local anaesthetic for remote travel

[jetcrew]

Does anyone know if you are still able to obtain local anaesthetic viles and syringes for very remote area travel.


Jet 

[scarpsD40]

Probably not the answer you're looking for, but I usually get my local anaesthetic from Dan Murphys

[tracker]

Probably not the answer you're looking for, but I usually get my local anaesthetic from Dan Murphys

         x 2


             Cheers Tracker.

[edz]

Not sure on injected anaesthetic types, but you can get EMLA patches, My wife has to use them  an hour before  she has her injections, they dont totaly numb the area though .I believe you can get a spray on local anaesthetic too ..Probably best to check with  a Chemist shop ..

[jetcrew]

Thanks edz,

Its mainly for if I need to get the scalpel out and remove hooks from fingers , bums,heads etc.

I know we should be tough and all and I have done it before with much pain ..but as I get older I have realised there exists a fine line between hard and retard ..so if I can source some anaesthetic I will go for it .

cheers

jet

[dales133]

I've used that spray years ago and whilst I can't recall it's name it's numbing coldness definatly takes the edge off

[tracker]

Does anyone know if you are still able to obtain local anaesthetic viles and syringes for very remote area travel.


Jet 

           On a serious note.....Jet .. Ill check with my wifey...she is an RN in intensive care....Will let you know !!
          Cheers Tracker.

[Patr80l]

Sprays and patches are unlikely to produce numbness to the deeper layers needed to remove foreign bodies and I wouldn't use them on broken skin anyway.   I legally carry local anaesthetic injections during my travels 'cos I can.   I'm a doctor, but for the rest of you these need a prescription (and a skill set).
If a doctor provided you with a script he would need to be confident that you were able to inject yourself with them.   To cover himself legally he may even need to teach you how to inject yourself and be certain you're not allergic to the drug (when a doctor uses these, he or she is also equipped to deal with any allergic reactions/anaphylaxis.)   It is not legal for a doctor to prescribe a drug for you to use on a third person.

[Steffo1]

Does anyone know if you are still able to obtain local anaesthetic viles and syringes for very remote area travel.


Jet 

Wifey advises that even if you can get these items (highly unlikely) that you still would need to know how to use them properly!
She mentioned Emla as well. Patch or cream.
Steve

[muzza01]

Stick with the spray, should be able to get at a chemist. Some people have an alergy to local anesthetisers and this could compound your problem.

We always take a couple of suture kits, best to have a practice on your knots with either a surgeons and thumb knot. Doctors always make it look easy when they do it but it's not as easy as it looks. I also take away syringes and hyper needles. The syringes can be used to flush out a wound with watered down detol or equivealant and the hyper needles are very good for removing splinters.

[Patr80l]

Stick with the spray, should be able to get at a chemist. Some people have an alergy to local anesthetisers and this could compound your problem.

We always take a couple of suture kits, best to have a practice on your knots with either a surgeons and thumb knot. Doctors always make it look easy when they do it but it's not as easy as it looks. I also take away syringes and hyper needles. The syringes can be used to flush out a wound with watered down detol or equivealant and the hyper needles are very good for removing splinters.

FYI a sterile disposable suture kit with stainless steel instruments cost only about $6 from a medical supplier.    Suture material (nylon attached to a small curved needle) costs about the same each.   I've said it before; suturing a wound should be left to a doctor or nurse practitioner with training.   If you're remote and it cant be repaired with steristrips then you probably should limit treatment to first aid only (ie control bleeding, clean the wound and apply a dressing) and get to a doctor as soon as possible/practical.   That's a general rule and the exceptions would be rare.
BTW it's "hypo" not "hyper".   Hyper means above or raised and hypo means below or lower.    Hypodermic (not a term we use nowadays anyway) means below the skin.

[jetcrew]

FYI a sterile disposable suture kit with stainless steel instruments cost only about $6 from a medical supplier.    Suture material (nylon attached to a small curved needle) costs about the same each.   I've said it before; suturing a wound should be left to a doctor or nurse practitioner with training.   If you're remote and it cant be repaired with steristrips then you probably should limit treatment to first aid only (ie control bleeding, clean the wound and apply a dressing) and get to a doctor as soon as possible/practical.   That's a general rule and the exceptions would be rare.
BTW it's "hypo" not "hyper".   Hyper means above or raised and hypo means below or lower.    Hypodermic (not a term we use nowadays anyway) means below the skin.

