AZ BS Thread 4²0

@RichochetRabbit
This stuff is pretty good and worth it.



If you're only out for a couple nights no real need to eat freeze dried or MRE etc. Deli meat even hamburger if started frozen will last to at least night two in a cooler. Going out beyond 3-4 nights is where it gets tricky without a fridge/freezer and the need for freeze dried meals comes into play.

 

We have easy access to dry ice at a local grocery store. 5 or 6lbs usually lasts long enough for a 4 day trip and you don't have to worry about it melting and getting everything wet since it just evaporates. I put the dry ice inside a small insulated lunch box and then put the lunch box in the cooler with an ice pack underneath it to help it melt slower

 

Not sure about that MRE question, and must agree with @unstpible - probably should question life choices!

I am a big fan of the https://goodto-go.com - I had most of them. I've added Mountain House freeze dried chicken to the vegan ones - just like going to Whole Foods and buying pork rinds then finding the "Most Likely to be Vegan" cashier to check out.

Agree with @OnePuttBlunder - Mary Janes Farm are good as well

When backpacking with my daughters, we made our food, get a dehydrator tried all kinds of fun stuff, even watermelon. We made one we called Mexican Tornado - FD pinto bean flakes, FD chicken, dried tomatoes, dried jalapeño and appropriate spices, we all hoped it wouldn't give us a Mexican Tornado when we needed to dig a hole...

 

MRE are loaded with sodium. Like others said, Peak seems to be the best out there but I tend to cook fresh. Take a look at https://outdooreats.com. They have good receipts and the ingredients take up about the same space as an MRE.

 

only bonus to MREs is you don’t need toilet paper

 

Added to my emergency supplies, good for more than just camping. If anyone sees a major gap I left, please advise ...

 

Whiskey, don't forget the whiskey.

 

Single malt.

 

My brother always keeps ever clear in his first aid bag as a "multipurpose sterilizer"

 

Looks like a decent kit.
adding a tourniquet couldn't hurt, they have some pretty easy to use and inexpensive options out there.

Lots of firs aid kits come with wipes for this and that and I feel like 90% of them end up dry before they ever get used so maybe consider a tube of antibiotic ointment, anti itching, or benadryl cream and a burn relief ointment. I find those get used often enough to justify having them in the truck first aid kit.

Do you have first aid training? I find knowledge to be one of the easiest things to pack. It's expired now but I did have a certificate for wilderness first aid as well as a bit of first aid training through the military and a few things I learned growing up since my dad was also military and an EMT for a while

 

Thanks for the review and wipes-expiring warning.

I have a tube of Neosporin in my bathroom that I rarely need so I intended to use it. The third picture shows hydrocortisone and burn cream. And I have spare "silver alginate" patch from when someone dog scratched me while hiking. And some Salonpas lidocane patches.

Tourniquet makes sense ... "cheapest" is not exactly my thought. The orange kit is $55, the "trauma kit" with the clotting gauze is $30 and the extra ones in the third picture were $60. When the person dog scratched-more-than-bit me while hiking the emergency room visit (first in 15 years, I did not know about them) cost $2500, plus $800 for the physician fee. No final cost for me, I think the dog owner was happy to pay what was not covered by insurance because I kept it civil and did not send the Sheriff to his house. Still ... $150 for medical supplies is small compared to relying on the eventual professional medical visit so I will pay it once to get most of what works.

Training is not ignored either. The only thing probably keeping me from being sued if I try to use these is either a "good samaritan law" and/or the DA deciding that a good try is worth come credit. Formal training is a good idea.

 

My bad I was too lazy to read the upside down stuff haha.
The tourniquets I should say are inexpensive not necessarily "cheap"
If you are concerned about it being cheap test it out. Usually the breaking point is the windlass or handle uses to tighten the strap, lots of them come in pairs so maybe test one to it's breaking point if you are concerned.

I hate that fear of being sued is ever a concern with first aid, goes to show that no matter how skilled you are you can't fix stupid.

bites can get nasty, glad your encounter didn't break skin much. I got bit in the face back in February of 2023 the day before my drivers license was renewed so now my face is swollen and infected on my ID for the next 8 years.

I got pretty worried after the first round of antibiotics when I started getting a nasty fever and went back to the ER but it ended up being from Covid not the dog bite

 

Fair enough on the miss ... no worries. Scheels has a tourniquet for $20 so I will likely head there tomorrow. I will never be completely prepared, but I am infinitely better prepared than 2 days ago.

 

Except for maybe chili mac and jalapeño cheese

 

If you buy a tourniquet, buy a legit one from Rescue Essentials or something... I've seen a tourniquet needed twice, both were Amazon specials, and neither held up when tightened properly. The RE ones are the ones for industry and the military so I have more trust in them. I keep one in my camping kit and one in my range bag with a few other stop-the-bleed things.

Most jurisdictions have good Samaritan laws if you are helping someone in good faith that shields you from legal liability but it doesn't stop you from getting sued. People suck.

 

Honestly cheap tourniquets should be banned by the sales websites that might sell them.

"It's gonna be okay brother, I've got this dollar store TQ that's hopefully just as good, I didn't feel like paying the 30 bucks for the CAT" is not something you wanna hear when you've got a gusher.

 

@OnePuttBlunder and anyone else who may have or had a GFC camper. Will I regret getting one with my little 4 cylinder, and all the weight of a 5 to 7 day trip? I mean the top is like 8 inches above the cab, right?

 

Camper is only 270 pounds for a SB Tacoma...

 

When it comes to legality you are generally protected so long as you are acting within good faith within the boundaries of you are training. Outside of flagrant negligence a typical citizen who isnt a medical professional should be ok.

Personally every time that I have helped I have ducked out once someone getting paid to show up is there and kept my name out of any report

I am a big fan of israeli bandages as they are a bit more versatile.

 

Yeah its not much over your current set up. I think you will love it. I love ours and with it all being able to be locked up and not worrying about all your stuff when you ditch the truck to go on a hike our on the lake etc is nice aswell. Do it.