Riverwalker’s Top Ten Alternate Uses for Lip Balm

There are numerous items that we frequently use in our everyday lives that frequently have multiple uses. Many of these uses aren’t readily apparent but can be a big help in a crisis or an emergency when your resources may be limited. One extremely handy everyday item that most people carry is lip balm . That small little tube can do a lot more than keep your lips moisturized.

                                                      

Most lip balms are a petroleum-based product that also includes additional beneficial ingredients. It’s also a small enough item to be carried in your pocket, your purse or your first aid kit. Here are a few alternate uses for lip balm.

Top Ten Alternate Uses for Lip Balm

1. Treat minor cuts and scrapes on the skin with a thin coating of lip balm.

2. Use as a lubricant for stubborn zippers on your gear or equipment bags.

3. Rub on a cotton ball or gauze pad to make an expedient firestarter.

4. Insert a make-shift wick to make an expedient candle for emergencies.

5. Rub on other exposed areas like the ears to protect them from the cold.

6. Coat your shoe or boot laces to keep them secure and prevent untying.

7. Use to coat irritated skin areas on your feet before a blister can form.

8. Use to waterproof and seal damaged or exposed seams on tents.

9. Coat your knife blade to protect it from excess moisture in wet conditions.

10. Use a chunk of lip balm to seal a rifle barrel to keep out debris or moisture.

This is by no means all the uses for lip balm that are possible and you shouldn’t limit your resources by thinking in finite terms.

Got an alternate use for lip balm?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Prepping on a Budget - Affordable Items for Preppers - Emergency Supplies - The First Aid Kit

The vast majority of minor medical emergencies can be handled with a simple First Aid Kit.  Minor medical problems if left ignored can lead to even more serious problems and quite often can be avoided if you have a minimum of first aid supplies on hand.

First Aid Kits come in all sizes and shapes and most are quite affordable in price. Practical first aid kits can be found with an average price of less than $20. If you have the time and the inclination, you can even assemble a quality First Aid Kit for even less money that will give you the needed supplies to handle a wide variety of minor medical problems. Many times all you may need is a band-aid and some anti-biotic cream to handle a minor emergency.

The affordability of most first aid kits makes them an essential item for your preparedness supplies. Pocket first aid kits that cost about a $1 or small first aid kits for under $10 can be added to your backpack, BOB or carried in the console or glove compartment of your vehicle. This allows you a wide range of options to keep first aid supplies available for when the need arises. A larger and more extensive first aid kit can be kept in your home or at your bug out location that will give you even better and more extensive coverage for those minor medical emergencies that always seem to happen at the most inconvenient time.

Don’t get caught short when a minor medical emergency comes up. Keep first aid supplies handy and avoid more serious problems that could arise if minor injuries are left untreated. For less than $20, you can generally keep a decent amount of first aid supplies on hand without ruining your budget.

Got band-aids?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Beyond the Basics - The Dedicated First Aid Kit

Each and every day we are all at serious risk of being injured in an accident or developing some form of incapacitating illness. Whether you are traveling in your car, relaxing at home or busy at work, there is always the distinct possibility that you, a member of your family or a friend will require some form of first aid. One of the ways you can prepare for this eventuality is to have a dedicated first aid kit.

Having a home first aid kit is an essential part of being prepared for those small emergencies that can happen everyday. Having a dedicated first aid kit can help you be even better prepared. It is also important to remember that first aid is exactly what it says. It is the first aid an individual receives when sick or injured and prior to receiving proper medical treatment by a qualified professional. It is emergency care that is in the best interest of the sick or injured person that is applied using common sense decisions based on your level of first aid training.

Having a dedicated first aid kit is a fairly simple goal to accomplish. Most everyone has a home first aid kit which usually manages to stay right where you put it. This is a good thing because everyone in the family should know exactly where it’s at all times so that it can be accessed quickly when needed. This is why having a dedicated first aid kit is so important because it will save you time in an emergency. Having dedicated first aid kits in certain designated areas can make the difference in preventing a minor emergency from becoming an event that could be life threatening. 

