Remote Surf Travel First Aid Kit
I've got a mate who loves to play the Lotto. Not so long ago he roped me into a syndicate on the promise of a big win. But when I told him my numbers he shook his head.
"You can't pick 17," he said with the certainty of a gambler. "History shows that number has come up fewer times than any other ball".
Clearly he knew his history, but my mate knew nothing about probability, 'cos if he did he'd know that fewer past appearances actually increase the odds of a future event happening.
While packing for a surf trip last month I was struck by a different version of the same argument. I'd never really hurt myself while on a surf trip, yet I'd been on a few, was it time for my number to come up?
With this in mind I walked to the chemist to fill my first aid kit. But with what? Twenty band-aids, a tube of Savlon, and a safety pin..? I'd never needed much else before.
As it happened I didn't need much that trip either - which takes me one trip closer to that dreaded number 17. But fortunately a package arrived in the post this week: The Remote Surf Travel First Aid Kit - marketed as the Calm As First Aid Kit.
The Calm As Kit has everything a travelling surfer needs, as collated by a bloke who knows. Dr Jon Cohen is an emergency surgeon and self-confessed frother, he's considered everything from sea urchin spike to the accidents that don't bear thinking about, and he's assembled a kit to deal with them all.
The kit is split into six smaller resealable packs, each labelled and divvied up for various injuries ("Reef Rash" "Urchins" "Dressings"). The whole lot then sits inside a water-resistant drawstring bag with a combined weight of 0.65kg. Bung it in your backpack and you'd hardly know it's there.
The Calm As Kit includes:
- 10 alco wipes
- 10 packs of gauze
- 10 non-sterile emergency nitrile gloves
- 5 x betadine wipes
- 5 x30mL packs of sterile saline for wound irrigation
- Sterile scissors
- Sterile tissue forceps
- 2 sterile packs of small wound closure strips (“steristrips”)
- 2 sterile packs of extra large wound closure strips
- 2 sterile 10mL syringes
- 2 sterile 18G blunt needles
- Sterile cotton applicators (“Q-tips”)
- Triangular bandage (“Shoulder sling”)
- 1.5m of flat-packed 3.75cm strapping tape
- 50cm x10cm sheet of breathable fabric wound dressing (“fixomul”)
- 2x medium water-proof transparent wound dressings (6x7cm)
- 2x large water-proof transparent wound dressings (10x12cm)
- 2x medium combines with waterproof backing (10x20cm)
- 2x large combines with waterproof backing (20x20cm)
- 2x tongue depressors (“finger splints”)
- 5x fabric bandaids
- 25g tube of Burnaid gel
- Aeroform Snakebite bandage (doubles as a “tensor bandage”)
As far as I'm aware this is the first commercially available surfer's first aid kit. And while it's comprehensive, Dr Cohen is looking to make continual improvements on it over the coming years. Surfers have always copped the occasional injury while on the road, and as more of us travel further, the odds are the incidents will increase.
Comments
>>Clearly he knew his history, but my mate knew nothing about probability, 'cos if he did he'd know that fewer past appearances actually increase the odds of a future event happening.
brilliant stu :))) good to see some real science
Probability theory isn't my strongest suit, but I'd contest that. The results of a past lotto draw and a future one aren't causally linked, so the amount of times number 17 has been drawn in the past can have no bearing on the probability of it being drawn in the future.
Totally correct Pops - Just referencing my memory of permutations and combinations in Form 6 maths :))
Yep, Keep Stu off the roulette table.
So my mate was also wrong?
If so, that's enough consolation for me.
Yep, you're both wrong for the same reason.
the real lesson here - don’t try to make a joke on the internet
Jokes are fine. Mathematics is the problem.
that just doesn’t add up ...
Yeah, I feel like a bit of a dick for the correction.
all good pops - just some friendly banter
Always hard to gauge tone via text!
Dont worry about it Pops, you saved me from correcting him. My gran always said never miss an opportunity. Peace and love all, go get some waves.
"amount of times number 17 has been drawn in the past can have no bearing on the probability of it being drawn in the future"
Thats my understanding too. Do you know how that reconciles to the concept of "reversion to the mean"?
