First Aid while backpacking

“You asked for this thread, So here it is.”

“coolios...now how do you pull of a dead toenail? or do you just let it say there untill it falls off on its own?”

“According to Le Subtil, you should put the dead toenail in your "medicine bag". Whatever that is!”

“Ooh. I better get a medicine bag then...”

“Oh, so this is a gear thread?”

“Leave the toenail till its ready. By removing it prematurely you may expose the underdeveloped nailbed to infection or trauma which can cause nail growth problems like deformities. When I got 3 fingers crushed the doc pulled 3 of my nails off (not much holding em on) sewed up the mashed nailbeds then sewed the dead nails back over the bed as a protection. They were on for 3 weeks before they were removed.”

“Got a rock painted white with a BIG red cross on one side. Its kinda of heavy but guarenteed to take your mind off of any pain that ails you.”

“I remove dead toenails when they get to the point where they get loose and snag in the socks. Having one come loose while you are walking is gonna stopping to take care of things at inopportune times. That's what I do, not necessarily the recommended approach.”

“(From Experience)

1. Take a Carribean Cruise
2. Sit on side of pool with feet in salt water
3. Drink heavily and watch bikini babes
4. Wait patiently for salt water to detach nail from toe
5. Try to look cool when nail floats to top of pool
6. After everyone runs in horror, scoop up nail and return to room for a nap

This is not the best method, but it works for me.”

“that's a very vivid picture, birch...”

“So I've been way out of the TT loop for a while and maybe this is an old dead thread somewhere - if so, sorry. But does anyone here have wilderness first responder (or whatever it is really called) training? Have you found it useful at all?

During canoe guide training, we got a full day of wilderness first aid training - but not enough to get certified. The guys senarios scarred the crap out of me (If this happens, the victim will die. If that happens, the victim will die, or if he's lucky come away with severe braindamage and paralysis - AAAAAAAAH!). Aside from that day, I have red cross first aid and life guarding certificate as well. Fortunately, haven't had to use any of it except for bandaging a campers toe after he kicked a rock. ugh.”