if it had been a deep laceration or something else.
As to where training is available for the remote stuff...
I went through the Wilderness Medical Institure, their website list classes all over the country, however it is more "backpacker" oriented.
At the Overland Expo I met the guys from Remote Medical International and they are working with Overland Training to make sure the classes you take have "overlanding" or vehicle based understanding.
I am looking forward to recert'ing my W-EMT through RMI as they get that we can carry more kit, also they sell serious higher level equipment and can supply drugs if you have a prescription...and it really is worth talking to your doctor about your backcountry travels and stocking up on at least an epi-pen.
On the comment about pushing the hook through and then cutting.....hindsight being 20/20 and all, yeah that would have been better. My thought process at the time was:
1) The hook was sharp enough to go in so it "should" be sharp enough to poke right out quickly.
2) Poking it through, then stopping to cut the shank would have meant her screaming even more and a longer amount of metal traveling through her body. Even soaking the skin & hook with betadine doesn't mean something bad couldn't be left behind so the less metal that goes through her the better.
Again thanks for the comments, this is just one of the reasons Overland Training stress that you get at least your Wilderness First Aid to become Overland Certified. Sure I could have told the father it was too much for us, sure I could have not even gotten out of my rig, however it just as easily could have been one of our guys who had this happen while we were fishing.
I am also looking forward to hearing from some of our folks with more training and knowledge as to anything we could have done better.
After this episode we kept our ham radios buzzing with some debriefing on what happened, what else we could carry (AED's, iv fluids, xylocaine jelly, huricaine spray) and the nature of the wound....internal pocket wound with 2 small holes vs if it had been a deep laceration or something else.
As to where training is available for the remote stuff...
I went through the Wilderness Medical Institure, their website list classes all over the country, however it is more "backpacker" oriented.
At the Overland Expo I met the guys from Remote Medical International and they are working with Overland Training to make sure the classes you take have "overlanding" or vehicle based understanding.
I am looking forward to recert'ing my W-EMT through RMI as they get that we can carry more kit, also they sell serious higher level equipment and can supply drugs if you have a prescription...and it really is worth talking to your doctor about your backcountry travels and stocking up on at least an epi-pen.
On the comment about pushing the hook through and then cutting.....hindsight being 20/20 and all, yeah that would have been better. My thought process at the time was:
1) The hook was sharp enough to go in so it "should" be sharp enough to poke right out quickly.
2) Poking it through, then stopping to cut the shank would have meant her screaming even more and a longer amount of metal traveling through her body. Even soaking the skin & hook with betadine doesn't mean something bad couldn't be left behind so the less metal that goes through her the better.
Again thanks for the comments, this is just one of the reasons Overland Training stress that you get at least your Wilderness First Aid to become Overland Certified. Sure I could have told the father it was too much for us, sure I could have not even gotten out of my rig, however it just as easily could have been one of our guys who had this happen while we were fishing.
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Good job Lance.
We could have used you 2 years ago when we were on a trail, winching somebody out of a mud hole. All of a sudden, the guy standing beside me flops to the ground in a full on seizure. I was amazed at the group we were with, it was a mix of confusion, hero-men, and disinterest amongst different members of the group (about 20-30 people).
I was the only guy with a first aid kit, and we had no communications with civilization. Two people claimed to be nurses or something, I don't know what type, so I left them to do their thing, but they didn't seem to do or know too much. They even seemed hesitant to get involved.
When the guy came back around, we learned that he had no history of epilepsy, so something could be seriously wrong to cause this. We decided to evacuate, and the trail leaders led the show, but that turned into a disaster. The group ended up fractured into 4 groups, 2 of which were lucky to figure out how to get out, and 1 person was completely lost. The leader with the patient called an ambulance once they had cell phone service again, but had no idea how to rendevous with them.
Complete disaster.
I tend to handle situations like this pretty well, but left the nurses and leaders to do their thing and was really surprised by the outcome.
We could have used you 2 years ago when we were on a trail, winching somebody out of a mud hole. All of a sudden, the guy standing beside me flops to the ground in a full on seizure. I was amazed at the group we were with, it was a mix of confusion, hero-men, and disinterest amongst different members of the group (about 20-30 people).
I was the only guy with a first aid kit, and we had no communications with civilization. Two people claimed to be nurses or something, I don't know what type, so I left them to do their thing, but they didn't seem to do or know too much. They even seemed hesitant to get involved.
When the guy came back around, we learned that he had no history of epilepsy, so something could be seriously wrong to cause this. We decided to evacuate, and the trail leaders led the show, but that turned into a disaster. The group ended up fractured into 4 groups, 2 of which were lucky to figure out how to get out, and 1 person was completely lost. The leader with the patient called an ambulance once they had cell phone service again, but had no idea how to rendevous with them.
Complete disaster.
I tend to handle situations like this pretty well, but left the nurses and leaders to do their thing and was really surprised by the outcome.
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
You mention about carrying prescriptions, and that's something I've been curious about. What OTC or prescription drugs to carry? There's obvious ones like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Immodium, and Benadryl. But what else? I was surprised that when my father had his heart attack, the ambulance technicians gave him an Aspirin. I guess it's a blood thinner? Seems like a minimum first line of defense that is easy to carry for a situation like that? If you can't do anything else, at least you can do that.
He ended up having 4 or 5 Stents put in. They recently retired and are now living about 50% of the time in a cabin on a lake, at least 30 minutes from an ambulance if not 45-60 minutes if they got unlucky. I strongly suggest he buy himself an AED just in case but, he hasn't.
He ended up having 4 or 5 Stents put in. They recently retired and are now living about 50% of the time in a cabin on a lake, at least 30 minutes from an ambulance if not 45-60 minutes if they got unlucky. I strongly suggest he buy himself an AED just in case but, he hasn't.
TJ Willy
Adventurer
How could anyone think of tea in a time like this!??!?!11? j/k. :victory:
Good job Lance and team. Everyone that knows me, knows I love kiddos and really hate when they hurt for any reason. Glad YOU were there to take care of that little angel. I am sure you are a hero to her... maybe not then... but probably now.
If only EVERYONE knew how much it feels good to do good, then maybe we would be in a better place.
Good job Lance and team. Everyone that knows me, knows I love kiddos and really hate when they hurt for any reason. Glad YOU were there to take care of that little angel. I am sure you are a hero to her... maybe not then... but probably now.
If only EVERYONE knew how much it feels good to do good, then maybe we would be in a better place.
