Field Trip Safety
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You're on a club field trip. Suddenly you hear "Help me!" One of the members has a medical problem and needs first aid. Does your club have a first aid kit for field trips (and for the club shops)? The first question that each of us always has is "What should be in our first aid kit?" We can't carry (or afford) everything an ambulance has. On the other hand, we need to have the stuff needed for the most likely medical problems that might show up on a field trip. I cannot describe the ideal kit for your club. So, below I've given some problem areas you might consider and what supplies might be needed for them. Perhaps you will think of other areas. Very likely you can think of more stuff than I list for each potential problem area. Asthma and allergies - Antihistamines, inhalers Broken bones - Splints for fingers, arms, and legs Burns - Cold packs, rolled gauze Cuts and scrapes - To clean - hydrogen peroxide, Merthiolate, antibiotic cream - To cover - small Band-Aids, large Band Aids, 4" gauze pads, adhesive tape, small and large butterfly bandages (these close cuts until they are stitched). Food problems - Antacid, emetic, baking soda, diarrhea medicine Heart attacks - 2 regular aspirin at once – then transport to nearest emergency facility. There is now available a non-professional shock paddle system. It is for people like you and I to use. Insect sting and bites - bee sting medicine (critical if a member is allergic!), calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream Overheating - Salt pills, spray water bottle, cold packs, water, wash cloth, tarp for shade. Pain - Enteric Aspirin, adult and child , and acetaminophen, or other over the counter pain medication. Poison Ivy, Poison oak, poison sumac - Soap and water, calamine lotion, poison ivy medicine. Snake bites Snake bite kit. Sprains - cold packs, cloth triangle for arm support, elastic bandages. Sun - sun spray or cream rated at least 15 SPC . (Spray is not messy). Mentholatum EVERY first aid kit should have the needed tools: -Scissors, soap, water, tweezers and a current First Aid Manual (See recent safety article on available manuals). Now - how about your club? Why not go through the list above and decide whether your club should worry and then what stuff the first aid kit needs. Make a list of the items needed and go buy them. Fishing tackle boxes make handy, watertight cases and are inexpensive. So after you buy everything else, get a box to hold everything. A bright red or yellow one is a good idea so it is highly visible and quickly located. Mark it plainly in large letters. And remember. it really helps if one or more members is up to date in First Aid techniques. Good Health!! By Mel Albright, AFMS Safety Chair.
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