Do You Need First Aid and CPR Training? For the most basic first aid and CPR training, you can check with your local Red Cross chapter. In many communities, more advanced training can be found by calling local fire departments and the hospital in your area that deals with trauma cases. Check with your paddling friends; many whitewater clubs will sponsor courses. The following companies offer wilderness first-aid training from the basic level through Wilderness EMT, Wilderness First Responder, and Advanced Leadership in Emergency Care. If you sponsor a course, these companies will travel to your area to teach.



Solo
P.O. Box 3150
Conway, NH 03818
(603)447-6711

The River Skills Center
P.O.Box 1658
Mt. Shasta, CA 96067
(916)926-6822

Wilderness Medical Associates
189 Dudley Rd., Suite 2
Bryant Pond, ME 04219
(207)665-2707



The best first aid tools: common sense and plenty of training. While this list is for a major kit, it is a good idea to have a minor kit on each boat. In some states this is the law. Note:

Do you know if any of your boating companions have any special medical needs? Is anyone allergic to bee stings? A diabetic? Asthmatic? Consider all the possibilities before you put together your kit for any trip. When you tie down your load before starting a trip, make it a habit to tell several people on the trip exactly where the first aid kit is stored so it can be accessed quickly. Remember to check your kit often -- and replace anything that gets used after each trip!

First Aid Kit Supplies:

Abbreviated first aid manual
Several pairs of latex gloves
1 "No Neck" c-spine collar
1 Hemostat, 5-1/2"
1 Airway kit, disposable
Several Sam Splints
Pocket mask with a one-way valve
Band-Aids (complete box with various sizes including finger tip and knuckle sizes)
Pen, pad of paper, and accident report form
10 Sterile gauze pads, 2"x2" and 4"x4"
3 Large sanitary napkins
2 Rolls porous adhesive tape
1 Package moleskin
2 Triangle bandages
2 Elastic wraps (Ace bandages)
10 Steri-strips for wound closure
4 Vaseline gauze pads
2-3 Rolls 4" cling gauze
2 Rolls roller gauze
1 Trauma dressing, 5"x9"
2 Eye pads
1 Small package of sterile absorbent cotton swabs
1 6-oz. Container of betadine antiseptic cleanser
Some type of antibiotic ointment
Tweezers
First-aid scissors
Hypothermia thermometer
6 Large safety pins
Sunscreen, 30+ spf
Insect sting lotion
Caladryl or calamine for rashes
Emergency reflector blanket
Acetametaphine or ibuprofen
Liquid glucose
Laxative
Anti-diarrheal
Antacid
Antihistamines
"Anti-Kit" for anaphylactic shock
Medications for known medical conditions