This example from the Wiki page on the topic explains it quite well (yeah, I know wiki isn't always the best source, but it tends to be pretty good on things like maths);
"Consider a simple example: a class of students takes a 100-item true/false test on a subject. Suppose that all students choose randomly on all questions. Then, each student’s score would be a realization of one of a set of independent and identically distributed random variables, with an expected mean of 50. Naturally, some students will score substantially above 50 and some substantially below 50 just by chance. If one takes only the top scoring 10% of the students and gives them a second test on which they again choose randomly on all items, the mean score would again be expected to be close to 50. Thus the mean of these students would “regress” all the way back to the mean of all students who took the original test. No matter what a student scores on the original test, the best prediction of their score on the second test is 50. "
Thanks Pops, that's a good example.
you are right pops. it's called the gamblers fallacy to think that a past roll of the dice (or lotto drum) has any bearing on future rolls.
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead Probability Coin Toss...
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Well packaged and looks like a good kit.
But where's the "China Red" ..... and the Bactroban, antibiotic cream for skin infections. Cannot recommend those 2 items enough!
Doc Jon said the while the kit is comprehensive, it can also be used as a base for a fully kitted out kit. The bag it comes in has plenty of room to "add in your other medical goodies like tablets, potions and snake-oil."
Yep looks pretty comprehensive. Probably worth grabbing one to keep in the car.
And the half limes for Tahitian reef rash?
Two days after I got home last month...
Next time more lime and more scrubbing.
Whats with the black line?
Demarcation. Doc already had me on antibiotics but he said if the red extends beyond the texta line then the scorched earth campaign would begin.
Checking if the infection is growing or shrinking, yeah?
FWIW, I've found manuka honey the best for those kinds of infections. Needs to be decently strong stuff, mind.
Yep. By this stage he was worried about the infection going into my shin bone. The doc is usually all for natural remedies but he was prepared to call up Blackwater in this case.
Heavy.
Well seeing you posted that Stu, wanna see a pic of my finger post-planer? It's pretty gruesome...
Stick it up...
Let's see if this works...
Apologies to anyone who's squeamish.
Sheesh. Apology accepted. How'd that one heal?
Still healing Pops. Four weeks out of the water and counting. Hopefully it won't be much longer, given that the autumn swell patterns are starting to form down off Heard Island and I am, as my handle would seem to indicate, even more surfstarved than usual.
Plus I've got a board to glass and I haven't been able to wear gloves for over a month now.
Gawdsheesh....bet you never make that mistake again!
I fucken hope not.
Bragging rights surfstaved
Hope you heal up quick mate!
Oh man, that's so fucked!
You didn't do things by halves!
First trip,to Bali bloke in the same losmen hit the reef hard with his elbow and took some skin off. He didn't look after it and it got infected. Woke up a couple of days later with an arm the same diameter as his leg. The doctor at the Bali beach stuffed him full of sntibiotics and we dressed him up with his arm hidden so they would let him on the plane. He had fractured his humerus (I think) and the infection had entered the bone. Ended up losing 30% of the bone and had a metal plate put in. Look after your cuts kiddies!
Good comment Chippa. Topical antibiotics are crucial to preventing minor infection from spreading. Even more important is preventing the infection from starting - this kit has all the sterile gear to pick the little bits of sealife out, sterile saline for a final rinse after you've diluted the bacteria in the wound with fresh / drinking water, and betadine wipes to dab on the wound after you've stopped all bleeding. Close it and cover it with the other gear in here, and you may never need bactroban, limes, betadine or savlon (my favourite 'cause it doesn't stain anything, doesn't sting and seems to work). But yea, I always pack a tube of savlon for the times when something gets left in the wound and it starts to turn a day or two later...
Agree Bactroban for sure also for any Cardiac problems Aspirin 100mg and
Nitrolingual pump spray which is avail without prescription .
Lime on Reef cuts have been a no no for 10 yrs or more...
Good point Udo - anyone with pre-existing medical conditions should be sure to have an ample supply of their meds with them. Even at Joyo's Camp at G-Land where Surfing Doctors have been manning / stocking an infirmary for the past decade, the only way to be 100% that the meds you need are in date and accessible (medication cupboards have been known to be ransacked...) is to have your own. Especially if it's something your life / ability to surf comfortably depends on.
Hey Udo why no lime still used most of outer Indo
Probably cheaper than assembling it yourself!
Or you could just do this :-0
Looks good.
I'd add Bactroban, suture and needles.
