Hemorrhage Control – What Aunt Flow Didn’t Know

Hemorrhage Control – What Aunt Flow Didn’t Know

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Anaphylaxis.. a true emergency

Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction that has life-endangering effects on the circulatory and respiratory systems. Anaphylaxis is an almost immediate, rapidly progressive multisystem allergic reaction to a foreign protein injected into the body by stinging and biting insects, snakes, and sea creatures or ingestion or inhalation of food, chemicals, and medications,. Early recognition
and prompt treatment, particularly in a wilderness setting, is essential to preserve life. The onset of symptoms usually follows quickly after an exposure (minutes after a sting or bite, within 30-60 minutes following ingestion).

Rebound or recurrent reactions can occur within 24 to 72 hours of the original episode.
In addition to shortness of breath, weakness and dizziness, victims also frequently complain of a sense of impending doom, cough, chest tightness, trouble swallowing, abdominal cramps, or generalized itching. Physical findings include rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, and other evidence of shock, upper airway obstruction (stridor) and lower airway obstructions
(wheezes) with labored breathing, generalized skin redness, hives, and swelling of the mouth, face, and neck. Epinephrine should only administered to patients having symptoms suggestive of an acute systemic reaction (i.e. generalized skin rash, difficulty breathing, fainting, or facial swelling).

Emergency administration of epinephrine for anaphylaxis:

1. Maintain an open airway, assist ventilations if necessary, and put patient in a position of comfort. Initiate CPR if necessary.

2. Inject 0.3 mg of 1/1000 epinephrine into the vastus lateralis muscle , or the anterior aspect of the thigh (intramuscular is recommended, however subcutaneous is acceptable).*

3. Repeat injections every 5 minutes if condition worsens or every 15 minutes if condition does not improve, for a total of up to three doses.

4. Administer 50-100 mg of diphenhydramine by mouth every 4-6 hours if the patient is awake and can swallow.

5. Consider Prednisone 40 – 60 mg / day (or equivalent dose of an oral corticosteroid).

6. Because a rebound reaction can occur, all victims of an anaphylactic reaction should be evacuated.

Rebound reactions should be treated in the same manner as the initial reaction, using epinephrine in the same dosage.


* There is 1mg of epinephrine in 1 mL of epinephrine 1/1000; there are 0.3 mg in 0.3 mL of 1/1000. Preloaded commercially available injectors deliver either 0.3 mg (standard adult dose) or 0.15 mg (standard pediatric dose). If the person weighs less than 66 lbs. (30 kg), the doses are: epinephrine is 0.01 mg/kg; diphenhydramine is 1mg/kg; and prednisone is 1 - 2mg/kg. When using lbs., multiply the weight times 0.45 to get the weight/mass in kilograms.

Note to consulting physician: the organization will need a prescription from you to obtain injectable epinephrine. It is available in the following forms: Twinjects, Epi-Pens® and manual injection methods. Over the counter diphenhydramine should always be carried in addition to injectable epinephrine.

Center for Wilderness Safety  2015

A great knife for a small price

The Swedish FireKnife is the result of a collaboration between well-respected Swedish brands Moraknive and Light My Fire. This is more than just an extremely sharp, flexible and sturdy all-around knife; the handle contains a fire starter. In other words, you can gut and clean a fish, split kindling and light a campfire with one handy tool. 

The FireKnife has a 9.5 cm (3.75-inch) blade of hardened Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel. Profile grinding makes the blade fine enough ease out splinters and the back of the knife has been ground to work perfectly with the Swedish FireSteel. TPE rubber material on the handle provides a firm grip and the Swedish FireSteel 2.0 Scout fire starter twist-locks into the rear of the handle. The Swedish FireSteel is made from a durable magnesium alloy that produces a 3,000°C (5,400°F) spark and even works when wet. 

Last approximately 3,000 strikes. 

To use, 
1) Remove paint on new fire-starter with the back of knife. 
2) Pull the back edge of the knife slowly and firmly down length of fire-starter. 
3) Sparks easily ignite a stove, Tinder Dust, BBQ, paper, dry grass, birch bark or any other prepared tinder. 

Includes sheath with clip. Overall length 22.5 cm (8.85 inches), weight 94 g (3.3 ounces). Made in Sweden.

HORACE KEPHART, Camping and Woodcraft, 1917

“The man with the knapsack is never lost. No matter whither he may stray, his food and shelter are right with him, and home is wherever he may choose to stop.” – HORACE KEPHART, Camping and Woodcraft, 1917

Be prepared.. leave a travel plan

I work in a rural county that has a large section of National Forest and a large influx of Hunters and folks who want to visit nature. It never fails that every year we respond to calls for help from these well meaning adventures or the family of said person after they become lost and do not come home.

In this day and age technology allows for allot more communication and reliability on these tools to rescue us when things turn brown, technology is great until it fails, the majority of folks we find have dead phone batteries and complain that they had no signal to call 911.

It never fails that when someone is reported overdue we talk with family and or friends and there is absolutely no clue as to where the missing party was going, no idea on travel route, no idea about what type of equipment available and IF we are lucky we will get a almost accurate description of clothing.

This can be avoided and help those Searching if you leave some information with family including.

Where you are going and travel route to the trail head or camp
Location of trail head or nearest road.
Location of Campground or Hunting area.
Description of clothing or equipment

Just telling friends and family a few details will narrow the search area help guide searchers who may be looking for you.

Once you find yourself lost.. STAY PUT..DO NOT WANDER.. help them find you, set up camp, save your calories and energy, make yourself  big and wait.. Do not let foolish pride carry you further away from those looking for you.

Survival Training.. why should we train

No one wants to be placed in a real world Survival situation.We practice Survival and or Bush craft skills in a safe place in a safe manner so that we can take time to understand the skills and process involved in learning and committing the skills to memory.

Real world survival is not a IF it is a WHEN.. It only takes a Tornado, Hurricane, Civil unrest or a host of other possible situations to evoke fear and panic on the majority of the Public.

What are you prepared for? Do you have a plan? or are you one of those folks that will wait too long and suffer the consequences when time runs out. The choice is yours.