Jun
22
Snake bite kits from camping and recreation stores may not work; and they may do more harm than good. The best treatment for a snake bite is to seek nearby medical help. Obviously if one is hiking or camping, calling 911 may not be an immediate option. Therefore, use prevention and first aid to help the situation until you can be treated by a medical professional.
While enjoying the outdoors, wear long pants and boots taller than the ankle. Avoid tall brush, deep rock crevices and be careful where you sit when resting. If you see a snake, avoid them. One way to keep snakes away is to make plenty of noise; causing vibrations while walking. This will keep the sometimes scare deadly rattle snakes away.
If you are one of the 7,000 to 8,000 yearly victims of venomous snake bites; the pit viper family, rattlesnake, being the most common, here are some tips that may be more helpful than a $10 snake-bite kit.
Get away from the snake and call 911 on the cell phone. When you call 911 from a cell phone, the call often lands in a regional center. A call-taker in a far-away city or county may answer your call. To get help to you, there are two pieces of information the call-taker needs to know (10 which city you’re calling from and (2) what type of emergency. Wireless carriers are required to complete 911 calls, even when the phone is not activated. Any phone that turns on and can receive a signal is capable of making a 911 call. In the case of a snake bite, don’t wait until you experience symptoms, call immediately to get help, even if you feel okay at first.
In transit to the hospital or while waiting for help, do not elevate the bitten area—keep the bite below the level of the heart. Wash the area with warm water and soap. Remove constricting clothing and jewelry from the extremity. Watch for swelling. Follow the basics of first aid and monitor the snake bitten person for potential shock.
If the snake is killed, bring it to the nearby hospital. Local hospital staffs are likely familiar with snake bites and the more information you can provide, the better. Or, a digital picture to help medical crew identify the animal and assist in the treatment protocol. Rattle snakes have two fangs and the bite often has two holes. Medical crews in areas prone to snake bites can often identify the animal just from the wound so don’t spend time gathering the corpse or shooting a spread for National Geographic.
These tips may be more useful than the snake bite kits which usually include a scalpel, a suction device and a constriction band to be tied around the limb to slow the spread of the venom. Get help fast is the most critical action item. Medical professionals are not in favor of cutting the skin which could cause more problems. The consensus is that a constriction band may help, but it must be loose enough to fight a finger in to avoid cutting off circulation. The suction devices are under debate; there is no evidence that the amount of the venom that is sucked out is clinically significant. Research studies show that only 1% to 2% of venom was removed in a mock trial. The jury is still out on the suction devices and producers of the product say leaving the syringe-shaped plunger that creates the vacuum for 10 to 15 minutes works to extract the venom. Most would argue using precautionary measures to reduce the risk of a snake bite and seeking immediate professional help are the best courses of action to take.
Nov
10
Headed to a part of the world that has questionable water sources? Going hiking into the back country? Maybe a portable water filter would be a handy item to take along with you…
Seychelle Water Filtration makes a line of products that are designed to filter the water you drink. Making any water taste, fresh, and clean regardless of the source. I could be from a water source, a lake or river, or even out of the tap.
They make water bottles of various types along with an interesting, easily carried, Pure Water Straw. All containing a Ionic-absorption Micro-filtration system that removes up to 99.99% of contaminants found in fresh water including Guardia, Cryptosporidium, E-Coli Bacteria. Proven effective against bacteria and virus.
I”ve ordered several of their items. I’ll let you know what I think after they arrive.
NOTE: These filters are not designed to deal with salt water.
Sep
9
Tomorrow I’ll be on a 5 hour flight and I was wondering….what are my chances of getting sick from being on this flight???
From my online research it appears that airplanes pose no more of a danger of germ exposure than a any other public place. But it would probably be a good idea to wash your hands often and drink plenty of water.
If someone sneezes near you that is most likely the most vulnerable situation you will be exposed to. The spay particles can easily enter your body via your nose or eyes, so avoid wiping or rubbing your eyes. If the person next to you is sneezing up a storm ask to be reseated. If they have room they will find another seat for you.
If you need a blanket grab one that is wrapped in plastic. That is the best way to ensure that you have a clean one. Blankets and pillows can go for long periods of time between cleaning. Pillow cases might be changed during overnight cleaning.
In 2004 the EPA tested the tap water quality in airplanes to see if it was contaminated. They found that 12.7% of the planes tested positive for total coliform bacteria. Most airlines use bottled water for their beverage service, but if bottled water runs who knows what they might use? I would suggest bringing bottled water on your flight. It will keep you hydrated and healthier.
As for the air on passenger planes, now that smoking is banned, it can be cleaner than in many tight new super insulated homes. Airlines have been know to reduce the amount of fresh air they feed to the cabin because doing so extracts heat, energy, from the engines. But it shouldn’t really make you sick, the basic filters they use should remove any infectious material. Many new aircraft are using HEPA filters to clean cabin air.
Jul
10
Everyone wants to return home from vacation looking related and rejuvenated. Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL, has come up with a new way to meet their passenger’s goals. NCL will be offering Botox treatments on three of it’s ships this summer and expect to offer the treatment on all 12 of it’s cruise ships by the end of the year. The injections will be administered by plastic surgeons.
Botox injections are currently the number one non-surgical cosmetic treat used to hide wrinkles and other signs of aging skin. And NCL hopes the treatments will be money maker. Industry wide, cruisers spent over $4.4billion in spa and other onboard services.
Since most all cruise lines are foreign flagged, and not covered under US Laws. I find it hard to imagine that anyone would consider having medical treatments at sea.
I would suggest anyone getting such injections, at sea or otherwise, investigate the current reviews underway at the Food and Drug Administration evaluating the safety of Botox.
For details visit the NCL cruise site, click here.
May
29
4 of 5 – Safety & Security Week
Having a healthy vacation starts before your leave. You may have purchased travel insurance and received the needed vaccinations. But here are a few more tips.
- Take a small first-aid kit. You can make one yourself, or purchase a small one off the shelf. Your kit will be dependent on quality of health care at your destination. I have purchased several kits made by Adventure Medical Kits. They offer kits based on the number of people, type of activities and you destination areas. I add items specifically based on my own expected activities.
- See your dentist before you leave. This will help you avoid any unexpected emergencies.
- When exercising, take it easy. Don’t over do it before or during your trip. This includes lugging your luggage around while traveling to your destination.
- Bring copies of your prescriptions, extra glasses or contact lenses.
- In countries that have questionable water stay away from cold salads, street vendor food, ice, tap water uncooked meats, fresh milk, unpeeled fruit, and seafood. Use only boiled water or treated water and beverages in sealed bottles.
