Fuel for Thought

Are You Ready ?

Living on a farm or any rural area teaches you to be prepared. Getting help can be quite a distance. You have to be able to handle most situations as they arise. Recently, our beagle found a copperhead and, unfortunately was bitten by it. I was on the road but my wife took quick action and started treating her for her condition. Having farm animals usually means you keep a variety of medicines on hand. Luckily, we had antibiotics, pain medications and antihistamines available. Dogs react differently to poisonous snake bites than humans. The best you can do is pain management, antibiotics for any possible infection from the bite, and an antihistamine for any allergic reaction. DO NOT TRY TO SUCK OUT THE POISON. After a few days of treatment, our beagle made a full recovery and is now back to her old self again.

Being on the road can be similar to rural living as well. You can find yourself miles from help if you need it. Are you prepared for a medical emergency while on the road?

Of course, per regulations, you are required to carry a fire extinguisher and triangles, but do you have a first aid kit?  You can buy a ready to go kit or you can make your own. At a minimum, make sure you carry the basics of a first aid kit. It would much better if you can carry more than just basics.

If you want to make your own first aid kit,

Consider including the following:

• Sterile gauze pads of different sizes

• Adhesive tape

• Adhesive bandages in several sizes

• An elastic bandage

• A splint

• Antiseptic wipes

• Soap

• Antibiotic ointment

• Tweezers

• Scissors

• Peroxide

• Pain relievers

• First Aid Guide

• Emergency contacts

• Emergency phone numbers

You can also just purchase a complete kit from many drug stores or even The American Red Cross. The Red Cross Store has inexpensive ready to go kits with most anything you might need.

Create your own or buy a pre-packaged kit. Hopefully you will never need it, but in the event you do, you will be glad you were prepared.

See you down the road,

Greg

Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes.

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe