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Medical issues while camping
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2545 Posts
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May 13, 2011 - 3:26 pm
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Has anyone ever had a medical issue/emergency while camping?  What was it and what did you do?  I just passed a kidney stone and if it happened while I was camping it would not have been a pleasant experience.  I'm sure I could have gotten to the hospital somehow but what about your camper and gear, the campground, the distance, etc.

A few weeks ago when I was at Ricketts Glen I slammed my finger in a car door (trying to be quiet going in and out of the TV at night).  As soon as it happened I knew I was going to get a blood blister under the nail and those are painful.  I put my hand in the cooler immediately but I still got the blister and it still hurt.  The next morning I got my lighter and a pin out to burn 2 holes in the nail to relieve the pressure and ohhhh what a relief that was.  That has been the only major thing that has happened to me so far (hopefully I won't experience anything worse).

Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer.  Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.

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May 14, 2011 - 3:19 pm
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Thankfully, we have not had any major issues while camping.  We do take a first aid kit for minor things.  You'd be surprised at how many people don't even have a small kit.

If I had to leave the campground for that reason I would tell the camp office on the way out.  Most, I would hope, would keep an eye on your gear.  Maybe have the Park Ranger or camp host do a couple of checks until we could return.

Sorry to hear about he kidney stones.

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May 14, 2011 - 3:22 pm
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I have a program on my phone for points of contact in event of emergency.  I know it's available for BlackBerry and HTC Android platforms.  It's called, easily enough, ICE - In Case of Emergency.

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May 14, 2011 - 5:12 pm
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Yes, the kidney stones sucked big time.  As for a first aid kit, I keep one in all of my vehicles so I don't actually have one in the popup but I figure one or both vehicles will be there. I have an ICE feature on my phone but I am thinking what would happen if I was 2 hours away from home when I got my kidney stones.  Would I stay in bed in the camper?  I was getting a wave of pain every 30 minutes that the meds didn't take care of.  Apparently it would have been constant pain without the meds.  The 20 minute trip home from the hospital was not exactly pleasant.....a 2 hour trip??? 

I could probably talk my wife through closing the pup but I would probably have a heart attack from her trying to tow it I have always told her I want her to at least tow it a few miles just to know the difference between starting, stoping, and turning.  I won't put her through backing up but I want her to at least experience towing at some time.  She keeps saying OK but not today.  I am going to bring it up again. 

Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer.  Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.

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May 14, 2011 - 6:44 pm
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Have only had one mishap so far... Last Fall we were down at the Creek with some friends and were having a fish fry. Well we had picked up a bushell of oysters to go with the occasion. Needless to say they were quite small and a booger to get open. Being that I don't care to steam them on the grill the wrestling match was on. Oyster knife slipped and entered the lower bottom portion of the index finger missed the bone and exited out the top. Kept my cool and just asked the wife were the hand sanitizer was located. She asked why and I explained my finger had just been punctured. They thought it was a joke because as of yet I still had no reaction or emotion. Had to remove the rag and display it to all present before they would preform any kind of first aid... Jokesters they are... Cleaned it up well and it healed fine...

[img width=640 height=480]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/cuckoo4141/Camping/Fisheating%20Creek/Picture291.jpg[/img] 

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May 14, 2011 - 7:38 pm
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Do what I did marry a nurse  ;D

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May 14, 2011 - 8:11 pm
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[quote author=Lone Lock link=topic=824.msg6102#msg6102 date=1305407551]
I could probably talk my wife through closing the pup but I would probably have a heart attack from her trying to tow it I have always told her I want her to at least tow it a few miles just to know the difference between starting, stoping, and turning.  I won't put her through backing up but I want her to at least experience towing at some time.  She keeps saying OK but not today.  I am going to bring it up again.

That's a great idea, I have never thought of doing that.  I think I will have to give it try.

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May 15, 2011 - 1:47 pm
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A few years ago before we had the pup I was camping in the back country of the Adirondack's. After a fun filled weekend of hiking and sleeping in a Lean-to we had a 8 mile hike out to the cars. During the hike out on of the group suddenly became very ill, vomited about a liter of blood with blood clots mixed in and then promptly passed out. Here was the dilemma- we were still 4 miles from the cars, no cell service, and once we did get to the cars it was a 5 mile drive on back country dirt roads to an area with cell service. Then it was a 50 mile drive to the ED. Needless to say I was crapping bricks. Being a paramedic I knew this was a very serious GI bleed. All of my training had taught me to stay in one spot and send for help to come to us. I don't know why but I had him walk out to the cars without his back pack. He passed out 2 more times on the way but we made it. As soon as we to cell service we made the call for an ambulance. Long and short of it he ended up with 2 surgeries, 8 units of blood and 1 week of intensive care. The doctor told me if we had not made him walk out he wouldn't have survived. I still don't know why I went against my training but I am glad I did. Since that time I have carried a larger first aid kit although it wouldn't have made a difference in this case. What did was going with my gut and not wasting time.

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May 15, 2011 - 8:31 pm
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Sladue....that was a serious situation.  I am glad everything worked out in the end.  I had trouble walking from the ER interview back to a bed.  I can't imagine walking a couple of miles. 

Cuckoo....did you get any medical attention or just your standard hand sanitizer and bandaid fix? 

Thinking back, I did cut myself when I was in kindergarten and camping with my family.  I have the scar still but I don't know if the whole family piled into the station wagon to go to the hospital or what.  We were at a Boy Scout camp in a cabin so there was not a question about our gear being safe.

Wllsm.....I married an accountant so she can do my taxes  :reader:

Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer.  Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.

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