I'm in the process of getting together a larger first aid kit to be available if needed during performances and to satisfy local ordinances. Besides the usual stuff (band-aids, gauze, medwrap; tylenol and aspirin; burn ointment, and cold packs) do you have any other ideas for what could go into it to make it the 'ultimate' in protection? Don't worry about broken bones, we don't do acrobatics. Think burns.
What else should we be packing?
What else should we be packing?
posted by:
|
Missouri
|
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Sat, November 24, 2007 - 11:48 PMI got a whole it from these guys:
www.waterjel.com/FirstAid.cfm
And haven't looked back. I supplement with a basic gauze and and tape collection, plus some things I picked up as an herbalist. Most of my folks ask first for the little single application Burn Jel packs I always have:
Aloe, Vitamin E and lidocaine. Non-greasy, absorbs quickly, doesn't interfere with other medications, just use and toss. Plus they adhere to the guidelines set out by most of the burn units we talked to (in the Fire Arts FAQ).
But, embarassingly enough, I've become a little addicted to a bucket of water on site. We were required to have one (for major extinguishing), but washing down quickly right after a singe seems to keep blisters from forming. That, plus the Burn Jel, got us through 27 nights, 4 shows a night, with a different set of performers each night and almost no blisters.
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Sun, November 25, 2007 - 12:47 PMI'll second the burn-jel as a good choice... shop around though, the prices on those kits (and components) vary in price wildly (more than double, depending on where you purchase from).
I'd also suggest having a large bottle of sterile saline on hand (contacts), or at least few unopened bottles of water, to wash/cool burns right away with something clean. Nuskin and superglue (gel) are also good to have for cuts- actually make sure you have everything to treat other types of minor injuries, a few months ago we had a show up here were someone stepped on a broken wine glass, and in punctured the sole of her boot and gave her a pretty deep puncture into the bottom of her foot. For pain relief, toss the asprin and tylenol in favor of a bottle of ibuprofen (motrin, generics). Much better pain killer, and a decent antiinflammatory at 4x doses, without the stomach irritation of asprin and tylenol. It is also a good idea to have a couple pairs of gloves in the kit, latex has allergy issues but stretches better than neoprene, so you don't have to be as correct on the size.
I'd also highly recommend making sure everyone has their medical insurance cards on them or nearby, in case something serious does happen. -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Sun, November 25, 2007 - 7:52 PM>I'd also highly recommend making sure everyone has their medical insurance cards on them or nearby, in case something serious does happen.
I highly suggest copying your medical insurance information, as well as emergency contacts and any allergies onto the back of your driver's license. Don't cover up any restrictions that might be printed there, but trust me, it's nice for those EMT types to have one single resource for all their pesky questions.
I'm also a fan of gloves. Latex or purple nitride, either way, have something between you and other people('s diseases). Think of it this way: The person who is bleeding, would you have unprotected sex with them? If no, then why the hell are you letting their blood get on you?
If you don't feel like paying for gloves or are broke/cheapskate, ask around for some of your friends in the kink community, they usually buy bulk gloves and wouldn't mind giving a couple pairs out. Bloodbourn pathogens aren't just for iv drug users anymore. -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, November 26, 2007 - 9:23 AMOn my site I have put together a safety list / fire safety check list -of things you should have on site when playing with fire and prior to lighting up.
asexcreations.com/insphyre/homewp/ -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, November 26, 2007 - 10:24 AMJust out of curiosity, what exactly is the fire blanket / army blanket for?
I've seen people with these as safety blankets. Thing is, they're too stiff to be used as a safety blanket, and they're really meant for protecting you *from* fire, like when in a burning building. Or is that the idea?
Telling someone to 'never use' an extinguisher on a human is a bit silly, dont'cha think? The ABC dry chems are reasonably safe, and you can request them to be filled for human use. I agree that a CO2 extinguisher -can- be unsafe, but with training, they can be like magic.
I'd clarify the burn ointment. Some people will go straight to butter for that one. All the major burn centers that we talked to said to avoid anything greasy.
And the bucket of water should be clearly specified as "not for extinguishing."
www.youtube.com/watch -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, November 26, 2007 - 3:00 PMthis is a learning lesson for us all. and im glad that you have given your input.
I will change the bucket of water comment asap.
as far as the burn ointment it would obviously be for small rash like burns from the chain wouldn't you think? anything else should should be seen by professionals. and i changed that as well
as far as the extinguisher comment, i heard you can get a whole different set of problems if it gets into contact with your skin,
i got this information from the HomeOfPoi.com fire safety video.
the safety blanket would be used with and extinguisher to put out any escaped flames, i mean it would of been used in that youtube vid you posted in the same manor, right? -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, November 26, 2007 - 9:34 PMThere's a bit of a difference between a "fire blanket" and a damp towel or duvetyne. A Fire Blanket is usually about 1/4" thick and quite stiff. It's not particularly good at extinguishing, but very good at protecting from heat. Some versions are thinner and have a silvered back, which makes them about as stiff.
