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Backpacker Magazine – Online Exclusive
From splinting a broken leg to duct taping a bloody wound, the BACKPACKER First Aid Center is an invaluable resource for backcountry first aid.
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: How to Treat a Fractured Leg
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: How to Treat a Gaping Wound
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: How to Treat a Blister
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: How to Treat a Fractured Arm
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: How to Treat a Sprained Ankle
VIDEO: Treating Bloody Wounds
VIDEO: Treating Broken Bones
VIDEO: Preventing & Treating Hypothermia
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READERS COMMENTS
Just to correct another comment listed here: It is always OK to use antibiotic ointment/cream no matter the time from definitive care. While it's true that I use time in my judgement for whether or not to sew closed a wound someone presents to the ER with, it's not a hard rule that 24 hours is the cut-off.
Finally, I would never recommend spitting anything into an open wound...
Posted: Oct 09, 2009 Jeremy Joslin, MD
You can't get a "gaping wound" if you're conscious when in the bush...
If you aren't the conscious type, the best advice on "gaping wounds", is "stay the hell out of the bush"...
If a master gets a nasty wound, he chews a bit of birch bark, and spits it on the wound.. the alum will close it faster than all the modern medical crap...
But the master doesn't need alum.. he thinks the blood flow to the area off.. and in a couple seconds it stopped bleeding...
But I sometimes forget that humanity can't think that deep in their asylum-world...
In topic "gaping wounds", I've seen novice campers using axes whilst glancing all around to see what others are doing... They're the ones who get those insane wilderness wounds... Essentially those wounds are "self-inflicted" acting by absolute-stupidity...
Bottom-line in this matter, is the lesson the scrap metal yard owner taught me while I was searching his metal piles, for specific shapes...
He told me "Always take each step in your mind before you actually take that step, and you won't have any accidents...
Posted: Oct 09, 2009 DonaldJ,Cosmicbrat,Dragonspirit
On the gaping wound the antibiotic cream / ointment is only going to be scrubbed off when you get to advanced treament it is OK if you are more than 24hrs out from advanced medical care, but don't use it if you can reach care in nder 24 hrs t only complicates getting sewn up. After 24 hrs. they can't safely stitch you up.
Posted: Oct 08, 2009 Srgmjr
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