While traveling in Fiji recently several health challenges materialized which highlighted the need for always being prepared and carrying your own essential first aid kits.
You never know when you, family, friends or others may be in need of essential first aid assistance. My recommendation is to carry a small first aid kit in your bag or backpack and a more elaborate one in your suitcase. It is important to always focus and think safety first to avoid unnecessary accidents and injuries. Whether it is wearing eye protection, gloves, hearing protection, helmet, seat belt or skin protection it is important to use common sense and good judgment.
Best Practice is Being Prepared
While snorkeling in Fiji one man cut his knee and ankle quite badly on some coral and it continued to bleed for several hours every time he walked and this reopened the cuts. Band aids alone would not stick well on the moving joints and did not stop the bleeding. This caused a serious risk to him of a possible infection as well as the potential for others to be contaminated from his blood if he had any transmittable disease.
A simple infection can rapidly become a life and limb threat if not properly treated right away. At the earliest it would have been several hours from the time of injury until medical treatment due to many delays and factors. It is better to be prepared and treat yourself first and then seek follow up medical attention when available.
Also three young people at the back packers’ hostel came down with a serious problem (possible bacterial food poisoning) which caused diarrhea, nausea and vomiting for several days. In addition to being miserable they became dehydrated, fevered and incapacitated. They did not feel they could endure the flight out the next day.
Lucky for them they were able to borrow my first aid kit for access to the calcium bentonite clay (natural treatment that is in anti diarrhea compounds, can help with food poisoning or other pathogens) and sea salt / sodium bicarbonate for electrolytes and minerals to help alkalize and rehydrate their body.
Preventative Fast Action
When an accident, injury or first aid challenge occurs you must be prepared to render immediate first aid to yourself. Even minor injuries can escalate into major problems and end up risking life and limb. If you think this is a gross exaggeration think again. A good friend of mine was hiking in another country in Europe and developed a blister on her foot. Without administering proper care and treatment it later developed into a case of flesh eating bacteria which put her in the hospital.
At one point the doctors told her she may loose her foot or leg and possibly her life if they were not able to stop the rapidly spreading bacterial infection. She ended up with significant skin and tissue removed from her foot and required sizable skin grafts from her leg to cover the wounds on her foot and ankle. This was a very expensive and scary experience that might have been prevented with early treatment and proper first aid.
Another time a man received a spider bite in Australia and ended up in the hospital in serious condition and missed his international flight and business meetings in the US. The missed trip caused him to miss his presentation to hundreds and significant economic loss. Additionally the extended stay in the hospital was very expensive. Without family members present it was very frightening and stressful for him and his entire family. This is another example where proper first aid may have prevented the situation from escalating into a serious medical risk and very costly life lesson.
Preparing Your Essential First Aid Kit
Always think safety, safety and more safety in your daily life. Whether you are traveling across town, state, country or going abroad it is imperative you do your homework to understand potential health risks and be prepared with an essential first aid kit. Be sure you have information available in your wallet that identifies any current medical conditions, medicines or allergies.
The last thing you want is to lose time because they do not have any information to assist them in your care and treatment. Remember that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Your extra caution and early first aid treatment can mean the difference between a minor scrape healing naturally and a life threatening infection.
[colored_box title=”Sample All Natural Essential First Aid Kit Items” variation=”teal”]
- Aloe vera gel
- Anti- diarrhea treatment
- Athletic tape
- Athletic elastic wrap
- Bicarbonate of Soda
- Band aids
- Butterfly bandages
- Calcium Bentonite Clay – powder and gel (powder clay and water)
- Candle
- Charcoal granules
- Clamps or hemostats
- Cloth squares and strips for slings or splints
- Cloves or clove oil (great for tooth ache)
- Colloidal silver
- Cold pack
- Digital blood pressure cuff
- Duct tape
- Eucalyptus oil
- Eye dropper with bottle of water or eye flush kit
- Eye patch
- First aid book with CPR directions
- Flashlight
- Foil space blanket
- Gauze pads
- Heat pack
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Magnets (Therapeutic from AVivoPur)
- Matches
- Mirror
- Needle
- Neem oil
- Oil of Oregano
- Peppermint oil
- Tea Tree oil
- Thermometer
- Tweezers
- Safety pins
- Scissors (Medic)
- Sea Salt
- Surgical mask & gloves[/colored_box]
Remember it is up to you to learn basic first aid, CPR and have essential first aid kits available. You never know when you may need to treat yourself or family members. Early attention and basic first aid treatment can mean the difference between a minor issue and a major medical trauma, treatment and financial loss.
Wouldn’t you rather invest $100.00 in prevention and quality first aid kits than risk spending $10,000.00 for hospitalization and emergency surgery due to a bacterial infection that could have been prevented?
The choice is yours so choose wisely.
You can find the calcium bentonite clay, and bio-silver and magnets I use at Bio-Energetic Wellness Products – Lyon Legacy International
Our next blog post will share: Warm Water Works Wonders
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