MEDICAL SURVIVAL/WILDERNESS KIT 
 


          I have been asked to put together a survival kit for
     aircraft.

          The majority of my experience has been in the wilderness
     and have put together several kits.  My favorite and the one I
     have draw the most from for this aviation kit is from the
     section I wrote on mountain medicine in the "Guide to Mount
     Kenya and Kilimanjaro."
 
          The key to survival/wilderness kits is simplicity and the
     old watch words of medicine "do no harm."  You don't want to
     make a terrible situation worse by giving a medicine or
     treatment which has side effects worse than the original
     problem.
 
          The philosophy of the kit you chose to set up should be
     based on the type of terrain you fly over and how long,
     realistically, you could be truly lost.  For instance, taking
     ten days worth of an antibiotic for a climbing trip in Nepal
     might be appropriate, but in most aviation kits, anything more
     than 3 days is a waste of space.
 
          Do not forget the simple things like water if you fly a lot
     over vast deserts or fish hooks and line for Alaska.
 
          Here are the medicines (or classes) I would recommend.  It
     is always better to used medications you have taken before so
     you know how your individual body reacts to them.
 
     1.   Antihistamine--for allergic reactions and
          allergies--Benadryl (R)--diphenhydramine--effective, rapid
          onset, but sedating.  Seldane is a good alternative--not
          sedating but less effective.  Benadryl is now over the
          counter.
 
     2.   Anti-diarrheal--Imodium (R)--loperamide--effective and far
          less side effects than lomotil.  Also now over the counter.
 
     3.   Pain/headache--aspirin and acetaminophen--the most
          effective medication you can have in the kit.  Low side
          effects and works.  Buy the cheapest stuff on the
          counter--its all the SAME.
 
     4.   Pain/Sedation/Anti-diarrheal--acetaminophen or aspirin with
          30 milligrams of codeine  (eg. Tylenol #3 or #4, Empirin #3
          or #4).  It is always nice to use an effective medication
          which can be used for three symptoms.
 
     5.   Infection--broad spectrum antibiotic like Keflex (R) or
          erythromycin.  Good for skin, wound, upper and lower
          respiratory infections.  Keflex dose is 500 mg four times a
          day.  Erythromycin is 250 mg four times a day or 333 mg
          three times a day *after food*.
 
     6.   Eye/outer ear infections--Cortisporin OPHTHALMIC (R) or
          generic--the ophthalmic can be used in eyes or ears--the
          otic can only be used in ears.  Good for minor infections
          and snow blindness.
 
     7.   Skin rashes, hemorrhoids, bites--any prescription steroid
          cream (not ointment)--like Kenalog (R) or TAC--not for use
          on wounds.
 
     8.   Bandages--mainly gauze pads, ace bandages, unstarched gauze
          rolls, and lots of 2 inch adhesive tape (not the kind in
          the drug stores but the kind you find in hospitals and from
          athletic trainers--It fixes everything on the body and
          sometimes airplane parts.
 
     9.   Bee sting kit--for the person who has severe reactions to
          bee stings or other environmental substances.
 
     10.  Sun Block--15 or greater--especially for those flying over
          mountains or tropical areas.
 
     11.  Surgical scrub--like Betadine (R)--great for all
          wounds and anything else which needs disinfectant.
          Almost a cure all.
 
     12.  Insect repellent--mosquitos can be worse than never being
          rescued.
 
     13.  Water sterilizing system--for the die hards, iodine
          crystals or filter systems like the First Need (R)
          filter--mainly to prevent giardia.  This is somewhat
          optional since giardia will not cause symptoms until five
          days after exposure.  I hope you have been rescued by them.
          Also a good item if you like to camp under your wing.
 


                         WHAT'S NOT IN MY KIT
 
     Do not bother with:  Snake bit kits--useless.
                      
     Tourniquets--very difficult to use without hurting some
     one.  Use direct pressure to stop bleeding.
 
     Antiseptic ointment--useless--in my personal opinion, I
     would take all this junk off the market.

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          As you can see, this is a very limited kit, but it covers
     what you really need in most situations.

          As to non-medical survival items, it really depends on your
     type of flying and how resourceful you can be.  Obvious things
     like a source of heat depends on you style--do you bring a
     compact hiking stove or just matches.  There are all sorts of
     guns which break down for space considerations but I always
     carry a shotgun when I fly in Alaska because I couldn't hit a
     tree with a rifle!

          Here are the basic rules and decide what you need for
     yourself: In harsh enviroments, a human can live one (1) day
     without shelter. A human can live three (3) days without water.
     A human can live ten (10) days without food.
 
          I will be glad to assist if anyone has any specific
     questions for their personal kits or needs.
 
     Brent Blue, M.D. 
     Box 3370 
     Jackson Hole, Wyoming 83001