Sounds like a good course. Did Nomad supply you with injectable Lidocaine? I presume the adrenaline was issued in case allergic reaction, snakebite etc?

If you want the top notch stuff!
 

QuikClot® adsorbent hemostatic agent speeds coagulation & rapidly stops blood loss .: Z-Medica Corporation

I've used them (not on me) and will testify how great they are for severe wound injuries

Yep Lidocane was injectable for sewing up wounds and the adreniline was for snake bites etc.This day and age it's easy to get most things but anyone thinking of making such additions to ther kits will need to take training in the use of such drugs incase of adverce reactions ie heart atack with adreniline.

Adrenaline administered in those amounts would be unlikely to induce "heart attack", but certainly possibility of arrythmia. It's also good for reducing bleeding when you are trying to get those sutures in. You can even use it in life-threatening asthma attacks.

I stand corrected about my this stuff not being available over the counter! Times have changed.

Please be careful with this kind of stuff guys - for a start Nomad wont sell it to you if they feel you're not sufficiently trained, and you can very easily end up doing yourself much more harm than good.

Get on a good expedition medical course (not just first aid), Nomad can advice which ones.

m

Yeah agreed, and frankly, I'm not sure any short course, expedition or otherwise, would provide the skills to practise this kind of stuff. Hence my surprise that these kind of drugs are available in the format that they are.

cutting myself open
 

I’ve got a couple years to keep falling off my bike cutting myself open, stitching myself up for the hell of it! - lol - it’s a needle and thread - I put a zipper in my jacket once, what more do you want…. :rolleyes2:

Think we've done this one then guys. Good we're all in agreeance that proper medical training is the first step once you've done that do it again because when you have to step up to the mark all you've learnt goes straght out of your head (remembering my first heart atack situation).
Steve.

hypo,s
 

Syringes can be got from any druggie hand out clinic free of charge, as to how many you want thats up to you, but askin for too many might get you admitted and the RTW trip abandoned. LOL.

just the job
 

this looks like just the ticket, will look into this a bit more. a 4 day course will cost a few bucks i recon. still, once its learned! handy for other situations in life, not just crashing :)

good tip
 

thats a good tip! - However, I’d like the training and the drugs as well..

this stuff looks good as well....

1st Aid at HU meeting
 

Will there be a good basic 1st aid course or talk at the H.U meeting in July, is there any one thats willing to give there advice free there, would be nice to have that on the schedule this year. :D

It makes some sense to take a basic form of a sterile kit if heading to developing countries. Syringes with hyperdermic needles. Something thats not been mentioned is intravenous catheter needles ("IV line" or "drip") this is a very common item. If you are going to get treated for heat stoke, dehydration, and many drugs are administered intravenously. It's only a needle and a short tube. (small) If you're serious about 1st aid etc and wish to take syringes (sound logic) it would make sense to take IV catherter or 2 as well.

If you do take them, and even if you don't; if the hospital staff are going to use their needles etc or yours, make sure they only take them out of the sterile wrappers in front of you or your travel partner. it's not un heard (though not common) of for clincs to re-use this gear. -This is simple safe logic even if you don't take a sterile kit with you.

You will often see a syringe in a kit without needles. This is for irrigation of a open wound etc ( put the saline solution(purified salty water) in the syringe and use it to squirt it into the wound etc to clear out any foreign bodies (bits of Mongolian road).

Something to think about is entering a country with hyperdermic needles; it can lead to some hard questions if found in the lugguage. This would also include any medicene in tablet form not sealed in foil trays. Just make sure you can answer in certain terms exactly why you have this stuff with you. If you don't have DR or paramedic in front of your name leave the morphine, adrenaline etc at home.

If you are intrested in such gear have a look at the impressive range of first aid kits from the UK's lifesystems. they do a reasonable priced sterile kit ( 18 gbp for their middle one) have a look here; LIFESYSTEMS® Travel Healthcare - Travel First Aid Kits - Sterile Kit

First aid stuff should have the same logic as all your other gear.....think do i really need it??? what do i have already that will make do. If you're going to do a course don't bother with the local red cross or St John. their course are designed with the idea you're at home or work, not half a days ride from a clinic. Find a course for wilderness or remote places. it will be based closer to something usefull for you.

i personally wouldn't bother...
I carry only exam gloves, assorted cloth plasters, 2-3 x sterile wound dressings. glad wrap (to cover burns keeps it clean and won't tear your skin off after....bike fuel...cooker fuel...) a roll of athletic straping tape - much more usefull than several bandages. use it to cover dressings, strap a pulled wrist fix your tent..... and some saline solution to clean bits out, flush eyes etc same as anything.... keep it simple.... keep it functional.

Ok...this is getting a bit nutty and some myths are being perpetuated...

If I were a traveller passing through, I would focus on the following:

1. Understanding the language, including medical terms, of the areas you're passing through; as the local medical worker's diagnosis and treatment of your ailment will depend on your ability to communicate its symptoms, etc.

2. Understand the type of care and materials medical implements you need for that care...the book Where There is No Doctor is an excellent read....whether it being through a course or book. These medical materials ARE available locally...you'd be surprised if you ask in the local language...including clean needles etc.

3. Realize what your limitations are versus a professional medical care provider, irrelevant of where you're injured. Ask them questions if you need to...to better understand your ailment.

West Africa, Mongolia, some backwoods clinics are NOT rife with clinics sharing needles, and impropriety etc. as some of these myths perpetuate...while travelling, stop by a local clinic and see for yourself...you'd be surprised.

Hell think about it this way, if they were able to acquire a clean needle at some point, I'm sure they'd be able to acquire one in case you need it...just ask, if unsure you're provided one...they'll open it out of the packaging for you!

Lastly, crossing borders with needles and drugs labelled in foreign languages for local customs agents, CAN create misunderstandings like having them believe you may be importing illegal drugs, etc. And THAT will spoil your holiday more likely than the potential incident you're preparing for.

Bottom line, mitigate your risk...