FAQs : First Aid

Q: I have looked all over the Internet in search of a "natural," deep in the woods remedy of plants or trees that may repel mosquitoes and have come up with nothing more than "products" and things like catnip, lemon oil, DEET, peppermint oil, etc. Basically, things you would never find deep in the woods of North America or Canada that could remedy this problem having no access to all of the store-bought products. My question is, do you have a true and tested list of "real" plants/bark/roots/tree produce that could be exploited in a situation where you were caught out in the North American or Canadian woods and needed a quick mosquito repellent?

I was told once in the military to take pine needles and mash them into a gummy juice and smear that on yourself as a natural repellent ... is this true? If so, are there any more natural remedies that would be found in the bush similar to this? Thanks a lot, a big fan of the show.
-- ChessMassacre

A: It's been my experience that nothing works as well as DEET. I've tried several plants that supposedly had repellent effects, including some that you mentioned, but not with much success. There were a few times that I seemed to have some success, especially with sage leaves crushed and rubbed on my skin and clothes. But ultimately the relief was short-lived. Having been in the field several days, however, it did improve my social standing. That was the long answer. The short answer is no, I don't know of any reliable natural remedies. There was another survival instructor I knew very well that ate mounds of garlic before and during every trip to the field. The only things that did get near him were mosquitoes. The thought has crossed my mind that maybe that was his intention ...

Q: My friend and I are both firefighters/paramedics, and this question was brought up after watching several of the newer horror movies at our station. We have seen several recent movies where people get a leg caught in a large steel animal trap; we work in a area where transport time to a local hospital is about four minutes. We know what to do in that situation -- or else we would need to be fired! However, I have been in Kenya (and some other places) where the field is all you have. Would the trap be best left in place, to prevent compartment and/or crush syndrome? And to prevent hypovolemic shock? I'm sure trap size would be a determining factor, so let's say it would be big enough to fracture a tibia/fibula, but unable to amputate.

Thank you very much for your reply!!
Brian P.
Tampa, Florida

A: Your best advice should come from a doctor. However, in a survival situation where that option is not available, here's what I would do:

1) Check the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation).

2) Treat for shock (face is red raise the head, face is pale raise the tail).

3) Apply a tourniquet or constriction band above the wound and remove the trap. Using a constriction band versus a tourniquet will depend on the situation -- i.e., extent of damage to the limb, elapsed time of injury, time to competent medical help, etc. A constriction band is just like a tourniquet only it isn't wound as tightly, thus allowing a small amount of blood flow, which may keep the limb alive and may prevent later amputation. It's important to remember to keep the band itself about 2 inches wide; anything smaller will cause more damage. A belt isn't a bad option. The band always goes above or below a joint -- never on a joint. Also keep in mind that a constriction band can be dangerous due to blood clots. Allowing the blood to flow could dislodge a blood clot, which could be a killer -- literally.

4) Immobilize the limb in a position of function and transport the person to safety.

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