Most medically trained crew I know bring at least a set of sutures, suture equipment and the gear to instill local anaesthetic. We couldn't provide local anaesthetic so trimmed the suturing gear (pretty exy and less likely to be used) from this version of the kit. This kit has enough "steri strips" or butterfly bandages to close a wound until you can get somewhere with medical backup. Also water resistant "combines" and a tensor bandage that will help arrest bleeding, and mop up any slow trickle from the wound while you're travelling to get help. This feature of the kit is just as helpful at your local as it is overseas - heaps of crew come into the Emergency Department straight from the beach with blood soaking through their (or their mates') clothes from using them as compression bandages. I'm sure some of their cars looked like murder scenes.
agree with island bay and try to score a 5 day course of broad spectrum antibiotic from a friendly doc and start munching them before your leg starts to look like stu's (nasty..)
Agree with you about the antibiotics, but not so much about the "broad spectrum" side of things. You can choose tailored AB's for what you're likely to need them for. The (included) eBook / app we're launching is going to touch on subjects like this in a bit more detail for those who are interested. Providing medications in this kit was problematic, but depending on where you're going and what you're doing there are definitely some "extra" over the counter and prescription meds you should talk to your doctor about getting before heading off...
not a clinician but my understanding is you can get some pretty weird bugs from coral cuts ?
I go the my GP and a course of antibiotics for reef / fin cuts. I think it is “Keflex”.
Also throw in the antiseptic powder, great for drying out cuts.
A small tub of sudocream (nappy rash cream) is great for treating boing boing.
Must include Medical Grade Super glue (for "suturing up cuts") and a scrubbing brush for cleaning wounds
Histacryl / medical glue can be a good option to have on a surftrip.
Disadvantages are that it's expensive, single use / vial, and it can break down if you get it wet in the first couple of days as opposed to staples or sutures.
Condoms?
Or at least some strong clip-lock bags and a few rubber bands.
It’s not a holiday if I don’t end up requiring some type of medical assistance. Always get travel insurance...
Good point Vic, and also make sure they cover sporting injuries!
The red wetsuit man photo is a beauty.
Udo I see lime used all the time. Why would it not be used anymore?
To harsh and cause more damage to the wound.
Don't forget the Anusol for the older fellas.
Local anesthetic in that stuff works great on rashes.
Its always a plus to have a doctor or two on your boat trips to the Metts
No mention of dettol...which is close companion of mine when about.
I'd be down a few extremities had I not had it once or twice.
Have heard mixed things about the red Chinese medicine stuff. Anyone on here medically trained and know whether it’s worth having or avoiding?
Tieh Ta Yao Gin. I have no medical background related to the use of this but have used it for 25+ years and it's the best thing I've used for stopping coral cuts from going skanky and septic. Apparently you have drink and gargle it, but I've only ever used it topically.
The thing about it having mercury/mercurochrome in it... It's herbal (made from 8 Chinese herbs apparently) but that doesn't preclude it from having anything harmful in it. I've never noticed any side effects and it's done the job I've asked of it pretty well. Mind you, a bottle can last me a handful of years at least, its probably 50ml.
Blindboy had some input on this topic in 2014:
https://www.swellnet.com/forums/wax/198736?page=1
The "Chinese Medicine" fantastic for reef cuts, drys out fast and kills bugs (if it stings when you put it on its killing stuff still)like Betadine but works . I always buy a spare / new one to bring home too as unavailable in Aus, lasts for ages. A well travelled Surfing Doctor who spends a lot of time in Indonesia told me the reason Mecuracrome (pardon my spelling)was banned in Australia was they soaked a rat in it for a year and it eventally got cancer or the like so typical Australian over regulation killed it off . Used as a first aid for a short period of time (couple weeks in the jungle or the desert) and its fine, actually heals and havent had a staf infection since . It is actually getting harder to sorce in Bali, you used to get it at most chemists(apoteks) but as with big Pharma everywhere its disappearing of the shelves . Still can get it at the Warungs at Ulus,s and usually they have it at Gland too for sale. Also works well with using the aerosol spray bandage (available in Aus chemists) over the top when its dry and keeps out the dust and also allows surfing to continue (depending on injury obviously). Nothing worse than a big sea ulcer developing and hanging around for months just from a tiny scratch.