Do you have a first aid kit in your garage or workshop? They have first aid kits in most workplaces and your garage at home shouldn’t be the exception. Most commercial vehicles are required to carry a first aid kit. Do you keep one in your vehicle? If you are traveling on the open road and find yourself in the middle of nowhere, you don’t want to find yourself suddenly in need of a good first aid kit.

Do you have specialized first aid kits available? One that everyone should consider is a good first aid kit that is dedicated to the treatment of burns. Burns are one of the more common injuries that can happen at home. Having extra first aid kits that are kept in designated areas can help you respond more efficiently to a person’s needs when first aid is required.

Proper first aid management requires you not only have good first aid kits but the proper training as well. Having the right tools and equipment won’t help you if don’t know how to utilize them properly and efficiently. In fact, the lack of proper training could create a situation where your help may actually be detrimental to the efforts of those persons attempting to render first aid in an emergency.

Sometimes you need more than a band-aid.

Image source: http://www.firstaidmanagement.com.au/first-aid-kits.html

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Beyond the Basics - Upgrading Your First Aid Kit for Bleeding and Burns

First Aid Kit Additions

A basic First Aid Kit (FAK) is an absolute necessity for emergencies. It can usually be made better with some simple additions that aren’t often seen in the basic ready-made First Aid Kits. When you build your own First Aid Kit, you can make upgrades to its basic contents quite easily to allow you to better handle a wider range of injuries.

Two of the most frequent injuries you will see in a minor emergency are bleeding or burns. Past experience has dictated that my First Aid Kit have something a little more extensive to cover these two areas. This is especially true in the summertime when a severe case of sunburn can totally ruin your day and make you miserable. Being able to treat minor burns and bleeding until proper medical help can be obtained can be essential during a crisis and normal times.

Two items that should be added as an upgrade are something that will allow you to better handle minor bleeding and minor burns. For minor burns, the Water-Jel brand of burn jel is a good addition to your first aid kit. These are small and lightweight and make a suitable addition for any size First Aid Kit. They come in a box of 25 packs that can be distributed among your various First Aid Kits. Water-Jel specializes in burn treatment products. They also make special bandages if you want to make a more extensive upgrade to your first aid kit to handle even more serious burns.

There are times when a band-aid just won’t get the job done. Even a fairly minor cut or scrape can bleed profusely and may require more extensive treatment. Even having several heavy gauze packs may not be sufficient. This is where a small Quick Clot bandage can come in handy. In a “not so minor” emergency, a Quick Clot Bandage may be just what is needed to handle a crisis properly. They’re an easy to use, compact and lightweight addition for your First Aid Kit to help treat cases of bleeding more effectively.

Both the QuikClot Sport Regular and the Water Jel Burn Jel are fairly inexpensive and make good upgrades for your First Aid Kit. This will give you an option to better treat minor burns or bleeding.

Got First Aid Kit upgrades?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Simple Survival Tips - Emergency Treatments for Minor Bleeding and Cuts During a Crisis

During a crisis or a disaster, you may find yourself experiencing some very simple medical problems for which proper medical treatment may not be readily available. One of the more common and frequent conditions you may experience are minor cuts or bleeding. There are usually simple solutions to these problems that can be found in your own kitchen.

While a severe cut or puncture wound will require immediate medical attention, there are several remedies for treating minor cuts and bleeding available using simple items from your kitchen. Treating minor injuries quickly will help reduce the risk of more serious complications from infections that could possibly develop if left untreated, especially during a crisis or disaster when the risks will be greater.

Some of the more frequently used items to help stop minor bleeding are ground black pepper, ground cayenne pepper, teabags, flour, cornstarch and ground coffee. Most of these items are highly absorbent and will help to slow down and help to eliminate bleeding from minor cuts or injuries. Don’t forget about treating your pets who may have suffered injuries as well. Cornstarch not only works well on people but can also be safely used on your pets to treat minor bleeding and cuts.

