Thanks for the advice. I just earned my WFR certification, so this will come in handy. First thing I changed out was the booklets in my kits. I switched to the NOLS version, not because the included one was bad, but because I wanted something that was consistent with my training. NOLS WFR was a great experience, and I learned so much more than I did from a WFA course. Not disparaging the latter, it’s just that an 80 hour course with a final exam is much more comprehensive than a 16 hour course. BTW, your previous video on WFA versus WFR was helpful and informative in helping me make the decision to go for the WFR.
Glad you found that video helpful. I think that’s a great reason for switching it out, but it is also a good weight savings. Super glad you enjoyed your WFR, it is a lot of fun, and you get a lot more time to practice, so you get way more confident in your skills. Thanks for commenting, and stopping by.
I carry a brand of body butter similar to what bicyclist use for saddle sores. Sometimes in long multi day paddles I get armpit sores that I do everything I can to prevent. I also utilize baby wipes for hygiene. Technically not first aid kit content, more hygiene kit but I focus on prevention too, so the thoughts all blend together in my mind. I always deploy and hang my kits if I can someplace at camp, I don't just leave them in my kayak because accessibility matters to me. I carry 2 kits, a bigger one for camp and a small one in my bail-out bag. Very good, important video, thanks!
Thanks! Yeah, PREVENTION IS KEY! So I love that you are ganging them together. Makes perfect sense. I will confess that I am sometimes guilty of leaving my kit in the kayak. But I really shouldn’t.
I have 4 kits total. (1) pocket sized (band aids, antiseptic wipes, aspirin). (2) standard travel (OTC meds, basic bleed/wounds, bug stuff, burn stuff, note pad/pencil, tweezers, thermometer, mirror, pen light, etc). (3) trauma kit (bleed control) (4) home tackle box (everything from 1-3 but plus pulse ox, blood pressure cuff, ear canal inspection thingy, etc). When I go on road trips I bring all 4 in my car. #1 is with me at all times, and short distance close to home adventures (within a mile from a major road with good cell coverage). When biking/hiking I bring #1&2. Camping I add #3 especially if I’m also bringing an axe.
I love how prepared you are. I have a couple issues and a couple of questions. Issue 1, it’s confusing and at some point you’re gonna forget something. If it works for you that’s great but that’s my concern. Overly complex. A couple of questions, why the aspirin? And why the mirror? Have you taken a wfa or other good first responder class?
Ive definitely seen severe hemorrhage but not in the backcountry. And in my big kit I still carry something for it just not a TQ...But Iworked hundreds of car accidents and never saw it from that. Motorcycle, for sure. But I don't think I ever saw it in a car accident. Or PIAA as it was called at the time.
@@AdventureOtaku I’m not saying it’s wrong but that’s definitely lucky. It’s very light to throw a cat in and if you need a cat and don’t have one your screwed. Kinda like a firearm or a fire extinguisher. Sure a roll of electrical tape will work in a pinch but I’d rather have a cat and not use it.
I have had this conversation many times in wilderness med classes. And my response is two fold. a) if it makes you more comfortable, carry one. If it gives you peace of mind, it's totally worth it. You can totally improvise one, but please don't use electrical or any other tape, you want it to be wide. But B) since 1965 Nols has run about 4500 students a year through courses in environments from Patagonia to Denali. They have never used one on a course. They have never come close to needing one on course. I have read post incident reports from bear attacks, and they didn't need one. I totally get what you are saying, it's better to have it and not need it....Except that is how people end up carrying 60 pound backpacks (recently on a WFA course I had someone say "if you can carry one, you can carry two!" - he carried two cat TQ's. When I asked what his pack weight was he refused to answer....) But by all means, do what works for you.
@@AdventureOtakutook my WFR in May through NOLS and we covered QuikClot and CAT tourniquets, maybe mine was just different but we definitely spent a while on those topics
Quick clot isn’t always talked about (for my classes it is generally spurred by questions) but tourniquets are always covered. That doesn’t mean you will need it, but you need to know it.
Great video! I should have watched it last year when I was shopping for a kit. I’ll probably purchase the small one you showed from REI. Any recommendations for trauma shears?
Believe it or not, no. I don’t have a recommendation. Mine are titanium and were like $12… they will cut anything. I guess my only recommendation is get full size ones.
It doesn't fit in my kit, but I carry an eye wash. I can't tell you the number of times I've had debris and bugs get into my eyes. Paddling with one eye shut gets old fast.
Yeah, I would say the only issue with eye wash is weight, but if your paddling its a non-issue. So I have no problem with that - BUT it may be time for some form of eye protection! Im guessing you aren’t wearing sunglasses? Thanks for stopping by!
nope. no tourniquet. Unless you work with guns, or axes, or chainsaws. You wont need one. Since 1965 NOLS has never used one. Working on an ambulance where I dealt with gun shot wounds and knife wounds I never needed one.
Why are Wilderness First Aid Courses so enormously expensive? Everyone wants $340 for a two day course. One would think they would want more people to take them and price them reasonably.
There actually isn’t a ton of profit in them. There used to be more, but the cost of travel for instructors has more than doubled since 2020. That isn’t an exaggeration. Plus the cost of the venue, instructor pay, housing, meals, and shipping gear for the course. Don’t get me wrong, the sponsor of the course makes some money, but way less than it used to be.
