Day 1 Colorado to Idaho Leaving not too long after midnight on Memorial Day, to help the kids pass the many hours in the back seat by sleeping a good deal of it, we left on our 4,000 mile road trip to the Olympic Peninsula. 15 hours of driving on Day 1 brought us to […]
Road-trip to the Pacific Northwest!
Our Oahu Adventure
Hawaii is heavenly! The vibrancy of life & color is a feast for the eyes & soul! The hues of blue … the blue skies … the varying blues of the warm Hawaiian waters … Elvis Presley’s “Blue Hawaii” definitely came to mind. The thick, lush, deep emerald green of the gorgeous vegetation, the variety of blooming flowers […]
My Top 10 photos from 2016
The magical island of Kauai
Our Adventure to Crystal Mill Colorado Photography
Havasupai Indian Reservation – How to pack and prepare
On the trail first-aid staples: tried & tested
TRIPS & FALLS
Bactine
First-Aid Anti-septic/Pain Relieving Cleansing Spray (No Sting). Great for quick relief when the little ones fall & scrape their knees & need some immediate soothing.
Band-Aids
Various sizes of Band-Aids, Band-Aid Waterproof Tape & Gauze for cleaning injuries & for taping gauze over bigger scrapes & cuts
Melaleuca’s Triple antibiotic gel
For deeper gashes when you’re far from immediate help:
Super Glue can be used, after the wound has been thoroughly cleaned & disinfected, & as long as the wound is fairly straight. We’ve used it successfully to glue our son’s forehead closed when he split it open. Here is a link on how to use this method: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/228135537347806286/
Or
Disposable skin stapler & staple remover after wound has been thoroughly cleaned & disinfected.
Lavender Essential Oil
(A multiple use everyday essential in our home). Use this for almost instantaneous relief from insect stings, bites, itchiness, & burns. I have yet to come across anything else that works as effectively or as quickly for soothing bee or wasp stings!
Peppermint Essential Oil
(A multiple use essential in our home)
Quick relief for headaches, nausea, & itching from insect bites
For headaches: Apply a drop or two & massage into the pressure points at the back of your neck, at your hairline, & into your hairline. Apply a drop or two & massage into your temples in your hairline.
For nausea: Apply 3 – 4 drops over your intestinal area & massage in a circular clockwise motion over the intestinal area around your belly button.
Melaleuca Oil
(A multiple use essential in our home)
Cleansing/antiseptic aid for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites, skin irritations, gum or mouth issues.
Mosquito repellent
Splinter Tweezers & Safety Pin
Eye Drops We use this when out on the trail or, if back at the camp, a warm saltwater rinse in a little eye cup, (Himalayan salt & filtered, warm water). The salt can also be used to clean wounds.
Burns
We use the homemade lotion with added drops of Melaleuca Oil & Lavender Oil.
Ibprofen
Natural sunscreen
I make our own using coconut oil, olive oil, bees wax, Vit. E oil, & Lavender Oil. This is the moisturizer I use every day after showering but it works great for all sorts of ailments … sun protection, rashes, scrapes, burns, lip balm, scars, etc. When used as sunscreen, I add zinc oxide to the mix. Coconut oil has a natural SPF of up to 10 & zinc oxide is arguably the best broad-spectrum protection available against UVB & most of UVA. Here’s the link to the recipe I use for the lotion: Pintrest Link
I purchase our non-nano zinc oxide here: Soapgoods Store Link
This doesn’t go in our First-Aid kit but in a small lotion jar in our toiletry bag.
Where's it all go?
RMNP – Fern Lake Trail Hike
Proud of my little people. Their feet carried them the furthest they’ve hiked in a day – 10 miles & 9 hours – past mountain lakes & waterfalls, wild flowers & streams, 1 rock slide, & 1 foraging bear. Such a beautiful day