suggestions

[adam]

be good to get all the advice on epirbs price, weight, how long it takes for help to arrive.

Advice on anything like, deep cuts, broken legs, dehydration, etc

if anyone can help in this area, that would be great

[Piggy]

Adam I believe they are changing the Epirb network soon so make sure you get one that will work on the new system.
As far as medical advice I suggest a first aide course would hate to see the wrong advice given in regards to a potentially life saving situation.

[Luke]

As far as medical advice I suggest a first aide course would hate to see the wrong advice given in regards to a potentially life saving situation.

Certainly, a first aid course what we recommend people do, but we can help each other out as no doubt we have some people who are well trained in first aiding etc...

Why not tap that resource...by no means does that stand as a substitute for a proper course...

Luke :D

[Axe]

I agree with Piggy

I have done first aid courses & am still current, thing is.. it is very easy to forget much of what you learn unless you use it regularly..... not only... treatments are constantly changing

I carry a small first aid booklet in my pack, in case something arises that I may need a prompt with... just a suggestion :)

[Luke]

just a suggestion

A damned fine one too!

Luke :D

[Axe]

Super Glue...provided you can stem the flow of blood sufficiently.... is serviceable to close a reasonably sized cut, personal experience says it works :)

[jindydiver]

Super Glue...provided you can stem the flow of blood sufficiently.... is serviceable to close a reasonably sized cut, personal experience says it works :)

It is my family's favorite wound closer :D

Epirbs

The current 243mhz system is being turned off in Feb' of 2009. The only system available after then will be the 406mhz system (which enables GPS location of the beacon).
You can buy personal EPIRB's (called PLB's or Personal locator beacons) for $200 on ebay, or $300 through camping stores. For 3 years of peace of mind $300 isn’t that much. If you want to get a 406 PLB you will be paying a minimum of $1K for the current units. That price will be going down as the date draws near and the uptake increases, but it is a lot of money in anybody’s book.

The 243 PLB’s are good stuff, but they have limitations. Your signal will not be triangulated for a minimum of 4 to 6 hours and with a possible wait of 12 hours. If you are in an area with a lot of commercial air traffic over head you will have less wait than a more remote area, but that is just till they can figure your search area, which for a 243 is approximately 20k’s in radius. Small aircraft have to narrow the search area and then someone on foot (or 4wd bike, whatever) will have to find you. A good way to cut down the time till you are found is to have a plan of your hunt area kept with your vehicle (they will see that from the air first) and to carry a signalling device like a mirror or a space blanket or similar. And learn how to use the mirror so you can signal a passing plane.

[adam]

This is excellent stuff guys and I don't know why but its making me keen for a hunt.

Will add first aid book to my pack.

[aussiehunter]

so what happens to the older model epirbs??
when u think about it,this sort of gear should be tax/gst free as essential emergency equipment..better to have it economical for ppl to purschase than spending weeks searching.......

sat phones are cheap now plus alot are duel cdma,can purschase one for around 4oo to 500 bucks telstra,,good if u live country/remote or do alot of travel...

cheers pat :D

[jindydiver]

so what happens to the older model epirbs??


They become paperweights :(

[Clinglish]

Have a look at this link guys it has a few facts about the changes to the current system and why.

http://www.gme.net.au/epirb/cospas_changes.php

[aussiehunter]

this is a good example what forums are about exchanging good info from safteydevices,euipment and game,just to name a few...thanks guys cheers pat :D

[Sparra]

And for passing on good hunting spots to other people :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

[aussiehunter]

yeah well there is this place that has huge red deer on it ,easy to get to,plus heaps of huge tusky hogs the address is................................................ .................................................. ........................................ :D

[Sparra]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Dirty Sanchez]

:idea:
here's a list of my backpack/ first aid /survival pack for a days stumbling around.

any other little bits and bobs u dudes can recommend and how u use them ?

starting from the top ;
petzl micro led head torch ,spare3xAAA
fox whistle
hunting knife + sharpener(also does broadheads)
camel pack water bladder
gps garmin etrex +spare AA batteries+quick start manual(for visitors)
map+ pencil + micro compass for backup
bushman repellant+sunscreen
camera , min bipod ,AA extra batteries.
epib (calculator size, battery test every now and then)


first aid kit
(put together myself all fits in lunchbox size paddded zip bag)
3 x spandex bandages for limb splint/snake bite etc (new sticky ones on the market are huge and more compact than the old orange ones with clips)
small tube aquim alcohol gel (hand steriliser, cant recommend this stuff enough, the only thing to rid the smell off hands of fish/ferals, no water required, also a great fire lighter, arm pits or feet a bit smely after a couple of days ? hit'em with this stuff, shower in a tube!!)
betadine tube for cuts/grazes
1/2dozen bandaids
1 roll leukoplast white sports tape (limb splints, ankles/blisters etc)
butterfly clips (skinny strips like stitches)
2x sterile pads
signal mirror/whistle
space blanket
2x plastic gargage bags (water collection, emergncy rain coat etc)
cigarette lighter in zip lock bag
scissors, tweezers
10m of 100kg braid (really strong compact fishing line like string)
eyepatch dressing(ive had a bad twig in the eye once before)
1/2 a sheet of anthistamines, puritabs, nuerofen

almost forgot , a little packet of tissues for million star toilet facilities :roll:


sounds like a lot of stuff :shock: , but its all very compact. with 3ltre bladder full its 5kgs all up.

this stuff stays in this backpack so i never forget it, I always have a quick check before leaving in case some has been fooling around with my stuff.

any suggestions apart from the kitchen sink?

[Marty]

A good thing to add to any first aid kit is 3-4 various sized Burn Aid dressings :wink:

I use these at work all the time

They are a foam dressing impregnated with a water soluable tea tree solution that easily is removed with sterile irrigation ( important in a emergency department as it will prevent need for surgical scrubs -OUCH)

Not only are they great for thermal burns and scalds, they also work extremely well for sun burn.

I have seen patients with bad sun burn show little sign of the burn the following day and the pain relief achieved was unbelievable.

[No eye deer]

I read somewhere that the Americans use a 2 way radio thats on the airline frequency.That sounds like a good idea. I havent seen any info, on it here though.

Mark