Also another (possible fake news ) rumour I have heard about Betadine and Iodine is they are actually made using something out of the ocean (could have possibly been seaweed or shellfish based?) so they dont work that well with reef cuts. Not sure about that one but have been told same story by more than one source
Can buy the Tieh Ta Yao Gin Chinese medicine from Zak surfboards.
Mercurochrome/ Mercury content high ?
Mercury build up in the body.
Dr Dave Jenkins says....why risk using it.
Used Mercurochrome by the gallon surfing the NW in the 80's worked unbelievably well ...........might also explain a few things.
He he same here..then went over to Gentian Violet...
Don’t forget the Aquaear and 3B cream for the rashes.
+1 for taking Aqua Ear.
Outer ear infections are super common when on tropical trips.
The go-to treatment in ED for this condition is something like sofradex that covers bacteria, fungus and has an anti-inflammatory to help with symptoms. You'll need a prescription in Oz, but I got some over the counter in Mexico on a trip when I was underprepared. Definitely not for use if you've popped the drum (can happen pretty easily if you wipe out and your ear smacks flat against the water), and won't help at all for middle ear infections.
How about pain relief...Panadine Forte a must and always a couple of Oxycontin in the kit
I wouldn't carry any opioid into any country in Asia - even with a prescription. Take the prescription and you might be able to fill it there, but maybe not. Even Panadine Forte and other similar drugs (with tiny quantities of codeine) are illegal in some SE Asian countries - carrying them in is a fucking huge risk.
https://www.choice.com.au/travel/destinations/indonesia/articles/need-t…
I would add a couple of things to that kit.
Tablets in case you get a bug.
Some sachets of hydrolyte.
Toothbrush (soft) cut down handle for debriding wounds.
Some quick clot gauze and an Olaes bandage or SWAT stretch tourniquet, I like the latter as they are easy to apply under stress, they stretch and tuck and have guide marks that change shape to tell the applicator wether it has been applied as compression only or as a full tourniquet.
Good post Feralkook.
I take advantage of being a doc and bring antibiotics with me for sure.
Hydrolyte's good to have - I bring my favourite sports drink tabs 'cause they're palatable enough to use even if you aren't sick, just to top up your electrolytes / keep you hydrated during long days in the water.
I'm not a huge toothbrush for wound cleaning guy, but I have some other medical friends who are. Brushing hurts if you don't have local anaesthetic, and causes trauma to the underlying tissues. With non-purpose built scrubs like toothbrushes, you have the added problem of potentially leaving some bristles behind in the wound - the exact opposite of what you're trying to achieve by scrubbing. My approach is copious irrigation, pick out the obvious bits with the sterile forceps (tweezers) in this kit, and if you need to scrub gently you can use saline soaked gauze, which is also in the kit.
The eBook that comes with the kits has brief summaries as well as more detailed explanations on how to use the gear in the kit to sort out all of these scenarios like a a paramedic / Surfing Doctor would.
I couldn't agree more about the SWAT Tourniquet - even though it's not commonly used in Emergency Departments (or the military) yet, as a surfer it's my hands-down favourite - cheap, compact, no hard parts. You can add one to the Calm As kit - they're on sale at the same website listed in the article so ship free with the kit:
https://bettersurf.com.au/shop/tourniquets/swat-t/
Yunnan Baiyao - any one used this Chinese Medicine
Supposed to be best Coagulant ?
I've always been a fan of Mercurochrome. Dries it out really well. Why is it frowned upon?
Biggest issue I find is not so much cleaning/patching wounds up, but keeping them patched up/dryish while you keep surfing for the balance of the trip, cos realistically no one really stays out of the water.
Then I hear mixed things on how bad sea water is for open cuts. Some say its teaming with bacteria just waiting to give you an infection, while I have heard others say so long as you are out to sea a bit and away from say rocks the water is quite clean.
I dunno. Just keep surfing and dry it out each night with mercurochrome seems to work okay. I second the super-glue too.
I use Betadine on cuts and reef grazes. Clean out the wound throughly with clean water, swab with Betadine and then Fixmull or Hyperfix. Leave this on as it heal underneath it. Only use the Betadine once, it will kill off the bugs but if you keep using it it will kill the new cells coming through.
We use this procedure at the Billabong Pro in Tahiti.
PS. If you want to experience unneeded pain use Lime, all your mates will enjoy it :-)
Cheers
Gav (WSL Event Paramedic)
Agreed rj-davey - once you've cleaned it, biggest issue is keeping that cleanness in and the bacteria out. The kit has 3 types of dressings for different types of wounds, all of which stay on in the surf.
