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Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, January 30, 1997 31
Wilderness First Aid Myths
Is it Duck or Duct? and what does
that have to do with outdoors ?
by Ed Tomchin
Although some manufacturers have bent to the will
of the people and started packaging something called
duck tape, there is no substitute for the original
DUCT TAPE, so called because its original use was to
wrap and seal joints in the sheet metal duct work which
networks your home tO provide winter heat and summer
cool.
But did youknow it is also an outdoorsman's most
useful piece of equipment. It nght up there with the
pocket knife, matches, and a good hatchet. Add a roll of
duct tape to your provision list. Keep a roll in your
camping gear, tool box, car trunk, and garage. You'll
soon find hundreds of uses for it, both at home and
especially in camp ....
Ducttape
by Ed Tomchin
Most common wilderness first aid advice is myth which
can be deadly or at best, severely debilitating. In time for the
upcoming big game hunting season, the Pahrump Valley
Gazette is happy to dispel some of the more dangerous
wilderness first aid myths.
TOURNIQUETS: It can be fatal to use a tourniquet to stop
serious bleeding. Unless you've cut an artery, eventually all
bleeding stops. The problem is that it doesn't always stop
soon enough to save your life. However, serious
blood loss can frequently be stopped without using
a tourniquet, which can crush blood vessels and
tissue, cutting off all blood flow, and leading to the
loss of a hand, arm, leg or foot due to loss of blood
circulation. If you do use a tourniquet, the absolute
maximum it should be left on is 45 minutes.
When out in the wild,
small bleeding wounds are
best left to stbp on their own.
The reason being that bleed-
ing is a torm of cleansing the
wound, flushing out any in-
fectious bacteria.
If the wound is larger you
should apply direct pressure to the wound site to
encourage the blood flow to stop. Use any handy
clean cloth for this purpose, such as a shirt, hand-
kerchief, or towel. Cover the wound and press hard
directly where the blood is flowing.
It also helps to elevate the wound above the heart
to assist in reducing blood pressure. This reduces
the flow of blood to the wound. You should
continue direct pressure and elevation until the wound stops
bleeding, then clean it, dress it, and apply a bandage, but not
tightly enough to act like a tourniquet.
HYPOTHERMIA: A common and favored myth is that a
shot of booze will help to warm up a cold or hypothermic
person. The truth is that alcohol will have the opposite effect.
It causes blood vessels to dilate, which causes the familiar
"warming" effect, but it actually increases heat loss from the
skin. Alcohol also negatively affects your sense of judgment
and interferes with coordination; conditions which can be
deadly in a cold wilderness situation.
Hypothermia is a dangerous and complicated condition
and the victim needs professional medical attention as soon
as possible. Be careful handling a hypothermic person as
violent or quick movements can cause sudden death as the
heart is very weak when the body is cold.
Insulate the victim with any available covering (i.e.,
blankets, sleeping bag, additional clothing). Do not attempt
to rewarm the victim with a roaring campfire, hot water, etc.,
nor should any attempt be made to give food or drink.
If the person is unconscious, do not raise their feet, which
will cause blood from the legs to flow into the body "cOre" and
further depress the body temperature. As soon as possible
seek assistance to evacuate the person to a place where they
can receive immediate medical treatment.
FROSTBITE: There is a perpetual myth that you should
rub snow on frostbitten body parts. This is similar to using
gasoline to put out a fire. In truth, body parts which
are frozen hard should be wrapped in any dry,
insulating material, then evacuate the person imme-
diately to a place where they can receive medical
treatment. Don't waste time attempting to rewarm
the victim.
Frozen parts which are still soft and somewhat
pliable should be rewarmed
gently with skin-to-skin con-
tact. Do not use fires or rub-
bing as this will cause severe
pain as thawing occurs rap-
idly. Once the body part is
thawed, it should be carefully
protected against refreezing.
Do not try to "tough it out", but rather seek addi-
tional medical treatment to assure there is no perma-
nent damage.
