- Time of past OR future Camino
- First one in 2005 from Moissac, France.
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David:
I am planning another camino in the fall and shall be walking from Pau in the south of France over the Somport Pass and along the Camino Aragones to Puenta la Reina, then on to Santiago, probably on the Frances. This will be about a 950 km route. I want to be able to share my footcare supplies with persons whom I meet on my pilgrimage, generally for them to do their own footcare, as I do not pretend to have any special knowledge in this area. I shall have to carry whatever I take with me, as I am travelling only on foot, and renew supplies in farmacias along the way. Can you suggest basic supplies to start with, in addition to moleskin, tape, bandages, dressings, and antiseptic wipes? Can antibiotic ointment be shared safely? How? I do have Red Cross first aid training and I would be willing to suggest that any particularly nasty blisters or other foot injury be referred to a clinic. A focus on travelling light may cause some persons with little long distance hiking experience to be under-supplied, and I should like to help as I can.
Ah, I should be more clear - sorry .... plasters tend to have adhesive at each end and the absorbent pad in the middle, which leaves a wound open to the air on either side .. but you can get rectangular and square plasters in various sizes where the adhesive goes all round the edges and there is an 'island' of absorbent gauze in the middle - so the absorbent gauze goes over the treated wound and then the plaster sticks down all the way round. I also carry individually wrapped sterile dressings in much larger sizes that are constructed the same way. By 'fabric' plasters I mean that stretchy non-waterproof type rather than the plasticky shiny waterproof ones. I don't use the waterproof ones mainly because the adhesive is very weak on them and they come off really quickly.
This is the sort of fabric plasters, do you see how the absorbent gauze pad is an island? - though I buy mine from wholesale suppliers online and larger sizes too (and different shapes!).
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@LesBrass - crikey! that is a serious wound there - the body shock must have been serious as well - did you feel 'jittery' for a couple of days? Shock really can kill, but you know that now. You are so right - those boiling water accidents can happen at any time, especially when one is in a refugio kitchen using unknown equipment with other people milling around.
I think it really is worth reading a first aid manual just to know what one should do in these situations, then one can help oneself as well as others. First aid should be taught in schools, don't you think?
David,AlbertaGirl, hello. Sounds like you are planning a wonderful Camino! I think that you already have the kit that you need, and you also have Red Cross training. Personally I don't offer antibiotics as if I think it is that serious I take them or send them off to a doctor .. that fine line between first aid and medical care, and I am not qualified to offer medical care, only first aid. I have yet to find waterproof plasters in Spanish pharmacies that have a strong enough adhesive to stay in place for long so always use fabric plasters as they seem to adhere better - and also flex better.
I stock quite a lot of finger-tip plasters as they can be manipulated easily into between toes and over the ends and underneath of toes ... like these
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I also use only plasters that have adhesive all the way round with a medicated island pad in the middle. I find it necessary to 'de-oil' feet before applying dressings.
You will also need something to drain blisters - either needles or scalpels (No. 11 blade) and something to be able to clean these tools properly such as a small container of surgical alcohol. And you will need tissues to absorb the liquid expelled from the blisters.
I prefer not to wear latex gloves so carry a medicinal grade bottle of hand cleaner which I use thoroughly before I start on each pilgrim.
I carry Germolene (uk brand name), which is an antiseptic 'over the counter' cream that also has a mild anaesthetic which is very soothing. I carry an antiseptic spray, Iodone spray, it is a good thing as it gets right in to tiny crevices and also dries quickly .. once I have put a sealing plaster on I sometimes, especially on the heel, over cover it with fabric strip plaster cut to length to add cushioning. I no longer use compeeds as I have seen too many problems with them. I also carry 'spray plaster' which gives a secure and clean film over such as a graze but am wary using this - only on shallow grazes and only if I am sure the wound is absolutely clean.
I do carry both Ibuprofen gel as well as the Spanish Voltaren gel for inflamed muscles and tendons and also some tiny grip-seal bags so that I can send them off with a couple of days supply. I carry a tiny bottle of Olbas oil for those with chest/sinus blockages.
Now, I also carry 'over the counter' paracetomol, ibuprofen, hay-fever tablets (anti-histamine so rather good for reactions to bed bug bites), Lemsips (paracetomol and decongestant, makes a hot drink) - but I am always careful that I find out if they want me to offer them and if they are allergic to any of the ingredients. I carry Aspirin but this is for heart attacks - get the casualty to crumble one in the mouth before swallowing, or if they are unable then crumble one and put into their mouth - is the greatest help.
I also carry quite a lot of Dioralyte sachets – fast replacement of body salts and liquid for those with diarrhoea or exhaustion or dehydration.
Personally I think that every pilgrim should carry some, especially in hot weather as just drinking lots of water can lead to leaching out of electrolytes and feeling weaker and weaker - these sachets harmlessly counter-act that condition.
A pair of small scissors, tweezers, safety pins, tic removal tools. (Scissors to cut the edges of large plasters so they can be pressed flat, without wrinkling). You could take bandages; elastic compression rolls for twisted ankles – these things do come up but the bandages are not light and are bulky – you could carry one or two and replace if used? Also possibly a triangular bandage - for hurt arms, not really needed as you can tuck the hand into a shirt, or use their belt - but great for making a head bandage. This year I will be taking quite a lot of cohesive bandage rolls to support knees.
Now, the thing is ... this year I will park my car up somewhere and walk off for a few days then either walk or bus back to it - I am not on my way to Santiago! - so the car is also my re-supply depot. I will only carry what I think I will need for a week each time .. for you, well, different logistics so you will have to make that compromise between carrying "everything" and weight - I wish you well, and think it marvellous that you want to help other pilgrims out there with first aid! Buen Camino!!
