http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Aj-Gem_uJP9ndEFia05MOHJqeXQ1UnU3blJiMUNhaWc&hl=en

Here is my first aid kit for a weeklong summer backpacking trip in the Colorado Rockies. As you can see, I have a big problem with nausea/motion sickness/altitude sickness and have accumulated a variety of medications/approaches to address this issue.

Some questions I have are:
1) What's the best way to treat blisters (I've been carrying Spenco 2nd skin gel pads and adhesive bandage but have yet to use it on the trail)?
2) What's the best emergency fire-starting technique?
3) What's the best way to repair sil-nylon (something better than duct tape)?

I'm hoping to get response on these questions...otherwise I'll start a separate thread on each...

Edited by dgposton on 07/06/2009 20:41:13 MDT.

"2) What's the best emergency fire-starting technique?

A Bic lighter by far.

I would say 4 oz is a bit excessive for your first aid kit, but I suppose if you need the medication then there's no way around it.
To answer your second question, IMO the best emergency fire-starting technique would be the old Vaseline soaked cotton balls. I always take a few along on all my trips for use in an emergency.
As far as repairs go, if you are on the trail, I don't think there is a more convenient way to repair your gear than duct tape.

Edited by Red_Fox on 07/06/2009 21:22:56 MDT.

Second the cotton balls, or premade kits including lightweight one handed sparker made by Spark-Lite (see the BPL store).

Remember that even an empty Bic lighter is extremely useful in starting a fire, all you need is some tinder, either naturally occurring from sources like cattails or birchbark or man-made, like cotton fuzz from clothes etc.

That sure is a lot of medicine. How are you planning on refrigerating the suppositories?

You might also want some plain bandaids. They come in handy to keep small cuts cleaner - especially those on fingers.

I don't have much advice on blisters. I rarely get them. Last one I had, I cut the bandage part out of a bandaid & duct taped it in place over top of the blister.

Edited by RiverRunner on 07/07/2009 00:44:05 MDT.

Third the cotton wool balls, definately the way to go. I also have a 25ml bottle hand cleaner that lights up nice and easy...and to think I rub that into my skin..

1. Regarding blisters, I just tried on some Spenco 2nd skin and have been wearing it around for the last 12 hours. Sticks really well with benzoin. I think I'll stick with Spenco.

2. Regarding the plethora of medications, I could perhaps remove one or two items for nausea/motion sickness, such as the Dramamine and the transdermal Scopolamine...however, pills are light! I would be removing hardly a gram from my pack weight by doing so.

3. Regarding the fire-starting kit, I already have a Light My Fire Firesteel Scout which I routinely use to light my Pocket Rocket cannister stove. I found that the smaller Firesteel that BPL is selling with the kit doesn't generate much heat, for me anyway. Matches haven't worked too well in my experience. (Maybe I need better strikers than the ones that come with a match box). I might, however, include a mini-Bic with my first aid kit as a tinder ignition source. My firestarting skills are pretty poor. Last year, I tried to start a fire with tinder quick tabs, Mayan fire dust (by Light my Fire), and couldn't get anything to light. (It rained the night before). I finally hauled out my Pocket Rocket and light up the place. Took me about 30 min to get a fire going.

4. Regarding make silnylon tent repairs, will duct tape stick good or do I need to invest in a McNett silnylon repair kit?

Also, see my thread I just started above regarding making repairs to my BAIAC pad.

"Last year, I tried to start a fire with tinder quick tabs, Mayan fire dust (by Light my Fire), and couldn't get anything to light. (It rained the night before). I finally hauled out my Pocket Rocket and light up the place."

ROFLMAO

A mini bic with waterproof matches as backup has been a pretty reliable setup for me over the years.

Edited by Red_Fox on 07/07/2009 13:02:34 MDT.

2) What's the best emergency fire-starting technique?

I posted a thread here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=612917 asking for advice on how to start a fire in less than optimal conditions. I received a lot of good feedback, so I decided to spend Saturday testing out some of the techniques and materials described.

I just recently learned the best way I ever have used on blisters. Just cut a piece of a plastic bag, so the blistered area is covered with a double layer of thin plastic, and tape it on so it covers the area. I use regular tape like the athletes use and it works perfectly. Cheap and light (and most likely always available). It worked out a lot better than these special "extra skin" things.

For some reason I can't bring up our link to the FAK but I can help you with the Firestarting. BIC lighters are lightweight but they aren't too reliable. Moving parts fail and fuel runs out.

Sparklites and Tinderqwik tabs are unreliable at best!
Sparklites are lightweight but they don't put out as much sparks as a tradional ferro rod and I have had more then one fail on me(once agian moving parts). Tinderqwik tabs will not light when wet! Which makes them worthless.

I like the LMF Mini ferro rods for fire starting they are lighter then the scout model and have a more comfortable and easier to see handle (orange) then the BSA Hotsparks.

Landmann Firestarters Tabs. Here is a link:
http://www.landmann-usa.com/pdf/accespdf/FIRESTARTER%204.17.07.pdf
They are similar to Survival Industries Wet Fire Tinder tabs but are less expensive. You may be able to find them in the BBQ section at the grocery store or Wally-world. They burn alot longer then PJ soaked cotton balls and are individually packaged.

Edited by sjdm4211 on 07/12/2009 13:19:45 MDT.

you may also find the Landmann firestarters in a Lowes or Home Depot.

Yeah, thats pretty bad! You should really learn how to properly build a fire before you go backpacking again. It will give you alot of confidence which means a much better outdoor expierence.

I once saw a guy fail to get a fire started with a Bernz-O-Matic porpane torch. He kept looking over at my huge white man fire as he was working his butt off to get a little flame going. It was pretty pathetic especially since we were using the same exact wood and all I used was a Ferro rod and some birchbark I had collected on the trail. I still can't believe he packed that torch in.

Amazon carries the Landmann Fire Starters.

Edited by swearingen on 08/08/2009 15:49:24 MDT.

And here's my 2 cents on the First Aid Kit:

Add: more Ibuprofen. For a week's trip I'd take 20 minimum

Add: 2 - 5x4 transparent, waterproof/breatheable bandages such as Tegaderm or OpSite

Add: small irrigation syringe

Add: 2 ft Leukotape

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Subtract: Spenco 2nd Skin

Subtract: 2x2 gauze pads

Subtract: 1-3x3 gauze pad

Subtract all of these: Medrol, Flexeril, Ciproflaxin, Diamox, Gas-X, Tincture of Benzoin

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I'm confused about all the motion sickness meds as I've never heard of someone developing motion sickness from walking. In any case, wouldn't the scopalomine patch alone be sufficient?

G

Edited by swearingen on 08/08/2009 15:25:21 MDT.