As for sea water - like our skin, even if it's super clean it still has bacteria in it.
The problem with sea water is that it has a few bugs that don't mind setting up shop in human cuts, and the antibiotics that we would usually put people on with infected skin / wounds won't always work on these bugs. If you ever have a cut that's gone mank be sure your doctor knows you were in saltwater with the open wound.
Most importantly if you are going remote like the Mentawais do your homework and pick a good boat with a first aid trained surf guide.
Pay peanuts and you will end up on a shit boat and a long way from medical help :-(
We train The Perfect Wave and World Surfaris surf guides and many of the long established boat operators in full First Aid/CPR and Surfer Rescue and supply them with Floatable Spine Boards and Defibrillators, what has your boat got ???
Gav Clark
Ex Paramedic / Instructor
Aable Training Aus
Good point Gav,
A few other options with medical backup include Joyo's at G-Land, and Macaroni's Resort in the Ments, both of which roster a member of the Surfing Doctors to be on site during the season. Surfing doctors oversee the stocking of the medical infirmary at both camps, and thus have a bunch of "doctor only" medication to use when things get really hairy.
I've just had one of the kits delivered for an upcoming Indo jaunt. It's a handy size. Not much bigger than 2-3 magazines stacked on top of one another and it's light.
Hopefully don't have to use it...
$80 including (free) postage. Seems like a good price.
Just about to purchase a kit for my kids...and more likely me. Noticed several comments for additions ... what are a few extra well worth additives to the kit ?
We have all had urchins and reef cuts ... all dealt with thus far with lime, or betadine, or pee... urchins always left to pop out eventually.
But preparing for the day, more is needed.... my kids possibly more exposed than many with surfing, snowboarding, kite surfing and scuba diving as sports/hobbies.
On another note, with several docs in here experienced with remote doctorage... can any recommend a remote first response course in Victoria for myself to complete....idea being to gain ability to keep someone alive in very remote location to best of ability, for time required. Have completed a couple of st john courses years ago... looking for much more emergancy class course. Hope someone can help here. Cheers.
Hey Daryl thanks for supporting the cause! Hope the kids don't need anything much more than the urchin kit and some basic dressings.
As for additions to the kit, it really depends where you want to take it. We stopped short of putting medicines in this version but plan to release some "medicine modules" that you can throw in sometime next year. Some of the comments above had good suggestions for Indo / tropical trips - basics like paracetamol / ibuprofen for pain, antibiotics like cephalexin / doxycycline of reef cuts, antihistamines like loratadine / promethazine for allergies. With Scuba it's going to be more about awareness of what can go wrong than having extra gear, except for a tourniquet if the diving's in sharky waters. As for the snow a splint like the SAM splint is a decent idea if they're not going to be immediately accessible by ski patrol who should have one with them.
If the kids are going to be using it mostly as a car kit in Australia, I can't recommend throwing in one of the tourniquets highly enough. This is probably the one piece of lifesaving gear that anyone can use to stop someone from bleeding to death in the horrifying event of a legit shark bite or really heavy fin chop that reaches an artery. The SWAT which we sell on the site is the one that the Surfing Doctors crew and Big Wave Risk Assessment Group guys seemed to take to the most when we did lectures with them earlier this year:
https://bettersurf.com.au/shop/tourniquets/swat-t/
- super easy for non-medical people to use, low failure rate, and you can even tuck it into the chest zip on your wettie if conditions are particularly sharky.
As for a course, I think the St Johns is a good option for a basic refresher.
For some surf specific medical knowledge, we've done an ebook that accompanies the first aid kits with tips on managing common surf trauma. You can get it for free on the site for the moment since it's still in it's first edition. Feel free to reach out to us on the email at the site if you have any specific questions - it's very much early stages of this project and we love getting feedback and tailoring our stuff to what people want / need.
What really surprises me these days is how few people wear reef booties. If you've got them on you can plant your feet on the reef when you wipe out, rather than shredding your back on the reef for example. Prevention's gotta be better than the cure.
I usually carry a small aerosol of spray plaster. Does anyone else rate this stuff?
