Packing for your health Just in case, throw in a survival kit

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I sat down on the front seat of the boat and gazed at my hand, and the blood. Two prongs of a treble hook were embedded well past the barbs, and the bass plug hung, swaying below the wounds. We were 5 miles from the boat launch, an hour from the closest hospital, and were only into the first hour of a daylong fishing trip. The hooks had to come out, and due to their position, yanking them backward with the old monofilament trick wasn’t an option.

I’ll spare you most of the gory details and simply say I forced each hook through the meat and out where I could cut off each barbed point with needlepoint pliers. What remained of each hook was then backed out of my hand. I wouldn’t do it that way again!

Between my two fishing buddies and myself we didn’t even have a bandage with us. I cut up my handkerchief and used strips as bandages throughout the day. A small first-aid kit I carry during hunting season was at home in a knapsack. Some antiseptic, antibiotic cream, or topical pain reliever would have helped, and a gauze pad and adhesive tape would have offered padding and protection from infection. Later in the day as I contemplated the rhythm of the pain throbbing in my hand, I vowed that I’d be better prepared for the next outdoor misfortune.

My angling accident was small compared to what can happen during an outdoor adventure. Hunters fall from tree stands, get legs and ankles caught and broken while crossing over blowdowns, become stranded or lost, or worst of all, get shot.

Campers burn themselves at campfires or with lanterns, cut themselves with a knife or ax, and suffer the pain of a spider bite or poison ivy. Hunters tumble down rocky inclines, canoers overturn and suffer hypothermia or cuts and bruises, snowmobilers break down in remote regions, and fishermen get foul hooked. The list of unpleasant possibilities goes on and on because every outdoor sport involves mishaps.

Be prepared

As any Boy Scout will tell you, dealing with unexpected circumstances and adversity requires being prepared. Having a small but diverse first-aid kit along on any sporting venture is a wise idea, but why not go a step further. Go bigger and better, and create your own personal survival kit. A well-planned combination of items to tend wounds from bee stings to bullets or to persevere through being wet and cold or lost and hungry can aid in comfort and perhaps even save a life.

A survival kit won’t prevent accidents, but it just might help you live through them. Since weight and restricted motion are always a concern for sportsmen traveling in the outdoors, a light, compact kit is essential. Prospective containers include small backpacks and knapsacks or a shoulder bag, but for convenience and comfort, a belted waist pack seated on the hip, stomach or in the small of the back best fits the bill. A 6-by-6 or 6-by-8-inch pouch, 4 inches thick with a couple of interior compartments and two or three exterior zippered or Velcro pockets works wonderfully.

Properly stocked, your survival kit should weigh between 2 and 3 pounds; add any more and it becomes more burdensome than advantageous. If you only carry it from the truck to the boat, snowmobile, or four-wheeler, or walk a short distance to a blind or tree stand, a bit more weight won’t matter. Hikers, anglers, and hunters spending all day on their feet, or snowshoers and skiers must try to stay under the 3-pound limit.

Basic contents

Every outdoorsman must stock his kit with regard to personal needs, climate, and terrain, but a few basic items should be in every pack. A dependable compass and knowledge of proper use are essential. Make sure you take a reading at the starting point; this is crucial in unfamiliar territory and if darkness or weather blots out reference points.

The modern technology of a GPS will be a prime asset for most sportsmen, but it does require batteries. Carry a GPS, properly calibrated and fully charged, if one’s available, but always have a backup compass. If you’re scoping out a new area or visiting another state or country, carry a map of the general region. In a vehicle or on foot, a large scale topo map can be a lifesaver. Get a waterproof version if possible and it will stand up in all weather and travel conditions.

If basic repair is needed on a gun, fishing rod, truck, snowmobile or four-wheeler, or if you end up needing shelter for an overnight stay, tools are a must. A sturdy folding knife has hundreds of uses from cleaning game to cleaning a battery terminal to making a fishing rod from an alder switch. A folding saw or an even more compact wire saw will be a great aid in building a shelter or cutting a splint or a crutch. It will also cut metal and plastic material, or even bone if an animal needs to be quartered.

