These two stories are not like the ones I usually share. Most of the time I keep things light-hearted and funny, but this time I want to talk about something very real, because it truly could happen to you.
Both stories involve camping trips that did not turn out as expected, and both are reminders of why being prepared matters, especially when it comes to first aid. Having a first aid kit is important, but knowing how to use what’s inside it can make all the difference in the world.
If you’ve read my past posts, you know I’m prior military and spent years over-landing and tent camping long before we upgraded to a trailer. Because of that background, I tend to go a little overboard when it comes to first aid kits. I’ve always believed it’s better to have it and never need it than need it and not have it.
The first incident happened many years ago on a Jeep camping trip. This was long before cell phones were common, and even if we had them, there would have been no reception where we were. There were four couples on the trip. One afternoon, we had set up camp early, and one of the guys, Doug, and his wife walked off to cut firewood with an axe.
They had only been gone about fifteen minutes when we heard screaming. His wife came running back toward camp, yelling that Doug was badly hurt and bleeding a lot. I grabbed my first aid kit and ran with her.
When we reached Doug, it was immediately clear this was serious. He had been swinging the axe, hit a knot in the log, and the axe deflected straight down into his leg. Even with boots and jeans on, it struck about two inches above the boot and cut all the way down to it. His bone was shattered, and the bleeding was severe, pumping fast.
I had seen injuries like this before, and I knew it was life-threatening. I carry RAT tourniquets in my kit, and while a tourniquet is never something you want to use unless you absolutely have to, there was no other option. I applied it to stop the bleeding.
The good news was we were able to get a Jeep to him and load him up. The bad news was it took just over an hour to reach the emergency room. Sadly, Doug did end up losing his leg below the knee. He and his wife still camp and still enjoy Jeep trips, but one small mistake changed his life in a matter of seconds.
The second incident happened at a campground less than ten minutes from a major U.S. city. I mention that because people often assume being close to civilization means nothing serious can happen. I didn’t know the people involved and didn’t get every detail, but I was only a few campsites away when it happened.
A group of people were sitting around a campfire, enjoying the evening. They had a pot of water boiling over the fire, for reasons I don’t know. One of the women stood up, got her foot tangled in a dog leash that was attached to her chair, and tripped. She fell into the fire, hit the pot, and dumped the entire pot of boiling water over her head and upper back.
They were able to get her to the hospital within minutes. I never heard what happened afterward or what the long-term effects were, but I can’t imagine they were minor.
I don’t mean to get on a soapbox, but please make sure you have a good first aid kit and that you know how to use everything in it. You can buy them pre-made or build your own, but knowledge matters just as much as gear. At the very least, learn CPR and take a Stop the Bleeding class. Winter is a great time to do this, when camping season slows down and you’re looking for something productive to do.
I’ve even been thinking about getting an AED to carry with us. I’d be interested to hear others’ thoughts on that. It’s one of those things you hope you never have to use, but if you ever do, it could save a life.
Camping is relaxing and it’s a lot of fun, but there are real dangers in the things we enjoy. Being prepared doesn’t mean being scared. It just means respecting the fact that accidents happen, often when you least expect them. It never hurts to be ready.
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