A second triangular bandage would be handy. Also that kits lacks large bandages for serious wounds, glue for stitching, and a bunch of preventative medication (probably due to used by dates.) I always take a couple of courses of general antibiotics, over-the-counter meds like anti-inflammatories, aqua ear, antihistamines, aspirin, etc. I even pack a bunch of Adreniline + needles just in case someone goes into anaphylactic shock. Athletic tape is always handy just in case someone rolls and ankle or needs knee support. The most important thing to pack is knowledge and training. Having all the gear and no idea is pointless.
Some good points Vic Local - especially about knowledge.
Anaphylaxis is one of the top 5 "sexiest" cases to sort out in Emergency Medicine. Young person comes in about to die, jab them with adrenaline and they're back. All of the surfcamps that have the Surfing Doctors on site have adrenaline to sort this out, and in the free First Aid for Surfers book that comes with the kit it's suggested that anyone with a pre-existing condition throw their meds in the kit as well, including epipen / adrenaline for those with severe allergies. That being said, feedback on the first batch of kits we shipped was that most people didn't like having the needles and syringes in the kit, so we actually took them out to make the second batch less intimidating to open up and play with.
The kits do come with strapping tape - enough to strap an ankle or knee, but it's primary use in the kit is as an adhesive dressing for small cuts to the feet (hats off to Uli from Surfers of Bali for the suggestion). I've got glass ankles and end up treating a bunch of other peoples feet when I travel so I generally throw a whole roll in my kit, but added too much weight for the "everyman" kit we tried to put together here.
As for your statement about the kits not having big bandages, that's not true. There are 2 super absorbent combines and a pressure bandage that will soak up the blood from any fin chop or reef rash I've seen come to the Emergency Department or a surf camp infirmary. Glue and stitches are crucial for people with medical background, but can be dangerous in untrained hands. We've included enough steri-strips ("butterfly bandages") to permanently close small wounds, and some huge ones to temporarily close even massive gashes to a leg while professional medical attention is sought. If you throw in one of the SWAT tourniquets then this kit has the basics required to even stop major haemorrhage from arterial bleeding and shark bites to the limbs.
Keep the comments coming, the feedback is really helpful!
"While packing for a surf trip last month I was struck by a different version of the same argument. I'd never really hurt myself while on a surf trip, yet I'd been on a few, was it time for my number to come up?"
Well, last Friday my number came up. Thankfully packed the Surfer's First Aid Kit and I give it the thumbs up.
Second photo makes you look like you've joined the Psychos.
Second shot – new SN display picture?
Brutal Stu - bummed your water time got cut short but stoked you had the gear with you. I can see from the bottom pic you really paid attention to the Wound Dressing section in the Surfers First Aid eBook that came with the kit...solid effort!
Dr Cohen
Thanks for the First aid kit especially for surfers.
The variety and quantities of the gear are impressive and useful.
The syringes are particularly handy for sluicing deeper wounds with water. The tongue depressor can be used to bite down on during moments of pain !
Just a little heads up to those surfers heading overseas with the kit : Remember to stow the included scissors and other dodgy items in your check in luggage or they’ll get confiscated at the airport . Best to put the whole kit in .
So cheers for providing surfers with such a convenient, useful product which makes our dangerous pastime just that bit safer.
Hope you get a few waves with the karma coming your way.
Cheers Blowin!
Sorry you had to use it but glad it was there for you.
Great getting your feedback, we're trying hard to keep improving the kit as we hear what people like, don't like, use and don't use.
Now Stuart ive told you before about the Holiday Gudang Addiction
Were the injuries early in the Trip ?
Yep. Third surf. Barely begun.
Is that your place in Thirroul ?
To be honest mate , you could have done a better job finishing off the edge of that slab.
Paint on the posts looks nice though.
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/756831e7-abb1-43d8-aebf-72717ccd2e3b
What happened Stu? Looks nasty.
If chaos theory can hold that a fish somewhere, sometime will get tossed over the falls then there's plenty of room for a jet-lagged, middle-aged bloke to also get it wrong.
Which, in short, is what happened.
well look on the bright side,it could be worse...the ol could be worse, nothing broken? anyway looks like coral cuts so watch out for infection....you would know that though....my first time to Bali early 70s got rolled across the inside of Kuta reef,my mate wanted to paddle away from me when he saw my back......no boats out there in those days..long way in....no other people most times either but Made the mole limed those cuts ,bless her little heart...fuk......worst part besides still having a week to go on my visa was i couldnt surf......back arms knees.......and sticking to the sheet of a night time...ouch....good luck
Been surfing real early and real late owing to the lockdown business, and this coincided with the weekend low tides. Below is the result of a pitch black, low tide, rock jump gone wrong - sea urchins in the top of my foot!
