Fly Fishing, First Aid, and Sam Foureyes

If you've been following this blog, or my YouTube posts (hopefully both!) you know that I am a HUGE advocate of the "10 Essentials" (Warm clothing, Hydration, Navigation, Illumination, Food, Knife, Shelter, Environment Protection, Fire, and FIRST AID) anytime you head into even a short excursion into the backcountry. Every trip, every time, every day. What you may not lnow is that I am also the author/publisher of 25 books, including four where the main character is Sam Foureyes, the Fly-Fishing Private Eye. (with a 5th on the way for October. Link in the graphic.) You've probably never heard of me or Sam, but my fictional character (and his angler wife, Allie) have become my educational spokespersons for things like the 10 Essentials, warm water fishing, and most recently, first aid preparedness.

Link in photo

Recently, several of my fishing friends, including my granddaughter and an e-friend (Is that even a term?) who is a pro bass angler, have gotten hurt while fishing. The e-friend fell while launching her kayak and suffered a nasty laceration and bruise a half inch from her left eye. Fortunately, there was a game warden at the boat launch who supplied a first aid kit and care until EMS arrived. Then, last week, she jammed a treble hook bass lure into her hand. A few weeks ago, my grandkid (she's in her 20s, also a bass angler) did something very similar with a double hook, and I've had several friends in BHA who've caught ears, fingers, and face with trout flies. Accidents happen. I've been a first aid instructor since 1971, an EMT, river park ranger, and licensed guide. I don't know that I've seen it all, but I've seen a lot. This recent spate of injuries had me thinking, how many of us carry a first aid kit while fishing? I do, a small one for day trips that fits in my fishing pack, and a larger one for multi-day trips and groups. I would strongly encourage you to consider carrying one too. (And take a first aid/CPR class on how to use it!) There are a number of good brands out there. I use Adventure Medical Kits. They don't cost a lot, and the expense is easily outweighed by the benefits when you need one. 

I used to feel that I could do better than most commercial kits, and I still carry a kit I built years ago in my winter snowshoeing/backcountry skiing pack. But everything changes over time, and the kits you can buy at REI, Cabela's, and other outdoor retailers are much better than they were 10-20 years ago. First, the technology has grown with the need. Clotting bandages, CAT tourniquets, burn gel bandages (all products of military origin) chemical heat pads didn't even exist. Now, they're in any good first aid kits. Sawyer, Med-Pac, Adventure Medical Kits/NOLS, produce quality kits with supplies you will actually use. After 40+ years of building my own, I landed on Adventure Medical Kits for three reasons; AMK was founded by the late Dr. Paul Auerbach, past president of the Wilderness Medical Society, and considered by many to be "the Dean of Wilderness Medicine." 2. Specific kits for specific activities, Sportsman, Canoe/Kayak (Waterproof!), Mountaineering, etc. 3. NOLS endorsement. NOLS kits are rebranded AMK kits. I took my first Wilderness First Responder course from NOLS years ago, after taking my Wilderness EMT in 1979. I learned a TON more in the WFR class than that early WEMT session. I trust NOLS for medical knowledge.

I'm not saying that homemade kits aren't good, but why go through the effort when you can buy the same thing at Cabela's?

Stay safe,

Hans