Vanoord
  • Vanoord
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14 years ago
What should it contain?

Various of the contents of the first aid kits found in the shops seem to be a bit superfluous for underground use, but there are other handy things that could be substituted.

In order to make the first aid kit more suitable for underground use, presumably it should be pointed more in the direction of the sort of injuries that are more likely, ie falls, bumps, potentially sprains and so on.

The question is: what should a basic underground first aid kit contain?
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jagman
  • jagman
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14 years ago
An extra 20 JPS and a sparelighter.
staffordshirechina
14 years ago
The most important ingredient should surely be a first aid qualification for yourself?
Other than that, probably the most useful and longlasting item I regularly carry is a roll of electrician's tape.
It is waterproof, does for a sticking plaster on cuts, can be used to excess for holding fingers together or other immobilising and as a last resort can be used to mend lamps!
Vanoord
  • Vanoord
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14 years ago
"jagman" wrote:

An extra 20 JPS and a sparelighter.



:lol:
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
ditzy
  • ditzy
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14 years ago
commonsense and duck tape, every thing else is just mesing about
Lister
  • Lister
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14 years ago
A pair of tweezers to remove the slate splinter I recieved in my finger just after warning someone to be carfull of the sharp slate :curse:
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rikj
  • rikj
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14 years ago
Yes, most of the stuff in ready made ones is redundant.

I'd say one medium sized bandage as wound pad, splint or sling.

Space blanket.

2 x happy pills.

After reading this thread, I'll be adding the electrical tape.
Wormster
14 years ago
Asprins (or similar pain killers)
cuploe of tampons
Gaffa tape
sense of humor

everything else is just gravy :sneaky:
Better to regret something you have done - than to regret something you have not done.
gt5952
  • gt5952
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14 years ago
Sparky tape.

Then someone in the group should have a couple of Field dressings, Sam Spling, Asprin, Squeezy Jam in a tube.


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Tamarmole
14 years ago
Gaffer tape is a real winner. However if it is anything more serious you may have to rely on your local CRO in which case you will need to stabilise the casulty. Underground hyperthermia becomes a major issue - I would suggest that each member of the party carries a survival bag (not space blankets which apparently don't work underground).

Beyond that I always wear a bandanna which, apart from making me look hip and trendy at all times, is a really usefull thing. In the past I've use bandannas as wound dressings, for getting grit out of people eyes and as loo roll (there is a corner of Swildon's hole......)
royfellows
14 years ago
"Lister" wrote:

A pair of tweezers to remove the slate splinter I recieved in my finger just after warning someone to be carfull of the sharp slate :curse:



I will never go underground without gloves.

As far as kit goes, I am well known as a solo artist and yet I prefer to travel light. Spare lighting, food and drink and that’s about it.
I used to carry a few extra things taped inside my helmet, clear of the head cradle. Convenient and keeps dry.
Off thread but in Oldham days I leaned how to change a bulb in complete darkness working inside my upturned helmet in case something got dropped


My avatar is a poor likeness.
Earth Worm Jim
14 years ago
When me and the boys go a mooching we leave to first aid kit at home and just take pies and smokes.
lab rat
14 years ago
and i guess if you cut yourself, you stab yourself with the cig end to stop blood flow!! :ohmygod:
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RJV
  • RJV
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14 years ago
I'd forget about a first aid kit altogether personally.
Climbers by the dozen have proven that you get a far better book contract if you remedy your problem by cutting your arm off with a pen-knife. You won't sell half so many books if your story ends with the application of a nicely applied dressing and an uneventful exit from the mine.
Earth Worm Jim
14 years ago
"lab rat" wrote:

and i guess if you cut yourself, you stab yourself with the cig end to stop blood flow!! :ohmygod:



No don't be silly, you use the wrapping from the pies as a dressing (after you've eaten the pie) and cable tie it in place, duct tape also works.
simonrl
  • simonrl
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14 years ago
Blimey, how dull am I?

I tend to carry a spare headtorch, backup spare headtorch and a small first aid kit, nothing flash, just bandages, sterile wipes and tape, that sort of thing. Didn't have it with me last time somebody needed a plaster mind 😠
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
ditzy
  • ditzy
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14 years ago
had a u/g first aid course
painkillers arent relly any use as even if you can swallow them you will be too cold to ingest them - digestion shuts down very early
bandages - improvise - hats gloves etc, fix with tape
slings - improvise, use tape
recomended minimum duct tape and bivvy bag, bothy tent much better

space blankets are mostly radiation barriers and very weak and end up as lots of glittery confetti
most heat loss will be convection and conduction - sit on a bag in a bivvy sac pulled down over your head
luxury would be a candle inside the sac - make a hole by your face

cro will be at least 2-3 hours getting to you
major trouble = dead, cpr dont bother unless cold water caused
minor trouble = go home
be self reliant
toppo_69
14 years ago
"simonrl" wrote:

Blimey, how dull am I?

I tend to carry a spare headtorch, backup spare headtorch and a small first aid kit, nothing flash, just bandages, sterile wipes and tape, that sort of thing. Didn't have it with me last time somebody needed a plaster mind 😠




your not that bad simon,
i rely on your lol
Dark Prince
14 years ago
After the Root incident with the cutting of the hand etc and me sliding down a bank and nearly ripping me leg open on a metal bar, i carry a small get me home first aid kit. Contained within are plasters, bandages, sterile wipes and some pain killers (should really be asprin). This came in handy when someone i was exploring fell thru the lift floor and grabbed the nearest bit of rusty metal to steady himself. Such a small cut produced lots of blood!.

DP
staffordshirechina
14 years ago
If you use the right painkiller it is great!
I'd got myself a broken femur and had to self-bandage until help arrived. They dragged me out of the pit whilst I was on Entonox (gas & air) and it seemed to me like I was just floating in a pleasant haze.

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