... Can antibiotic ointment be shared safely? ...
Thanks for the info,No, because of two things: possible allergies and the danger of increasing the amount of antibiotic-resistant germ-strains. In most European countries ALL antibiotics, no matter if internally or externally applied, have to be prescribed by a doctor. Buen Camino, SY
Thanks for the info,
I have never had a prescription for antibiotic ointment and as far as I know it is still available on the shelves in pharmacies in Canada and in many other stores. I was just concerned about hygiene, not about antibiotic resistant germs.
David, thank you for your humanity and your heart! I so wish I were going to be on that end of the Frances, because it'd be a joy to have a long interfaith chat in person, rather than just here.Any of you out there from two weeks or so onwards, look out for a fat old man dressed in brown with a first aid sign pinned to his rucksack, and please DO come and say hello.
I couldn't see a koala, stuffed or otherwise. Are you letting me off the hook?
Definitely Kanga! Shall I make it a life-size toy koala? ... 'shouldn't weigh too much! I could attach it to my pack "koala-style" until I give it to David!NO, David that is not good enough. @JennyH94 can we organise for you to take him one?
@David are you taking the Aarn packs, have you given then a trial walk? How does it all feel? They should sit on your waistband, and not drag on your shoulders.
You should be able to see your feet through the middle of the Aarn packs, which is why he makes two separate ones rather than one single front pack. I got used to it pretty quickly.
Sounds like you are all set! Hope it works out. Can we have a photo with you in all the gear please?
@David , you are clipping them together at the top and the bottom aren't you? That stops them swaying. The gap in the middle is for air circulation, so you don't get too hot, as well as vision. The stays (the think metal or plastic rod down the back of each pack) can be taken out and bent to fit your body, holding the packs parallel but allowing an air gap. That should also help stop them swaying. But don't be tempted to leave them out to save weight, they are what makes the whole thing work.
DougFitz does not strike me as the teddy bear type, whereas I can easily see a small bear hanging from a tree as a "David was here" message.Before I start getting inundated at home with koalas - the koala thing is a joke for when DougFitz is next on Camino, that I would hang one in a tree that he walks past - not a koala for me!! Just saying - no koalas, thank you
DougFitz does not strike me as the teddy bear type, whereas I can easily see a small bear hanging from a tree as a "David was here" message.
I see Dougfitz as the Teddy bear type!!
Our paths will cross at some stage, unless you have taken shelter in a convenient bar for some reason when we walk past!eerrmmm .. just in passing, when are you going back on Camino, Doug? I see it is the Frances this year ... so where and when - no reason, just asking ..................
Our paths will cross at some stage, unless you have taken shelter in a convenient bar for some reason when we walk past!
Now I will be very carefully checking that any stuffed object David may attempt to pass off as a koala is truly a representative of the correct family!@dougfitz knowing you are a man who is knowledgeable, precise and Australian, I'm disappointed. I can accept the word "bear" or "teddy bear" from foreigners, but we know koalas are not bears at all. Bears are members of the Ursidae family. Koalas are the only remaining members of the Phoscolarctidae family.
That would have been my fault!this has become a strange thread ... how did we get from first aid to Koalas??
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Before I start getting inundated at home with koalas - the koala thing is a joke for when DougFitz is next on Camino, that I would hang one in a tree that he walks past - not a koala for me!! Just saying - no koalas, thank you
Can you suggest basic supplies to start with, in addition to moleskin, tape, bandages, dressings, and antiseptic wipes?
Thank you for your service! I'm a US Navy granddaughter, daughter, wife and mother. And, as the old saying goes, the Marine Corps already has a few good men...Navy Corpsman lolGood old school medicine and advice. I'm a retired Navy-Marine Corps Corpsman. We would cap blisters (CUT the top off) then paint the area with Tincture of Benzoin. Tincture of Benzoin is sn antiseptic and shin adhesive. Burns like the Dickens AR first but toughens the new skin fast and the fabric (moleskin) patch will not sweat or shower off. My Marines were up and walking right after treatment. Works great for stopping hot spots from becoming blisters.
For all of this you posted (especially, the last two bits above brought warmth and a tear of joy to my eye)...... if you are ‘religious’ and it is of interest to you please do visit my website www.pilgrimfriars.org (and perhaps also my www.donoharm.co.uk) - the whole mission is based upon the command given by Jesus/Yeshua at the end of the story of the Good Samaritan “Then go, Ye, and do likewise".
You know, this first aid, it isn’t just about putting dressings on. Many pilgrims are suffering internally and cover it with laughter and jolliness, but inside, if you look, you can see their pain, the anguish they are going through - one has to look at them, one has to see them; it is an integral part of the first aid mission. You might be amazed at how many apparently confident pilgrims burst into tears when you start helping them - it is, after all, about love...
Hi. I am recently back from doing seven weeks first aid. ...
So I drain them - always. They have to be drained. I use a scalpel to make two tiny V shaped cuts that allows the blister to be completely drained. I then spray antiseptic (to get into all crevices and inside the cut sections) and cover with fabric plasters that have sticky all the way round the edge. I then sometimes fabric plaster on top of that to give more cushioning (I give the pilgrim back-up plasters to keep them going until they get to a pharmacy).
Thanks, that makes sense. What brand of plasters do you use?Hi Ibpierce - Omnifix is good, latex free, tape but one should never place anything sticky or adhesive over a wound ... with Omnifix one would place a non adherent dressing over the wound first and then put the Omnifix on top - the plasters I mentioned have a non adherent antiseptic cushion in the centre, large enough to completely cover the wound, and then have adhesive all round the edges so that they stick down completely, sealing the wound.
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