Pressure bandages will also help to eliminate or slow down bleeding and can be easily made from kitchen towels and wash cloths. Duct tape, electrical tape or whatever type of tape you have handy can also be used to help pull the skin together to help slow down or eliminate bleeding from minor injuries as well.

Being aware of your available resources will help you be better able to treat minor injuries that could lead to further complications in a crisis. While there are numerous alternatives for treating minor injuries, one of your best resources is a well-stocked first aid kit and the knowledge of how to use it properly.

Got kitchen remedies?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

DIY First Aid Kit - Protecting and Organizing Your Kit

Having your own home-made first aid kit allows you to include a lot of additional items for use in an emergency. This is an most important aspect of making your own first aid kit. To make it even more useful, you can take a few additional steps to make it even better in case you have an emergency.

In most emergencies, time is of the essence and anything you can do to save a little time will be extremely important. One of the best ways to save time is to keep your first aid kit organized. While using a coupon organizer  is great for the flat items such as bandages and splints, there are numerous other items that need to be protected and organized as well.

One of the most effective and efficient means of organizing and protecting those other needed items can be achieved quite simply. By using a small water-proof tackle box, you can get your first aid items organized and also give them additional protection. The compartments are ideal for storing cream medications in tubes, eye wash, etc. It will also protect your other first aid items should  a tube of cream or a small bottle of liquid develop a leak. In addition, if it gets dropped in the water or exposed to a heavy rain it will not ruin your day. They will even float!

Another plus for using the water-proof tackle boxes is that you can organize everything where it is readily and easily accessible in an emergency. This will save you time in an emergency.

Got organized protection for your DIY first aid kit?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

DIY First Aid Kit - Organizing Your Storage

When assembling your own DIY first aid kit, you will probably be including a lot more items than comes in a standard first aid kit. This is one of the main advantages of putting together your own DIY First Aid Kit. These extra items also mean you will need to be a little more organized in how these extra items are stored in your kit.

Having a well organized first aid kit will allow you to access a needed item a lot quicker. In a medical emergency, even a minor one, you will need to be able to get to those needed items quickly and easily in order to treat any problems as soon as possible.

In a good DIY first aid kit you will probably have a lot more bandages than normal. Moleskin, gauze pads in a variety of sizes, small splints and band-aids of all types can be easily stored in a very organized manner that will allow you quick and easy access to whatever is needed with a simple gear addition.

By using a coupon organizer pouch, you can store individual items separately in the same place that will also offer you extra portability and quick access. If you are a coupon user, you probably already have an extra coupon organizer pouch just lying around the house that could be put to use in organizing your DIY first aid kit storage. Most any item in your first aid kit that is flat can then be stored easily and in an organized manner. If you store your bandages, gauze pads, etc. in small zip lock bags you will also keep them safe from moisture and humidity. Most coupon organizer pouches are small and lightweight and won’t add a significant amount of weight to your DIY First Aid Kit.

Got coupon organizer pouch for your DIY first aid kit?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Simple Survival Tips - Plant Based Bug Repellants

Sometimes the creatures in nature can cause you a lot of grief. This is especially true where mosquitoes and ticks are concerned. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, sooner or later you will have an encounter with these aggravating little critters.

While the majority of bug repellants contain DEET as their main ingredient, there are alternatives that are just as effective but less likely to cause the skin irritation that sometimes occurs with the prolonged use of bug repellants containing DEET. Many people are quite sensitive to a number of chemicals and may suffer skin irritation or other effects from the prolonged use of chemical based bug repellants.

The easiest way to avoid this problem is to use a plant based bug repellant. One of the best plant based bug repellants that RW, Jr. and myself have found is a eucalyptus plant based bug repellant. Although it has a limited effectiveness time-wise, it doesn’t seem to create the irritation problems that can occur from using chemical based bug repellants.

