Accidents happen all the time. They happen everywhere, to everyone. While having fun like when I was at a party and a friend slipped on some wet tiles and split her chin open. Even when it seems like nothing can go wrong, a mishap and a bit of bad luck can turn into an emergency event.

Emergencies requiring first aid are challenging when those around you know first aid and have a first aid kit nearby.

Without those saviors, the same situation can be a helpless nightmare.

It’s critical that you not only know basic first aid, but also have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home, office, backpack, and car. It can be the difference between life and death. If it’s not all of that, the bill is certainly better than a visit to the doctor or hospital.

In fact, the other day my wife cut her hand badly in the kitchen. I go in with the first aid kit and a few days later there is hardly a mark to be seen. This

it would have been a $500 trip to the hospital and the risk of it getting worse with an open wound there.

I’m not saying avoid the care of doctors. If you ever think a doctor can help, GO! NEVER try to do ANYTHING that you are not 100% SURE will not hurt or make anything worse.

  • When a person breaks or dislocates their arm, a simple sling and stick can be converted into a sling to immobilize the arm and reduce stress on it. That will give you time to reach out to help.

  • A venomous snake bite is one of the worst things to happen on a camping trip. There are really great snake bite care kits out there that will help keep a person stable while they seek medical treatment. Another help in this situation is to have a local animal identification guide with nice pictures. If you can identify the type of snake, then you will know better how to proceed.

  • You should never try to suck venom out of a snake bite. If you know what you are doing and have been trained to do it, then it is up to you and the bite victim to decide. I really suggest getting a snake bite kit and taking it with you (even if you know how to suck venom, which is very dangerous except in the movies).

  • Winter weather brings the threat of hypothermia in many places. Even in the summer, some places can get very cold at night. First, know where the heck you’re going, and read up on its average and extreme temperatures, including wind chill factors for that time of year. If it’s cold where you’re going, bring plenty of layers of clothing, sleeping bags, or at least some emergency blankets. Stay dry at all costs if you are cold. Make a fire as soon as possible and stay near it until the sun rises to warm up again. If you are in a damp place, keep a set of dry clothes and change after arranging your shelter, fire and water situation.

  • Everyone gets minor cuts or scrapes from walking outdoors. This is not a problem most of the time. Its cut is a perfect breeding ground for all kinds of nasty organisms. It is best to clean and cover the cut to stay safe.

  • The splinters can be easily removed with a pair of tweezers and good hands-free lighting. The headlight is a must have for me because if I can’t see I can’t help. The tweezers I carry have a magnifying glass attached to them, making the setup portable and easy to use.

These are just a few examples of situations that can be minor bumps in the road if you have the proper training and equipment. There is no better time than now to start and learn to last!