Essential to any survival kit is a multi-tool. While small versions are available, for this purpose select a strong, high-quality, full-size tool. Pliers, file, assorted screwdrivers, wire cutters, and a knife blade of at least 4 inches are a few of the most useful instruments in this dependable gadget.

Let there be light

Matches, strong wooden ones that are waterproof, are a must. I have a special container that is bright orange and keeps at least 25 matches in its waterproof center. One end is a very shrill whistle and the other has a liquid suspended compass. This special container floats and has its own neck lanyard.

I also carry a small butane lighter with an adjustable flame. This lighter ignites and stays lit in all weather and wind conditions and burns so hot it will almost melt metal. Small waterproof flint and tinder packets are favored by many sports. A short, fat candle with a heavy wick will provide light and even some heat in close quarters, such as a snow cave.

A small flashlight is always useful, and a headlamp which will allow the wearer to still use both hands is even more beneficial. Select a headlamp that uses a rechargeable battery and also replaceable batteries, and carry a spare battery and bulb.

To your health

Every survival kit needs a supply of first-aid materials. A dozen bandages of various sizes – at least three butterfly bandages to hold wounds closed, a roll of gauze or pads and adhesive tape – are prime necessities. Alcohol swabs to clean wounds also make great fire starters. Include small tubes of antibiotic and anesthetic ointments for wound care.

Include a couple of needles and some thread in case clothes need patching, and in a dire emergency a severe wound can be sewn closed until trained medical personnel can tend to it. Many survival kits stock fish hooks and line or monofilament to catch food, but these items can also be used to suture a cut or build a small game snare.

Always carry a couple of days of any prescribed medication and for outings across or out of the country carry extra. Strange food and water can affect the digestive system, so ask your doctor to prescribe a dozen anti-diarrheal pills, just in case, and while you’re at it, a few moderately strong pain tablets might be in order as well. Don’t overlook a bottle of water purification tablets.

For trips more than a week in length and far from the nearest town, consider a dental kit. Many pharmacies carry or can obtain a small kit for field repair of cracked or broken teeth, lost fillings and gum problems. The pack is fairly inexpensive and even if you never use it, you have piece of mind. A 3-inch hand mirror will help assess dental problems, facial injuries, and also serve as a signaling device. Women’s compact-style mirrors used to apply makeup can be closed to prevent breakage during travel.

Cover and comfort

A space blanket takes up almost no space, yet this waterproof, windproof sheet can provide shelter, serve as a ground cloth, heat reflector, signaling device, litter, or even a makeshift raft. Carry a couple of large, heavyweight trash bags in the pack as well. Green will do, but get orange if possible since it shows up better. These bags serve many of the same purposes as the space blanket and more.

Parachute cord is thin, strong, and has untold uses in the wild. Bind a splint, build a raft or shelter, construct a litter, and dozens of other options in an emergency. Learn a half dozen sturdy, all-purpose knots.

Carry packets of dry soup, hot chocolate mix, bouillon cubes, tea bags, and a couple of energy bars. A stainless steel cup, 8-12 ounces, can be used to heat liquids; collect and purify water; and, of course, for drinking. Don’t let the size deter you. Many items can be packed inside the cup, which then goes in the pack.

Pack some toilet paper. Besides the obvious, it can be used to clean wounds or start a fire. A pencil and paper can be used to leave messages for searchers, make important notes, or start a fire. Small tubes of sunscreen and fly dope are useful if there’s room. Finally, a cell or satellite phone can be a lifesaver as long as reception isn’t a problem and batteries hold up.

Survival kit contents can be adjusted to fit individual needs, locations, and sports involved, but this article will offer general guidelines. This is a good time of year to put a survival kit together, since spring through fall will offer the busiest outdoor seasons. Perhaps you will never truly need such a kit, but it’s better to have it and not need it than vice versa, and if you do need it, you might be a survivor rather than a statistic.

Outdoor feature writer Bill Graves can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net