If you have sensitivity to certain chemicals, a plant based bug repellant makes a good alternative to help you avoid creating more problems while trying to avoid problems with mosquitoes and ticks.

My thanks to RW, Jr. for reminding me to pass this tip along to everyone.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - Nature’s Gauze Pad

In a wilderness setting, the chances of injury can be pretty high. This can create a problem if you find yourself a significant distance from qualified or professional medical help and don’t have a decent first aid kit handy. While proper medical care should always be your first choice, sometimes it isn’t available and other solutions need to be considered.

Bleeding from a cut or scrape can create a serious problem if not attended to quickly. Many times just wrapping it with a cloth can cause other problems. Pulling the cloth off to inspect the wound will often remove the scab which may have formed because it has become part of the bandage. This is the reason why many gauze pads have a non-stick coating on them to allow the wound dressing to be changed without damaging any healing of the wound that has started (i.e., pulling the scab off).

Fortunately, nature can provide a solution to this problem. If you find yourself without an adequate first aid kit, you may need to use a little of nature’s gauze to fix the problem. What is nature’s gauze? It is simply spider’s web.

Spider webs have been in use as a natural form of treatment for bleeding for a long time. The sticky coating on the web has been theorized to have an antiseptic quality due to the fact that it provides protection for the spider’s web from the effects of bacteria and fungus. Spider webs have also been shown to be high in vitamin K which can also help as a clotting agent to reduce bleeding from a wound.

Simply gather as much spider web as you can and form it into a shape sufficient to cover the wound. Then wrap the wound area tightly with a cloth or bandana to hold it in place. Don’t wrap it too tightly. The additional pressure from being wrapped with a bandage will also help to minimize the bleeding.

Back in 2007, a spider web in Texas was found that was over 200 yards across. So if you live in Texas, you shouldn’t have any problems finding a decent amount of spider’s web to treat an injury.

Got web?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Disclaimer: This information is provided solely for informative purposes and should not be considered medical advice of any kind. Always seek professional medical help for any type of medical problems.

Simple Survival Tips - Treating Infected Wounds

Survival conditions often require safe, effective, inexpensive, easy to use and non-toxic methods for the treatment of wounds and injuries that may become infected. A lack of resources or services to properly treat simple medical conditions could become a life-threatening situation to your survival. Quite often simple resources are overlooked when seeking a solution to problems that can affect your survival.

One of the simplest solutions to this problem is sugar. Sugar has been used to treat wounds for thousands of years by many different cultures. Sugar was used widely by early Egyptians to treat wounds and the infections that often occurred as a result. Sugar can be used to kill bacteria and germs in open and infected wounds almost as effectively as the best antibiotics available today.

Sugar will also help speed up the healing process of the damaged skin tissue and reduce any inflammation that may be present. This is in addition to its antimicrobial action which kills bacteria and germs. This is accomplished by the osmosis and capillary action of the sugar granules. Powdered forms of sugar will be somewhat less effective and will require more frequent treatment and changes of bandages to achieve similar results.

Simply clean the wound area thoroughly and sprinkle sugar over the cut or scrape until it is completely covered. This can be aided by using a cream (such as petroleum jelly) around the outside perimeter of the wound to keep the sugar granules in place. Then cover the wound with a clean bandage. Use gloves if possible or thoroughly clean your hands to keep conditions as sterile as possible when treating the cut, scrape or wound.

Most injuries will require the wound to be cleaned, re-treated with sugar granules and a clean bandage applied every 4 to 6 hours to obtain the maximum healing benefits. Make sure the wound is covered completely and evenly with sugar granules and covered with a clean, fresh dressing each time.

Caution: Sugar should never be applied to openly bleeding wounds as it may actually increase the blood flow and further complicate your condition.