I've had a thousand sea urchins in my feet over the years and they've never caused me too much bother; either let them infect and pop them out or dig around a bit and wait for the wave of relief when the little black spike is released by the epidermis.
The consistency of swell around here is usually recorded in my feet - lot of urchins, lot of swell. The time it takes to infect is usually a few days so the number of spikes can build up.
These spikes, however, infected within a few hours of injection, which I assume was because they were on the top of my feet and not in the thick, dead skin underneath. They also made my toe swell up like a sausage and led to a 3am probe and dig mission to relieve the pain.
Once again the tools were provided by the Surf Travel First Aid Kit. Getting a good run that thing, even when I'm not travelling.
Nasty one Stu - at least we've had some waves lately eh?
How did things go once you got them out? My suspicion is that the super-early reaction you had was actually a reaction to the urchin spines rather than an infection - usually a bacterial infection takes about 24 hours to really take hold. I'm thinking those hobbit feet have some serious callous on the underside that usually keeps the venom outside of your living tissue, so you don't get that reaction unless they're super big and deep. I think I remember getting a patch in the top of my foot years ago in the Canaries and a similar thing happened to your pic, but then got better pretty quickly without antibiotics (wasn't a doctor back then so didn't think too much about it once it got better).
Oh man, more people having a go at my feet?
You know hairy toes are a sign of virility? Right up there with hairy backs and buttocks...
I got most of the spikes out, however there were a few near the middle joint of the toe that were too deep to excavate so I left them in, hoping they'd infect and pop out.
The swelling went down and I thought nothing more about them, only they began to give me some grief again yesterday. At this juncture I'd rather not call on a doctor, so I can see your splinter probes, alcohol swabs, and tongue depresser (I'm not good with pain) getting some use in the not too distant future.
Our home kit's been getting some use this past week as well - grom got a little skin tear to one of her toes, used the sterile cotton tips to remove the stubborn sand and roll the skin out straight again after giving it a rinse, then some of the bandaids and strapping tape to keep any more sand from getting in on subsequent surfs. Didn't need any antibiotics apart from a bit of betadine from the kit on the first day for good measure. The book that comes with the kits details this kind of stuff and is still a free download @ bettersurf.com.au
extra in Lord of the rings?
Hahaha! Stubs.
I was gonna shave my toes but I just want people to accept me as I am, Simba.
"You know hairy toes are a sign of virility? Right up there with hairy backs and buttocks..."
If that's the case, I'm the Ed Houben of the surfing world.
jeezus christ those are some ugly mutherfucking feet.
luckily personality goes a long way Stu.
These Noosa WSR updates c/o swellnet Phil Jarratt...
Crew send best wishes Phil
Noosa NP classes as Remote in SEQ it's huge & Locals have plans to make it safer.
"Adopt a Difib" (Surfers pitch in for 2nd Defib installed in NP at Tea Tree).
1. ( April 2021) Kiosk Defib Station
https://www.noosaworldsurfingreserve.com.au/defibrillator-now-location-…
2. ( Aug 2021) Tea Tree Defib Station
https://noosatoday.com.au/news/17-08-2021/defib-installed-at-tea-tree/
3. ( End 2021) Granite / Alexandria Defib Station
4/5/6 ( Near Future ) Main / West Beach Stations (Donated to Noosa Surf Club)
Pretty much builds up a continuous Lifeline around whole WSR...( Epic Frontline Health Care Plan! )
WSR is planning a major awareness campaign over Summer.
Great News Phil & well written with heaps of background & direction...cheers to Sunnyboys'n'gurlz.
2015 Yes! Crew are right..Phil did write a piece about Heart Attack Recovery / Injury / Clubbies
https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2015/01/01/2015-year-reconcil…
2016 Stu wrote about Irish Tow Rescue Defibs
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2016/08/05/mistakes-mad…
Peroxide is the bomb (jokes) for reef cuts. Cauterises the skin, closes the wound. No more infection. Leaves a scar so use it sparingly. Better than leaving a reef cut to fester in the tropics and/or a medivac.
Not easy to come by...