- Location
- healdsburg, CA
In light of one of my crew recently cutting himself with his chain saw, I decided to post a picture and discription of the first aid box I keep in the truck.
Of all the pre-made kits I have seen none of them are specificly designed for tree work.
I have found that the most common injuries are small cuts and abrasions, sprains, getting something in my eye, poision oak, splinters, burns, and not as common, the occasional 'BAD CUT'.
So I have always made up my own kits.
Please excuse the poor quality picture. The attachment I made in Microsoft word.
Of special use to me was the finding of 'eye cups' these are plastic cups that go over your eye and hold it open and hold saline solution. They are the best for cleaning out that little thing and annoys you to no end and you cant get out anyother way (short of taking a shower and washing your eye in the falling water).
Also fabric band aids. They hold on even in wet dirty conditions that is normal for tree work.
The 'Vet Wrap' is by far the best product I have ever seen for holding gauze pads in place. My wife rides horses and they use them to hold wraps onto the lower part of the horses leg. They do a real good job even in sandy horse arenas. They are streachy and self adhesive (stick to themselves). They work to wrap a thumb or hand or just about anything else. And they hold on even when they get rubbed (like under your arm or in a glove) and hold when wet.
I put everything in it's own zip lock baggy because the box gets hot in the summer time and if anything leaks, it wont leak into anything else.
Neosporin, asprin, saline solution, etc are all in small disposable one use containers. That reduces the chance of anything becoming non-sterile. And they all have expiration dates, so it is easy to keep everthing up to date.
One product I have been using for quite some time is tottally illegal. That is 2% Lidocaine. I get it from a doctor who lets me take it with me. The stuff is the best for spraying onto a wound and numbing it so it makes scrubbing the wound easy. Cuts from chain saws, hand saws, penetration into the flesh with sticks, etc, etc are ALL prone to infection and should be cleaned real well. Have you ever had to dig deep to get a splinter out? This stuff is great, but should be used very carefully and is not any type of excuse to not have a nurse or doctor take a look at the wound.
Shock is a major factor to think about and keeping the person warm is essential. That is why I have a space blanket in my box as well as an instant cold pack.
It is not so much an issue these days with all these cell phones but I make sure everyone knows where my cell phone is and what street they are on.
In case the paramedics have to be called.
I encourage ANYONE doing tree work to have an excellently loaded first aid box, know what is in it, and how to clean and bandage a wound. Even when going to the hospital the wound should be cleaned and bandaged as soon as possible. I cant tell you how many people are caught without even the basics when something happens
Frans
Of all the pre-made kits I have seen none of them are specificly designed for tree work.
I have found that the most common injuries are small cuts and abrasions, sprains, getting something in my eye, poision oak, splinters, burns, and not as common, the occasional 'BAD CUT'.
So I have always made up my own kits.
Please excuse the poor quality picture. The attachment I made in Microsoft word.
Of special use to me was the finding of 'eye cups' these are plastic cups that go over your eye and hold it open and hold saline solution. They are the best for cleaning out that little thing and annoys you to no end and you cant get out anyother way (short of taking a shower and washing your eye in the falling water).
Also fabric band aids. They hold on even in wet dirty conditions that is normal for tree work.
The 'Vet Wrap' is by far the best product I have ever seen for holding gauze pads in place. My wife rides horses and they use them to hold wraps onto the lower part of the horses leg. They do a real good job even in sandy horse arenas. They are streachy and self adhesive (stick to themselves). They work to wrap a thumb or hand or just about anything else. And they hold on even when they get rubbed (like under your arm or in a glove) and hold when wet.
I put everything in it's own zip lock baggy because the box gets hot in the summer time and if anything leaks, it wont leak into anything else.
Neosporin, asprin, saline solution, etc are all in small disposable one use containers. That reduces the chance of anything becoming non-sterile. And they all have expiration dates, so it is easy to keep everthing up to date.
One product I have been using for quite some time is tottally illegal. That is 2% Lidocaine. I get it from a doctor who lets me take it with me. The stuff is the best for spraying onto a wound and numbing it so it makes scrubbing the wound easy. Cuts from chain saws, hand saws, penetration into the flesh with sticks, etc, etc are ALL prone to infection and should be cleaned real well. Have you ever had to dig deep to get a splinter out? This stuff is great, but should be used very carefully and is not any type of excuse to not have a nurse or doctor take a look at the wound.
Shock is a major factor to think about and keeping the person warm is essential. That is why I have a space blanket in my box as well as an instant cold pack.
It is not so much an issue these days with all these cell phones but I make sure everyone knows where my cell phone is and what street they are on.
In case the paramedics have to be called.
I encourage ANYONE doing tree work to have an excellently loaded first aid box, know what is in it, and how to clean and bandage a wound. Even when going to the hospital the wound should be cleaned and bandaged as soon as possible. I cant tell you how many people are caught without even the basics when something happens
Frans