Sugar can be used to sweeten your tea or coffee but it can also help you as a first aid treatment for infections in a survival situation.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informative purposes only and should not be considered medical advice of any kind. Always seek qualified professional medical help when needed.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Signals - Cold Smoke

One of the most important things you will need to be able to do in a survival situation is to signal for help. Chances are you will only have a few minutes to respond to rescuers when you are lost. You will need to react quickly so that you will have a better chance of being seen and ultimately rescued. A simple way to do this is by using cold smoke!

First of all you will need a good first aid kit. Having a first aid kit handy can help in more ways than you might think. One of the items usually found in a good first aid kit is an instant cold pack. You simply squeeze it and break the inner container of water and this creates a chemical reaction that turns it cold. This makes it easy to apply a cold compress to a sprain even when you don’t have ice available. That instant cold pack also has another use in an emergency.

When the coldness decreases or stops you can still use that instant cold pack to make cold smoke for use as an emergency signal. Nothing gets someone’s attention like a little smoke. The water and chemical (ammonium nitrate crystals) inside the majority of instant cold packs can be used to make an excellent signaling device. It’s simple and easy to do!

Since neither RW, Jr. or myself had a sprained ankle, we opened a perfectly good instant cold pack from one of our first aid kits for use in this demonstration. Simply soak several sheets of newspaper, paper towels, coffee filters or any type of paper you can find in the solution of water and chemical. No water? No problem! There is sufficient water in the instant cold pack to make the solution. You can even use the bag it came in as a container. After soaking it, allow the paper to dry completely and then roll it into a tube sort of like a roman candle. Then when you hear that rescue chopper or airplane getting close, light the end and you’ve got instant smoke signal. Depending upon how much paper you had available for use, your smoke signal tube should last 3 to 5 minutes.

Got cold smoke?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Home-Made First Aid Kit Additions - Finger Splints

Hand injuries are very common because a good pair of work gloves won't always protect you. These are sometimes simple injuries that can be treated quickly and allow you a fair amount of function and use of your hand(s) for simple tasks. While usually simple in nature and not totally incapacitating, they can increase the difficulty of completing many types of minor tasks.

A great many hand injuries usually involve the fingers. Things like a jammed finger or an injured joint can cause you a variety of problems when attempting to complete simple tasks. A great little item that you can add to your home-made first aid kit is a set of finger splints. They come in different sizes and also combo packs with different sizes included in each pack. These small splints will allow you to immobilize the injured finger and still retain a fair amount of use of your hand. It will also help to prevent further injury to the "damaged digit".

If you need to be a little fugal in your efforts, you can make an expedient finger splint by using a couple of wooden popsicle sticks and a little duct tape in an emergency situation until proper treatment can be obtained.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Pocket First Aid Kits

While the commercially available pocket first aid kits are great little items to have in an emergency or crisis, they can be enhanced by the addtion of a few simple items that will turn them into mini-survival kits. There is a lot of extra room in the small commercial pocket first aid kits that can be utlized to your benefit. The major trick in doing so is to think FLAT!

A great many items can be added that don't require much additional space if you try to use items that are small and flat. A utility blade, a small mirror, a disposable thermometer, a small solitaire maglite or led light, a safety pin, a mini-sewing kit, a pair of tweezers, a nail clipper, a small multi-tool or a Bic mini-lighter are just a few of the simple items that can be used to enhance a pocket first aid kit. Place the additional items in the bottom of the box and add the original contents on top and you are good to go! Toss in a package of individually wrapped ibuprofen and tylenol to give it a little extra first aid value. It's hard to believe that all these extra items will fit in that little box.

The majority of the little extras are things you have around the house already and the low cost of the initial pocket first aid kit (usually less than a dollar) make it very cheap and easy to assemble a great little first aid kit that can be carried in your pocket, purse or glove box of your vehicle.

