Yea, when you buy the Quick Clot, look for the term "sponge" on the description. Much better than the old powder.
Also, the hands down best book I've ever read is this:
Wilderness Medicine
It is 2300+ pages. It is expensive. It is written by a doctor that has been there and done that. I encourage you to get the sample from the Kindle version and read the introduction. The rest of the book is just as informative. It can be used for reference, but I really encourage you to read it and take notes so that you can use the notes to help create your supply list. It is written for a medical professional and as such, the terms used are generally assumed to be known. Another reason to read first.
The Wilderness First Responder textbook is here:
Wilderness First Responder
It is good, and worth having. I still recommend the course itself.
An OK book, but not nearly as extensive is:
Medicine for the Outdoors
This is 500+ pages by the same author as the first, but is much more a pocket guide version. Some good planning information, but sticks more with the how-to of getting on with business. Sadly, it also falls into the "seek professional medical help" too often. However, if you are just looking for a guide with planning and procedures that don't require heroic actions, this might be the best for most people.
I think the best two books on dealing with medical issues when you are truly on your own are:
Improvised Medicine
Where there is no Doctor
Both of these really go into the details of what to do and only recommend true medical facilities when things are dire. However, you should have a good working knowledge of basic first aid and an understanding of anatomy before these really help. Not like you can Google terms. (^_^) Short of a Wilderness EMT course and some years in the backcountry, this is probably the best reference you can find for reasonable money.
Keep in mind that regardless of the book, nothing beats a good course. I took the WFR course on Thompson Island out in Boston Harbor in like '94. I'll never forget the field exercises. Especially the one were we had to deal with a neck injury in the pouring rain. And the 'victim' was playing the part of a difficult person. I swear to this day if I hear someone say "I can't feel my legs", I'll smack them. (^_^)
And none of these books really discuss the bedside manner that can be so important. Keeping a patient in a positive state of mind goes a long way to their survival. Back in the early 1990's I was part of a team that carried a hiker down off Mt. Lafayette in N.H. He had broken his ankle slipping off a rock near the summit. I was having lunch by the hut at the time someone called for help. I wasn't part of the party, or with the guy who 'took charge', but it is what made me look into getting trained. We 2-man carried the guy from the upper mountain, but the terrain is very rough and it was extremely exhausting. So, the 'leader' directed us in the construction of a litter which we strapped the guy into and immobilized his injured limb. It was long enough for 8 of us to carry which made the whole deal far easier. The entire way down, the 'leader' kept cracking jokes and otherwise had us all laughing. The hike down didn't seem to take long and when we arrived, the guy was in some pain, the ankle was really swelling, but he was in good spirits. Another guy had gone down ahead of us to get an ambulance, so it was there waiting for us. I never did get the guy's name that took charge, but he knew what he was doing and kept everyone engaged and in good spirits.
In any case, the point of the post is to get ye some schoolin'.
Wilderness First Aid in Freeport, ME :
Wilderness First Aid
![[thinking]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/010.gif "Thinking [thinking]")
![[rofl]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/013.gif "ROFL [rofl]")
