First Aid in a Pinch, Something Out of Nothing

Today I want to talk about something that seems to worry people. What to do when you don’t have exactly what you need! Everyone these days seems to think unless it comes out of a box that says “This Is What You Need” it won’t work. In other words, if it doesn’t say “First Aid” on it, you can’t use it in an emergency. As my Grandfather would say, Malarkey! Not everything comes out of a box, pre-made and ready to go . . . in fact, one of the joys of life used to be putting together things. People would put stuff together like Bikes for kid’s birthdays, making doll houses, birdhouses and the like. I know you used to be able to buy a kit motorcycle from Harley Davidson! Maybe you still can, I don’t know myself. Now the things I tell you are not accepted medical treatment in most cases (I have to say this so you don’t sue me!), but they can work as “First Aid”.

One thing that comes to mind instantly in my case (and to several of my readers, Thank you readers!) is the use of a “Sanitary Pad” for a dressing. They are easy to use, come pre-wrapped and are sterile! They are made to absorb blood and with a few pieces of tape you have a wonderful wound dressing.

Another is the use of a magazine. Take a nice magazine and make a “U” shape out of it and put a forearm or lower leg in it, some tape or elastic dressing, and you have a wonderful splint for broken arms or legs, especially for kids. Now for adults, did you save any cardboard for lining shelves or storage cabinets? Pull that out and use it for them.

Or you can use a ski pole, hiking pole or camera tripod for an emergency splint.

Need a sling for that broken arm? Take a sheet and rip out a square and fold it into a triangle and make your own. Sheets are wonderful things, rip strips out of them for bandages, small squares and you can make dressings.

Don’t have “first aid” tape? I am sure you are thinking what I am “DUCT TAPE”, or electric tape or masking tape if you have to. In an emergency, tape is tape, until you can get something better.

Another thing I like to have along is a cloth hanky, or handkerchief. You can use them for dressings, bandages, cold compresses, and, I am sure, another hundred other uses; my kids even tell me you can blow your nose in them.

A great way to close small cuts (and if you know proper technique, larger ones) is super glue. Clean a paper cut with soap and water and let it dry, and a drop of super glue will close them and keep them from hurting; it seems the pain is from the air moving or small things getting into the cut.

I think the ultimate in “Make Do” happened on a canoe trip we took. Someone was splitting wood with a Hudson Bay Axe and missed. He happened to be kneeling down and put a very nasty gash in his leg. There was nothing for miles around, so we looked at what we had on the fishing trip. About 45 minutes later, we had stopped the bleeding with a handkerchief, cleaned the wound out with soap and water (boiled to make it sterile or at least cleaner), and put antibiotic ointment on the wound (we did have a small first aid kit). Then we took a pair of needle nose pliers and used them to pull a fishing hook (salmon egg hook) and used fishing line to suture the wound closed. We finished by covering it with more ointment, another handkerchief and finally duct tape.

It might have not looked pretty, but it was probably better than Civil War surgery! It worked for two days until we got out to the truck; in fact, he didn’t want to go to the hospital and even today brags about how he got his scar!

Now, I don’t want anyone to start trying at home surgery or being their own doctor. But the next time something bad happens, remember it is “First” aid and if you have to use improvised materials, go ahead and do your best and then go get help!

Lastly, I would like any of you that have used anything of an improvised nature to please private message me and I will try to collect them for another article and share them with everyone.

Your Obedient Servant,

Gary Smith, Jr.