Got pocket first aid?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

First Aid Kit for Treatment of Burns

One of the advantages of making your own first aid kit is that you will hopefully have saved some money. These extra savings can then be translated into some advanced first aid measures to help protect you and your family. One of the most serious threats to everyone's safety on a daily basis is the possibility of being burned. You owe it to yourself and your family to become knowledgeable in recognizing the different types of burn and how they can be treated in an emergency.

You can get consumer information on this product at:

http://www.waterjel.com/consumer-products/

Did you know?

One person is either burned or scalded every 25 seconds in the USA.
Ninety percent of household burns to women occur in the kitchen, two-thirds involve hands and arms.

Up to 1 million burns occur in households annually; approximately 500,000 are scalds resulting from spilled food and beverages.

Most people associate burns with flame. In fact, liquids cause burns more often than flames.
200,000 children are burned by contact with hot substances and objects, with 100,000 children scalded from spilled food and beverages.

The two highest risk groups are children under the age of 5 and adults over 65; scalds are the number one cause of burn injury to children under 4 years old.

Coffee, tea, soup and hot tap water can be hot enough to cause serious burn injury.

There is also excellent technical guide in PDF format available here:

http://www.waterjel.com/technical-information/

Burns can happen at anytime and to anyone. Just ask any dedicated coffee drinker! Being prepared to provide the best possible treatment you can will always be useful. You will also be able to recognize the more serious types of burns that will require immediate professional care.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Homemade First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is important to treat minor injuries. A homemade, multi-purpose first aid kit can be used for the home, your car, at work, and when traveling. The cost is generally not much more than a ready made first aid kit which generally has limited amounts of useful items in smaller packages. Although more expensive than some pre-made First Aid Kits, you can purchase quality first aid items and have extra items to spare. Here is a list of suggested items for a homemade First Aid Kit.

First Aid Kit Accessories

1 Pair of scissors
1 Pair of tweezers
1 Self-Adhesive Wrap (Coban)
1 Package of safety pins
1 Small box of cotton swabs (Q-Tips)
1 Package of moist towelettes
1 Lighter or pack of matches
1 Small bottle of hand sanitizer (alcohol-base)
1 Small jar of petroleum jelly
1 Small mirror

Bandages for a First Aid Kit

1 Box of assorted size Band-Aids
1 Box of medium gauze pads
1 Box of large gauze pads
2 Rolls of gauze
1 Box of medium size non-stick bandage pads
2 Rolls of first aid tape (preferably waterproof)
1 Box of eye pads

Over The Counter Medications for a First Aid Kit

1 Small bottle of Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
1 Small bottle of Ibuprofen (Advil)
1 Box of sinus/nasal decongestant tablets (Sudafed)
1 Small package of cough drops
1 Small package of throat lozenges
1 Box or package of anti-diarrheal tablets (Imodium)
1 Box or package of stomach relief tablets (Pepto-Bismol)

Ointments and Creams for a First Aid Kit

1 Small tube of hydrocortisone ointment or cream
1 Small tube of antibiotic ointment
1 Small tube of analgesic cream
1 Small bottle of insect sting or bite relief

Miscellaneous Items for a First Aid Kit

1 Bottle of eye drops
1 Bottle of ear drops
2 Pairs of latex or nitrile gloves
1 Package of moleskin for blisters
2 Feminine hygiene pads for emergency bandages
2 Rolls of elastic bandages - 1 large and 1 medium
1 Large piece of cloth suitable for making an arm sling
1 First Aid Manual

Add any other items that you have found a need for but were lacking in your first aid kit. The contents can be put inside a small tool box or carry bag. Use whatever you have handy. Make sure to label it with a marker as a first aid kit.

Important Cautions

1.) Make sure you are aware of the expiration dates for your first aid items.
2.) Make sure you keep your first aid kit up-to-date.

Even though replacing items that have been used takes time and will cost you money, you can’t put a price on your ability to treat minor illnesses and injuries before they become major problems.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker