Modern Blister Prevention and control: techniques and materials
Channel: First Aid
Date: 2015-02-17

Modern technology has led to major improvements in the development of space age adhesives. These have found their way as a laminar component on equally modern fabrics. With some innovative thinking, it's amazing to consider some of the applications they can be used for, which is what we're doing here in specific relation to mitigating those pesky blisters that can rob you of stateful distance. Note: This demonstration does not cover proper treatment of blisters, lancing, or blister roofs, it mainly looks at modern easily available materials that can be carried in a first aid kit and employed at the first signs of blister development.

Unfortunately, 99% of men who build Bug Out Bags eventually need them. That is because it is inevitable that one day their spouse will wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, trip over the But Out Bag that all serious preppers keep beside the bed, have a rethink on they have in bed beside them, and kick them out. Fortunately for us Canadians however, the Zombie Apocalypse is only going to occur in the United States. Fortunately, 99% of the people who carry UltraLight First Aid Kits, will never need them. The best item to have when you end up in a hurtful state is a helicopter. The best way to get that ship is to order it up much as you would a pizza, but with a VHF radio (can help you there in another channel) or satellite phone (can't help you there). While you are waiting for that ship, you cannot have pizza. You might lookup your symptoms in a medical book (like the ones they have in the recreational medical kits sold in the outdoor equipment stores). Or you might put a pressure dressing on the bleeding, or find something like a broken limb to stabilize, or sucking chest wound to occlude.

Last summer I received a popular wilderness First Aid kit. And again I'm afraid I will have to vilify the Outdoor Retailers for selling these and say, "you can do much better than this". This was the first thing I muttered when I extracted the roll of dollar store duct tape. As we all know, duct tape is not created equal. Lately I decided I did not really need to be carrying afterbite wipes, a tick remover, moleskin (because tenacious tape and silicone tape are much better). The elastic bandage was too small and far inferior to Coban tape, and even the adhesive tape looked like it was dollar store quality. The whole works still weighed in at 230 grams and cost $22.50. Then, well known Mountain Specialist Ron Tessolini recommended we make our first aid kits available, and only a fool ignores someone like Tessolini at their peril (who can be seen at the end of this video).

What I do want to carry, even on day trips, is something to clot blood, some self adhesive tape, some tenacious tape, and some decent transparent duct tape - all the stuff that costs more than what you find in an Adventure Medical Kit. So what I did was put it together in a nylon bag along with a Loksak bag so I'd also have an wound irrigation device. I ended up with a first aid kit for day trips that had much better items, weighed 140 grams less, and I could sell much more meaningful items for less. (All this takes me back to the days of MSR).

Attribution: 
"Taiko Drums" by rocavaco 2009 
"Cologne 1983" from Google Library
- Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)