Endurance 911!

Have you ever thought of what you would do if you were out on the competitive trail and as you rounded a bend in the trail you came upon....?

*A rider unconsious on the ground.

*A scraped up and bloody rider.

*A rider with heat exhaustion.

*A rider with a strain, sprain, or simple small dislocation.

*A rider who is sweating, has difficulty breathing, and chest pain.

*A rider that has been stung and is having a  reaction.

*A rider who is in insulin crisis, or hypoglycemic.

* A loose and scraped up horse.

If you are a nurse, or an EMT you will likely know how to handle these highly plausible scenarios.  If you have not trained in minor or major medical emergencies, what would you do for each of these riders?     Now I'm not going to claim any special expertise in these areas.  Yes, I have my first aid card, and CPR training.  I have had to perform CPR and hope never to do so again.  In younger years I volunteered with Rescue in our county.  However, I am not a medical person.  I am not licensed to save you if you crash...but solemnly swear to do my best until real help arrives.  With this in mind, and the situations above what supplies would you need in your saddle bag to help in each of these scenerios?  I'm interested in your thoughts concerning what you'd do, and how you'd do it.

Here's my list of bare minimum supplies : Unopened half/frozen water, single serving of electrolyte, aspirin, tylenol, a little packet of sugar, an unopened purse size pack of tissues, a nonstick gauze pad, a roll of vet wrap, a couple of tongue depressers, a bandana, maxi pad, small tear open wet wipes, thin strong rope with clip, cell phone.  I'm pretty sure I can easily get all this into my pommel bag without disrupting what I personally need.

Here's what I'm thinking :

Aspirin:  someone having symptoms of a heart attack a crushed up aspirin might keep blood flowing until help arrives, in the case of a strain or sprain it would be an option for the discomfort (though non-aspirin would likely be better).
Half/frozen water bottle:  let them drink it if they are having heat exhaustion, wet something with it to cool them off, use it to reduce the swelling of a sprain or strain.  To flush out a wound. To swallow medication if needed.
Single Serving electrolyte pack:  add to water in the case of heat exhaustion.
Bandana:  soaked with cool water to wrap around the neck for heat exhaustion, used as a binding for a temporary stick splint, or a sling.
Benadryl:  for a minor allergic reaction it would be helpful.   It may possibly slow down the effects of a more major event to buy you some time, don't know...
Thin strong rope:  to tie up or pony the horse.
Wet Wipes: to clean off scrapes or cuts.
Tissues:  to use in a hunk for an absorbent dressing over non-stick gauze.
Non-stick gauze 4x4: to put directly on a wound.
Vet wrap:  to secure dressings, fasten a splint, or hold pressure on a wound equine or human.
Tongue depressors: to use as a simple finger or wrist splint.
 Sugar: Someone in insulin crisis could be given the sugar to help stabilize their blood sugar in an emergency.
Cell Phone:  to call for help.

How and with what would you handle each of those scenarios?