BURNS: It is another old and faithful myth that
you should put butter on burns. The truth is that any
type ofoil is bad for a burn since the oil traps heat and
adds to the burning process itself. The best burn
treatment is plunging the offended part into cool
water or wrap it in water-soaked cloth. The intent is to cool the
burned area for several minutes (to remove any residual heat
which will continue to burn the tissue). This is one time when
it may be helpful to put the burned part into snow. After the
wound is cooled, cover it with a sterile gauze dressing and,
depending on the severity of the burn, seek medical assistance.
SPRAINS: The old myth is to soak a sprained part in warm
water. The truth is that heat increases the swelling, adds to the
pain and slows healing. The best way to treat a sprain is to
apply cold (ice, cold packs, cold water, evaporation from a
wet cloth, etc.), which slows the circulation and reduces
swelling. The injured limb should be wrapped to provide
some form of compression, then rested and elevated (to
further reduce blood flow.)
Continue the above treatment for about half an hour, then
let the sprained part rewarm naturally before trying to use it.
This treatment should be applied several times during the day
for a couple of days if possible.
Hunter education necessary for big game license
by Ed Tomchin
According to Nevada law, all hunters born in 1960 or later
(meaning age 37 or younger), are required (o successfully
complete one of the hunter education classes offered by the
Nevada Division of Wildlife before being allowed to pur-
chase a hunting license for big game.
Big game, according to the Nevada Revised Statutes,
includes any species of prong-horned antelope, bear, deer,
mountain goat, mountain lion, bighorn sheep or elk.
When applying for a big game hunting license, all hunters
which fall within the above age category are required to show
a valid hunter education card in order to be issued a hunting
license. These cards can only be acquired upon the successful
completion of one of NDOW, s classes.
NDOW is urging all hunters to attend a hunter education
class now in order to avoid the rush for classes that occurs just
prior to the big game application deadline in March, 1997.
The first hunter education classes are scheduled for Febru-
ary 8-9, 1997 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the NDOW's Las
Vegas office at 4747 West Vegas Drive. Another class is
scheduled for February 10-13 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at
the Johnson Community School at Alta and Buffalo.
Registration for both classes begin on Monday, February
3, 1997 at 8:00 a.m. To enroll, call the Nevada Division of
Wildlife at (702) 486-5127.
by Geoff Schneider
Nevada Division of Wildlife
LAKE MEAD - Typical winter fishing is being found
throughout the lake as anglers must spend a considerable
amount of effort to catch a fish, according to the Nevada
Division of Wildlife.
Boaters have reported catching striped bass up to six
pounds by trolling in Government Wash and Gypsum
Wash. Live shad has been the most productive bait for
catching the fish.
Live shad are also catching an occasional fish at
Pumphouse cove. The only other success for stripers has
been coming from below the campground at Las Vegas Bay
Marina.
Fishing has been very slow for largemouth bass and
channel catfish• Rainbow trout are being taken following
NDOW's weekly plants.
LAKE MOHAVE - One shore angler hit the jackpot
Friday afternoon at Aztec Wash as he reeled in three
striped bass that weighed from 8 to 12 pounds. The fish
were caught by casting an A.C. Plug.
Despite the impressive catch, the fishing has been slow
at the lake with most anglers having little or nothing to
show for their efforts. The only consistent area has been
Cottonwood cove where anglers are drifting anchovies at
night for small stripers.
EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR - Ice fishing has
been fair for stocked rainbow trout. Small jigs and Power
Bait have been catching the fish. The ice is now 10 to 12
inches thick and evening temperatures have been dipping
to the single digits at the Lincoln County Lake.
ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR- Roads leading to the
lake are very muddy. Anglers should avoid the reservoir
until road conditions improve.
WAYNE E. KIRCH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
AREA - Some anglers have been venturing onto the ice
despite it being dangerously thin. The Division of Wild-
life cautions anglers that conditions are not safe for ice
fishing.
