MYTH: Lightning can strike you only when the thunderstorm is in sight.

FACT: Lightning may travel up to 15 miles horizontally and strike out of the clear blue sky. Get into a protected area before the thunderstorm passes overhead and wait 30 minutes before heading back outside after the last thunder is heard or lightning is seen.

Got some sweet climbing, skiing, traveling or backpacking shot that you want to share?

We are looking for new content for our catalog and blog and would love to feature a some photos from our fans!  We know that you have some great shots and probably wouldn’t might getting a shout out on our website.

Here’s the deal:

• Photos can be with AMK products in them, or without
• Send us your submissions by 3/20/09 for consideration
• If we pick your photo, we’ll hook you up with some new AMK medical and survival gear! (up to $150 value!)

John Huston pulling 300 pounds over a snow bank on Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island. February 18, 2009. Photo:  Tyler Fish

Historic Victorinox North Pole ’09 Expedition Begins

AMK Sponsored Adventurers Aim to Complete the
First American Unsupported Trek to the Pole

Minneapolis, Minn. (March 3, 2009) – Forward Expeditions LLC announced today that its historic trek to the North Pole began at 3 p.m. E.S.T. on March 2 when John Huston and Tyler Fish stepped off the north coast of Ellesmere Island onto the Arctic Ocean sea ice. The conditions at the start of the Expedition were nearly ideal, with light winds, clear skies and a temperature of – 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Huston, from Chicago, Ill. and Fish, from Ely, Minn., aim to become the first Americans to complete an unsupported ski trek to the North Pole. 

We know everyone loves a sale!

Check out our new SALE section – 35% off overstocked or discontinued items.

Featuring:

• Travel Series Medical Kits
• Gear Repair Items
• Aloksak Bags
• Ten Essentials Leader RT Kit

Supplies are limited – bookmark the page and check back often to see what has been added.

Question:
If expiration dates on medications such as aspirin and aleeve have passed should they be discarded or are these medications still useable.

Thanks,
David

Response:
Thanks for your question.  Most over-the-counter medications, including the ones you’re asking about, are safe to use after they expire.  The expiration date essentially means that the manufacturer of the medication will not guarantee its efficacy after the date has passed, not that the medication is unsafe once it expires.  In fact, military testing has found that common medications such as ibuprofen are still highly (if not 100%) effective ten years after the expiration date.  We do stock refill modules for our kits (you can view them at www.refillyourkit.com), although you probably won’t need to buy one until you start using up some the supplies in your kit.

Best Way to Handle Mountain Bike Road Rash

Question:
Riding a mountain bike on the desert trails, from time to time I take a spill. It’s rocky here (Phoenix, AZ) and I get bruises and scrapes. What is the best way to treat the scrapes and what it the best pain medication for the soreness from the bruises?
Thanks, Ravi

Answer:
Ravi,
I have been there and done that. Here is an excerpt from our book, A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine on abrasions:

Oh Noooo! …Tips for Treating & Avoiding Travelers’ Diarrhea

By Christopher Van Tilburg, MD

After an all-night flight to Santiago, Chile, last year, I passed out a pack of AMK’s Fresh Bath Travel Wipes to everyone in our group right before hitting the tarmac. It was rejuvenating.And, the antibacterial properties actually do more than refresh, they function to prevent the most common travel related illness – travelers’ diarrhea.

The Risk of Travelers Diarrhea (TD) is higher than malaria: it is the most common affliction when heading overseas. According to the Centers for Disease Control, TD affects 30-50% of all travelers to high-risk areas. That’s 50,000 people per day and 10 million per year. TD is essentially food poisoning, which occurs when consuming food or water that is contaminated by bacteria, parasites, or viruses. It gets on your food or hands, and then down your gullet.

The Reviews are coming in:
AMK’s travel kits are the perfect prescription for smooth, safe travel, here and abroad! 

From the Examiner.com, 3/1/09

Never leave home without them!

And we ain‘t talking about credit cards. … We found the perfect take-along items for those sojourns you will be taking this week and next. Trust us: Spend the few bucks on these items, and your trip will go smoothly and safely.  Read more…

Question:

What can be done for dislocated knees in the wilderness?
Thanks, Tom

Answer:

Tom,  Here is an excerpt from our book, A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine, on kneecap and knee dislocations and how important it is to differentiate between the two.

BE SAFE Tip – Travel Tip – Always Carry Suture and Syringe Supplies

When traveling in Developing Countries carry sterile suture/syringe supplies to hand to a local professional medical care provider to insure the use of sterile needles. Over 10 million people per year contract a lethal disease such as HIV and Hepatitis through the re-use of needles.

You can get a Suture Syringe Medic Kit here.

Learn more travel medicine and first aid tips – click here for Dr. Weiss’s Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness and Travel Medicine.