I should have given more info.. we will about 12-18hrs from help should we need it , obv we will have sat phone and 3 gps units but short of a helicopter coming in from  who knows where we will be a decent boat ride with tides allowing it then a good 2-4 hrs by 4wd to the nearest help.

Prob one of the most remote trips I have done to date by boat, I agree with your comments regarding stitches I have personally seen what can go wrong with a deep wound only stitched at the top of the wound.

I have had very good results with steristrips as well so suture kit is not on my plans, ive stitched a pig dog but not sure id do my mates..even though they are pretty ugly already ,

having been on the wrong end of a few hooks in my time a little injection prior to removal would have been nice.

our current discussion regarding casevac plan does not include the drive back as the danger of pushing out to attempt land based return outside of pre determined windows will pose a greater risk than it will solve.

So the injuries are either

1- treated by us and wait till a travel window opens
2- call for help  ..ie life threatening..the cost of someone to our aid will be massive so last thing I want is calling for help for a big hook through a hand or something if we have adequate med supplies I am confident we can treat most things ..maybe not croc bite though.

appreciate all the advice .

jet      

[Jasman]

Hey jet, when I used to fish a lot our most important medical tool was a pair of bolt cutters as inevitably someone will be tracing a fish and a hook will go through a hand sooner or later!

[Patr80l]

Hey jet, when I used to fish a lot our most important medical tool was a pair of bolt cutters as inevitably someone will be tracing a fish and a hook will go through a hand sooner or later!

Side cutters; 
If you are able to push the hook in the direction of the barb you wont need the local anaesthetic, although I'd use it if I had some.

[jetcrew]

Trust me when i say i have already removed a few hooks ..I crimp my barbs as well... but as Patrol80 said ..if you have a injection avail it will make it much more pleasurable experience

Jet

[speewa158]

Sounds to me your in trouble if you go out there with this crew , maybe reconsider the trip       

[Fizzie]

Jet

Maybe not as effective as a proper local but may help?

If you've got a hook through your hand, how about stick your hand in ice / slurry (assuming you've got ice on board & would be a funny fishing trip without!  ). Leave it in there for a few minutes which will numb it, then cut the hook off, pull it out & dress the wound, then follow up with liberal internal application of whichever local anaestethic is available / preferred 

[fishfinder]

fish with nets -

[speewa158]

fish with nets -




X2                     

[jetcrew]

fish with nets -

Don't get me started 


And won't have ice on board ...only fridges .

Jet

[GUEY]

Can you get those magic whistles to take away, or is that a doctor thing also?

[Patr80l]

Can you get those magic whistles to take away, or is that a doctor thing also?

Sorry, another Schedule 4 drug. A prescription is required.
Ambulance services use them under special authority and I think ultimately it is authorised by a medical director (doctor) within the service.

[Patr80l]

Jet

Maybe not as effective as a proper local but may help?

If you've got a hook through your hand, how about stick your hand in ice / slurry (assuming you've got ice on board & would be a funny fishing trip without!  ). Leave it in there for a few minutes which will numb it, then cut the hook off, pull it out & dress the wound, then follow up with liberal internal application of whichever local anaestethic is available / preferred 

Most of the pain will come from the act of removing the fish hook and once it's removed there will be much less pain.   I wouldn't put any creams or lotions; anaesthetic or antiseptic, into an open wound.    Just clean it with water or 0.9% NaCl (saline) solution.    The latter comes in 500ml bottles for contact lens users.   Then cover the wound with a sterile (or clean as you've got) dressing.

Ice is worth considering, although holding your hand in the slurry will hurt too!

[McTavish]

How about this for some bush surgery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvPm22M0w8I

[Patr80l]

 Not a bad job, although I think they made more than one cut.
Their mistake was to move the pliers and lose direction after making the cut.   I would use locking forceps.   Maybe mutigrips if you've got them.   Otherwise hold the pliers really tight so the hook doesn't turn.
Betadine's a good idea.   Put a dressing on the wound but I wouldn't close it with a steri strip. Leave it so any infection can find its way out.   If you have made a large cut you can close it the following day (ie delayed primary closure)