Tackling the Hunter’s First Aid Kit

We’ve all been out with friends and had someone come away with a minor injury. Maybe it’s a sprained ankle, a cut finger, or a skinned knee. A little injury where you simply brush the dirt away, shake yourself off, and continue on down the trail. But what happens when the injury exceeds “minor” status? Do you know what to do if a gun misfires and now someone has a gunshot wound? Or your hunting buddy falls from the tree stand and suddenly has a compound fracture? It’s oh-so-easy to get caught up in planning and executing a successful hunt, but what happens when something goes wrong?To get more news about hemostatic agents, you can visit rusuntacmed.com official website.

One of the most important pieces of gear for anyone who steps foot off the pavement, a solid first-aid kit is especially important for hunters. Whether you are heading into the backcountry for a multi-day hunt or simply hitting your favorite trails for the day while setting trail cams, a first aid kit should always be in your backpack. Don’t think of the kit as a fixed item—the contents within your first-aid kit should change per trip… you’re going to want a beefier assortment for an 11-day Dall sheep hunt in the Alaska backcountry than you will for a simple morning in the tree stand five miles from home. You may choose to go with an ultralight kit to save weight and space or a broader selection if you are in hunting camp. Never assume the outfitter, your hunting buddy, or someone else along the trail will have a medical kit: always be ready to take care of yourself..
Carrying a well-stocked first aid kit, however, doesn’t do much good if you don’t know how to use it. Consider taking a CPR / Wilderness First Aid course; the course typically runs over two eight-hour days and can be found in most communities for less than $250. It’s a small investment for the knowledge you’ll gain of how to respond correctly when things go wrong, and in the heat of the moment the ability to be certain of your treatment decisions and keep a level head is crucial—whether it’s yourself or a fellow hunter that’s injured.

The book Wilderness Medicine: Beyond First Aid by Dr. William Forgey is an excellent primer for home study. Having the kit is one part, but having the knowledge of how to use the kit is most important.Seasoned hunting industry photographer and onX Hunt Ambassador Steven Drake notes, “I always take a mini first aid/what-if kit with me every time I go into the mountains. It’s been slimmed down and refined over the years; it’s always a balance of space, weight, and practicality.” Among other things, he notes he’ll never leave home without a SOL emergency bivy and a QuikClot Advanced Clotting Sponge.

I would highlight two technologies that every hunter should be aware of and utilizing appropriately,” Pyke adds. “Firstly, tourniquets: every wilderness first aid course now includes curriculum on proper tourniquet application, and folks should now be expected to know how to apply these in cases of massive hemorrhage. At a minimum, people should look up a “Stop the Bleed” course which is generally one to two hours and quickly highlights how to utilize direct pressure and tourniquets to stop severe hemorrhage. There is no longer an excuse for people to be ignoring the efficacy of tourniquets.”
“Satellite communication devices have improved so much in even the last 10 years. The connection and functionality of these devices makes them mandatory equipment for outdoor recreationalists. There are many devices to choose from, so just send an emergency signal, some let you text custom messages, either way people should be able to utilize this technology to call for help if things go wrong. Choose a device, test it regularly and make sure you keep it charged. The ability to let someone know your exact location could be the difference between a positive or negative outcome of an emergency.”

(In addition to satellite comms, another good plan for onX Hunt users is to create and share Waypoints or Tracks for touchpoints on your trip, so if you miss your scheduled return or check-in, family and friends have a starting point to initiate a search.)

Adventure Medical Kits makes a series of very solid first aid kits, from one-person single-day kits all the way up to expedition-grade. It’s a good idea to keep a “mini-kit” within your larger kit so you can grab the basics if you’re going on a quick scout away from base camp. This smaller kit holds the basics for dressing small wounds and minimal medications on hand for cuts, scrapes, blisters, and the lot, while remaining portable enough to slot easily into a pocket or daypack. Consider including gauze sponges, band-aids, butterfly bandages, prep pads, moleskin, tweezers, allergy ointment, antibiotic cream, ibuprofen, nitrile gloves, duct tape, Sam splint, AfterBite, towelettes, a Sharpie marker (wrap the duct tape around it to save space), a space blanket, and medical tape in the mini-kit.