Safety and Prevention are the best medicine in the PAW.

[Preppergirl]

It's difficult to predict all the scenarios that we will all be dealing with in PAW, but there are many injuries and diseases which can be prevented. I thought of some examples earlier on another thread, but thought thise topic may very well be important enough to discuss in its own thread and that discussion may in turn lead to suggestions for safety gear. One example may be poison ivy which can be prevented by avoiding contact with the plant so learning to visually recognize the "leaves of three, leave it be" and using a rub on skin protectant or washing the oil off within 10 to 30 minutes can be really helpful. Also knowing that once gear or tools contact the oil from the plant, the oil can cause a rash with contact up to two months later. I know someone who went backpacking, allowing the vines along the way to brush up against the backpack. Every time he went hiking or camping he got poison ivy and thought that he got exposed every time. Once he got it so bad he was hospitalized. after that he put his backpack away...and got it again from the backpack. tools and gear which have touched the oil must be cleaned. Also Fido or fifi can get the oil on their coats and expose you to the oil.

What are some safety and prevention tips you have?

[huckridge]

I agree with you. As a previous Scoutmaster, I had many opportunities to practice first aid. The poison ivy is a hairy vine that can be just as bad as touching the leaves. So when cutting or gathering wood, make sure you can identify that as well. Two other things that come to mine is 1) Burns..especially what young one around fires 2) Cuts/Scrapes...these happen all the time, know how to clean and care for these and make sure and watch for infection. What I mentioned can be prevented to a great extend by practicing safety. I want go into the treatment of what to do, everyone should practive first aid and have books, references, etc... available to them. The Boy Scout Field Manual/Book is an excellent resoure, and the older the better.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Invest in a good pair of chainsaw Kevlar chaps. After the balloon goes up, we may be using the chainsaw more often. Of course chainsaws will be loud, so OPSEC will need to be considered. A pair of chaps may save a really nasty cut which could lead to infection...gangrene....death.

[Grand58742]

Invest in a good pair of chainsaw Kevlar chaps. After the balloon goes up, we may be using the chainsaw more often. Of course chainsaws will be loud, so OPSEC will need to be considered. A pair of chaps may save a really nasty cut which could lead to infection...gangrene....death.

And along those same lines, better to learn now rather than try to learn in the PAW. Learning on a chainsaw should be done in a somewhat controlled environment rather than guessing and on the fly. Learn the in and out of it now as opposed to making a costly mistake when it is a matter of life and death.

[Preppergirl]

Totally agree on the chaps! I got em for my hubby when he nicked his bdu's across the thigh THREE times in one day. Thank God he had a small metal object in his pocket. Ditto for kevlar or metal reinforced gloves, helmets of various sorts inclding a full face shield. Good gloves could also come in handy for use with machete. Eye protection for every member of your group is a must especially when doing things like splitting wood where a splinter could get in your eye. Of couse saftey glasses for shooting, but keep extras on hand in case the first pairs end up badly scratched or broken.

[Preppergirl]

I also agree with the fire safety thing. My kids are young and we now have open fires about once a week, but I still have to remind them of things they should or should not do near a fire. Even practicing with your kids being around a fire at all is important to prepping.