Keep in mind that Home of Poi has a number of problems: 1) it's in australia and some of the information is pertinent only there. 2) It's an open board that has been running for almost a decade with no scientific direction. Most of the superstitions about fire performance originated or propagated there. I have personally been hit (in the face) with an ABC extinguisher, and watched a service technician eat the powder put inside. I tell you from direct experience that not all dry chem extinguishers are bad for human contact. (If I can find them, I'll post pictures).
As for the burn ointment, yeah, that sounds like a fine use. But if it's in there, and it's greasy, what are the odds that someone might also slather it on a 3rd degree burn? Pretty good I'd say. That's why nudge people into other avenues. -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 12:18 PMI strongly second the recommendation to avoid greasy burn creams. The reason to apply any burn gel is a) cleaning/disinfecting the skin and b) topical anesthetic for temporary pain relief. Don't use anything greasy, and don't put anything at all on a 3rd degree burn - cover with something loose to keep dirt out and get to a doctor. The same goes for large (bigger than the palm of your hand in total area) second degree burns on the face, hands, or genitals. Injuries like that may need urgent attention from a surgeon.
When I put together first aid supplies for events, I also try to take into account injuries other than burns. Splints, ACE wraps, and chemical ice packs for sprains, for instance.
It's a good idea to have trauma shears as part of your kit. If there is burned clothing and you need to see how badly the skin underneath is burned, these make the job of removing the overlying clothing MUCH easier.
Don't know much about the chemical extinguishers and their safety for humans. Will look into it in the toxicology literature.
Grisha
(MD) -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 12:33 PM"I strongly second the recommendation to avoid greasy burn creams."
Well, technically, you're probably tenth in line. The first half dozen come from every major burn unit in the country....
The FAQ lists the recommendations of many burn units, you can trip through them and avoid the random recommendations of potentially untrained strangers, medically speaking. -
-
This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 1:21 PMI have worked on a burn and trauma team at one of those top burn centers, and the reason I posted my reply is that not everyone goes and reads the FAQ, but might absorb the information anyway if they read the advice (from an MD who knows what he's talking about) here.
Good ideas are worth disseminating widely. -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 1:35 PMOh, I'm not poking at you directly. I'm just saying that the advise given on tribe, or the 'net in general is pretty suspicious, and not everyone is willing to check to see if medical advice is coming from a medical source. Even if the advise comes from medical personnel, I think you'll agree that it's by no means assured as being the freshest and most up-to-date info, if accurate at all.
Good ideas may be worth disseminating, but if a billion people say a stupid thing, it's still a stupid thing. Dissemination is no assurance of effectiveness. -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Sat, February 2, 2008 - 8:53 AM"Good ideas may be worth disseminating, but if a billion people say a stupid thing, it's still a stupid thing. Dissemination is no assurance of effectiveness. "
That's what makes it important for those of us who know what they're talking about to speak up. There is indeed lots of misinformation out there, and there is no perfect defense against it, but we can try to combat it by spreading the correct info and hoping it sinks in.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, November 26, 2007 - 6:29 PMRhino is with the group Sphyre of Prometheus, we helped write and pass the fire performers code in Columbia Mo. Part of the code the Fire Marshal got from other ordinances around the country. One of which is a wool fire blanket. Not sure where it came from but it was put in to the safety part. We also have to have white towels and white buckets. Again jumping through hoops for the man to let us burn in our city*sigh*
the Fire Marshal has been a big help and supporter for the fire group. He feels it is a art form that needs to be share with the city. Kinda cool outlook on his part and has helped us get our foot in the door for several events.
Sheridan -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, November 26, 2007 - 11:53 PMthat is cool that he is a support bc he could totally be a duche if he wanted to -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Tue, November 27, 2007 - 12:17 AMI dunno, white towels? that's kinda ... random. Is that a visibility thang? -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Tue, November 27, 2007 - 5:35 AMThats what the FM said. Makes them easier to see during performances. I guess its a personal thing for me, but I would rather know where my spotters are than what color towels to look for. All in the name of Safety -
-
This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Tue, November 27, 2007 - 6:19 PMI'd rather have someone who knows how to put me out than a fashion designer with the right color towels. But, yeah, thats what I'm getting at, "white towels" seems kind trivial compared to the safety issue of having open water near petrol fires.... -
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Tue, November 27, 2007 - 6:20 PM(oops mixing stuff up again)
White buckets too? EeeK!!!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 1:58 PMOur first aide kit also contains Charcoal tabs( can get at walmart) This is the 1st line if anything gets swallowed! Also Saline!!! loads of saline!!! Washes out eyes as well as cleans the initial site of a burn
-
-
Re: Safety First Aid Kit
Thu, January 31, 2008 - 5:45 PMLast year at BM we included a water gel fire blanket. It's in a canister and bag and cools the burn while sealing out dirt until ER crew can attend. Sort of industrial aloe vera. Gotta be good physcologically for victim to feel the goop too. They cost $160 though.
-
