By Christopher Van Tilburg, MD

When I was a boy, I watched Mount St. Helens explode from the front yard of the family home. It was both thrilling and terrifying. The Toutle River overflowed Interstate 5, and school was canceled due to ash fallout. Hurricane Katrina, the Spring floods that devastated Northeastern states, and now Hurricane Earl — which at the time of this post was threatening to hammer much of the Eastern Seaboard — prove that natural disasters can hit close to home. So, everyone should prepare a 72-hour emergency kit for Mother Nature’s worst.

Question:

I really love the products you present. There are many to choose from regarding first aid. That is my problem. I am a hunter and fisherman in the state of Alabama and have never strayed from this state in for my hobbies. I know Alabama is not Africa in terms of large carnivores, but I have had some scraps with a wild hog (hawg, in Alabama), and once was pinned by several coyotes. The hog I killed bare handed, not unscathed mind you, and the coyotes I fought off with a homemade spear i fashioned out of my hunting knife and a long branch while in a pine tree. That stuff was funny then after it was over, but now that I am a father I am thinking differently.

Question:
I want to build a first aid kit for our Drop Zone and would like your recommendations on contents for skydiving related incidents. I know all the basic items but would like your thoughts on splints and slings etc.While small cuts and sprained ankles etc are what we see most, we should be prepared for more serious incidents to include broken bones, puncture wounds (in the event of a tree landing)etc. If you could email me a list I would greatly appreciate it.

Q:
Is there a kit that you would recommend (or a custom list of items) that would be appropriate for carrying on a motorcycle in case one of the riders in our group is injured in a remote area? Obviously a lot of possible degrees of injury, but sprains, broken bones, abrasion bleeding, etc. would be possible.

A:
Curt, If you have the room I would carry the Fundamentals Kit or if space is tight – go with the Ultralight Pro. They both have the SAM Splint, CPR mask, wound cleaning items and trauma materials. There is a compare kit feature button on the right side of the product window. USe this to see the differences. Good Riding.

Q:
I bought a Fundamentals medical kit about ten years ago while in the service. I kept it in my rucksack until I left the service after Iraq when the kit went into storage. I now have need of having a kit ready in a backpack but the contents are expired. Is there any way to purchase a complete refill or do I need to do it item by item.