Emergency Bag

[albaugh1976]

Here are a few items that could come in handy in the event of a wilderness emergency (in no particular order):
1. p-cord
2. sling/swath materials
3. asprin
4. rescue breathing mask
5. body substance isolation (latex gloves)
6. antihistamine
7. tarp (quick cover for you and your patient during rain)
8. sleeping pad (to keep the patient off the ground)
9. Sawyer Extractor (contraversial)
10. extra quick drying warm layers

The list could go on and on but it's late and I'm about to hit the hay.

[Hikerhead]

I'd like to know what your instructors thoughts were on the Sawyer Extractor. I have one. Is it a waste of time or a life saver?

[albaugh1976]

I carry one also. The WEMT instructors said the same thing I've read on a few websites: if you apply the extractor within 3 minutes of the snake bite then you can get up to 30% of the venom out of the wound. 30% is better than nothing when you're hours away from advanced care.

I don't have the stats handy at the moment but death by snake bite is pretty low in the United States. (I'll try to dig those numbers up today.) I think remaining calm in a situation such as that is one of the most important treatments you can provide. Even if the Sawyer is just a pyschological treatment it could help the situation. In my opinion.

Having said that, I've also read a few articles that claim the Sawyer is a waste of time. It may very well be unless it's applied ASAP. However, I'm guessing most people who are bitten would like to reach into their pack and pull one out right about then.

I'd be interested to hear other opinions/experiences on the matter.

[albaugh1976]

Total: 45,000 snake bites in U.S. per year

Venomous bites: 8000 in U.S. per year

Deaths from snake bite in U.S.: 12 or less per year

Envonomation occurs in 75% of U.S. poisonous snakebites

according to the following website:

www.fpnotebook.com/ER7.htm