Typically speaking, articles in "LJ's Corner" tend to focus on the skills and gear associated with inflicting damage upon raiders and the undead, but survival situations oft require knowledge in the treatment and aide of injuries received while on the trail. For this reason, I've decided to combine some articles found in other publications into one page here for everyone to learn from.

Content and images are property of Backpacker Magazine, November 2009 issue, though some information has been modified for the purposes of the ZSDW.

Basic 2-Person Kit (suitable for BOB or lightweight personal kits)

• 4 sterile, 3x3-inch or 2x2-inch gauze pads to clean and cover wounds
• 5 1x3-inch adhesive strips to cover cleaned wounds
• 2 blister dressings or moleskin (optional)
  
• 1 roll tape (1/2 inch x 5 yards) to hold dressings on wounds
• 6 200mg tablets ibuprofen for pain, inflammation, and fever
• 2 packets antibiotic ointment to cover wounds before dressings
• 1 swab tincture of benzoin to make adhesive bandages stickier or hold wound closure strips in place
• 3 antimicrobial hand wipes to clean hands and around wounds
• 2 safety pins

Group/Extended Kit (suitable for small groups that are on the move)

• 4 sterile, 3x3-inch or 2x2-inch gauze pads
• 1 sterile, 3-inch roll of gauze to cover cleaned wounds or hold larger dressings or splints in place
• 1 3-inch roll of elastic wrap (such as an ACE bandage) to compress sprains or hold splints in place
• 8 1x3-inch adhesive strips
• 2 blister dressings or moleskin (optional)
  
• 1 roll of tape (1/2 inch x 10 yards)
• 8 200mg tablets ibuprofen
• 4 tablets aspirin
• 2 antihistamines for allergies, swelling, or stuffiness of a minor cold
• 4 tablets antidiarrheal medication (such as Imodium AD)
• 1 irrigation syringe to clean wounds
• 3 packets antibiotic ointment
• 3 swabs tincture of benzoin
• 1 pair tweezers for removing splinters and ticks
• 1 pair medical gloves to protect you and the patient from contamination
• 6 antimicrobial hand wipes
• 2 safety pins

Blisters
Clean the blister well with an antiseptic wipe or soapy water. Sterilize the tip of a pin or knife with flame or an alcohol swab and gently pierce the blister. Massage the fluid out, but make sure to leave the roof of the blister intact.

Cover with a friction-reducing dressing, such as Blist-o-Ban (sammedical.com), or cut a donut-shaped piece of moleskin and place it over the blister. Fill the hole with antibiotic ointment and cover the moleskin with athletic or duct tape. A band-aid can serve a similar purpose as moleskin but make sure to tape it in place.

Diarrhea
In all cases, give lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and pop an Imodium AD tablet. For more severe diarrhea, add electrolyte tablets, such as NUUN, to the water. Give him easily digested foods (such as rice or oatmeal); avoid fats, dairy products, and caffeine.

Vomiting
Give as much fluid as the patient can tolerate and have him rest.

Abrasions
Scrub the wound with soap and a gauze pad or bandanna, making sure to remove all debris (warning: It'll hurt). Rinse off all of the soap, then apply a layer of antibiotic ointment to a gauze pad and tape it in place. (You can also use a commercial pad with adhesive edges.) The pad should completely cover the wound.

Burns
Immediately plunge the burn site into cold water. If unavailable, apply a water-soaked bandanna, a burn gel, or aloe vera. Continue cooling until pain has substantially subsided, then cover the burn with ointment and a gauze pad. If blisters form, prevent the blisters from popping as long as possible.

Bees and Wasp Stings
If the stinger remains in the skin, remove it immediately. Apply a cold pack for pain and swelling, and give an oral antihistamine. If the patient has an allergic reaction–difficulty breathing, tightness of the chest, swelling of the throat, dizziness–give a dose of injectable epinephrine (prescription required) and the antihistamine. Evacuate to medical attention ASAP, keeping a second dose of epi on hand and giving more antihistamine every four to six hours.

Ticks
These bloodsuckers can transmit disease if allowed to embed in the skin (sometimes a few hours is all it takes), so check yourself twice a day. Found one? Remove it immediately with tweezers. Grasp the tick at skin level, perpendicular to the long axis of the tick, and pull it gently straight out. Wash the site. If illness and/or an unusual rash develop, you've probably contracted Lyme's disease and Post Z-day, there will be few medical professionals to treat this disease.

Venomous Spider Bites
Black widow bites can be tough to diagnose (many victims don't feel the bite when it occurs). Look for vomiting, weakness, headache, fever, and intense abdominal and/or back pain. Brown recluse bites might sting or itch. For both, clean the wound, apply cold to the site, and give the patient an antihistamine (for itching) and ibuprofen for pain. Don't worry: death is rare.

Venomous Snake Bites
First, keep the victim calm (a low heart rate minimizes venom circulation, and death from snakebite is unlikely). Remove jewelry, watches, and any snug clothing that could cut off circulation when the bite site swells. Splint the bitten arm or leg, but do not elevate it. Short of a medical care professional, little else can be done without a dose of antivenin.

Mammal Bites
Stop the bleeding. Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Rinse clean, cover with a sterile dressing smeared with antibacterial ointment, and find a doctor ASAP. These bites have a high risk of infection, including rabies–and in that case, the victim needs a vaccination within 72 hours for the best chance of survival.

Heavy Bleeding
Apply direct pressure until bleeding stops. Pack the wound with absorbent gauze, apply direct pressure on top, and elevate it above the heart. If it soaks through, add more gauze on top and keep applying pressure. When bleeding stops, clean the wound thoroughly with a high-pressure stream of water. Apply antibiotic ointment to a sterile dressing and completely cover the wound, securing it with tape or roll gauze.

Gaping wound? Press the edges together gently and hold them there with wound closure strips. Then apply the ointment and sterile dressing.

Check all wounds (including burns and abrasions) regularly for signs of infection:

1. increasing pain, heat, redness, and swelling;
2. more than a little white pus;
   
3. appearance of red streaks just under the skin near the wound;
   
4. fever.
   

If any of these signs appear and grow steadily worse, find a doctor. If a doctor is unavailable, treatment with antibiotics should begin IMMEDIATELY.

NOTE: Do not close wounds caused by animal bites or crushing injuries; anything involving damaged tendons, ligaments, or bones; or those too heavily contaminated to clean thoroughly. All have a high risk of infection. Instead, pack the wound with moist gauze, cover with dry gauze, and evacuate the patient.

Sprains and Strains
Remember RICE: First, rest. Ice the site to reduce swelling (use snow or cold water). After 20 to 30 minutes, remove the cold and let the injured area warm naturally for 10 to 15 minutes before use. Compress the injury with elastic wrap or athletic tape (the basket-weave pattern, left, works well for ankle sprains). Apply it snugly, but not tight enough to cut off circulation, and wrap it toward the heart (for example, up the leg, not down). Elevate the injury by keeping it higher than the heart. Repeat three to four times a day until pain and swelling subside.